springtime hammarkullen

A revisit to Hammarkullen, sunny Saturday. The cherry trees are planted, footboll field is crowded, spring is in the air. It seems like there will be a community mosaic project this year too, everybody is so glad to see how much a little color can change a whole neighborhood.

First gig on new job; exhibition opening in the underground tram station.
Far & son, until June 11.

Jennifer Forsberg show at Galleri Mårtensson & Persson, Stockholm, until April 5.

three little pieces

Now they hang at the nurse's work stations in a newly restored surgical ward in Växjö. Hope you never get sick and see them for real.

It was fun to make them, another chance to try out mixing form and mosaic pieces.

Newly reminded of ceramic idol from year's ago: Jun Kaneko
He gave a talk at a ceramic conference in Oslo, and touched so many of us.

in second place

Sketches for a commission in Lindesberg, small mid Swedish city, and the new ER entrance at the hospital. It was a competition between three artists. Maria Ängqvist Klyvare's idea was chosen by the committee, and it will be realised some time next year.

I was in second place, with mixed feelings. Disappointment over the missed chance to actually transform the idea into reality, with all the challenges that comes along in the process; artistically, technically, the relation to the architecture and so on.

But also relief as I need to put so much energy into my new part time job as producer/curator at the culture center in one of the Göteborg suburbs, Blå Stället.

three little pieces

I have a good feeling when I walk up the hill to my studio. Relaxed and eager at the same time, as it is when in the middle of the process. Working with a small commission for a hospital, three wall pieces. Just finished the first part. Two more on their way.

Inspiration
- to be reminded of playfulness and fun: cardboardboxoffice.com
- to be reminded of patience and fulfilling one's idea Jee Young Lee

new start - new webpage

After a lot of studio work last year, 2013 started with more silence. It's a good time to do things like clean my desk and make a new webpage. And rest. I have a strong need to regroup and reflect; to sort all old photos is a big help.

Welcome to have a look, please tell me if something doesn't make sense.
www.bibbiforsman.se

one two three - flower wall finish

This week I was in Växjö, to finish the wall work for the rehab bath. I am happy with the result and so is the commissioner.

No time to rest today: I'm off to openings at Galleri 1, Camilla Engman solo show...
And Galleri Mors Mössa..., Helena Roos and Dan Fröberg.

And finally today's big winter event at Konstepidemin, full day with openings, fika, open studios, shop and much more. Program...

flower wall

Work in progress. Next week I will go to Växjö and put all the flowers on a wall. I have a few circles to cut in the prefab mosaic to fit the flowers in; almost there.

Jane Perryman, still a week left of her show at Lerverk. Until 19/11.

testing testing

Progress in the commission for the rehab swim bath in Växjö. I'm trying the colors to see what is missing before I fix the whole design. I enjoy the process but my knees don't.

Finnish sculptor Tommi Toija

rabbit and rabbit in the green

There they are, Rabbit and Rabbit. Firmly put, will be keeping watch over the green. I am content with the result, and I hope the people who will live there will appreciate their space. They will move in next month, then we'll know if it works.

There are many other rabbits out there...

Platina jewellery gallery shows Ashes and Diamonds, a selection of Finnish jewellery artists, from August 30.

last week's progress

Only hours of work until I and excellent bricklayer Erik are finished placing the mosaic piece in the Bjurslätt yard. It has been an intense week of finishing, loading, unloading, carrying, digging, placing, digging and more digging. But it starts to feel really good. Almost there.

I'm off to the final day of UPMARKET, to take loads of photos.

fix and grout

To fix and grout is like copying a photo in a darkroom. You have an idea from the negative what it will look like, but will still be surprised by the result. It's so rewarding.

A new ceramic center opened this summer in Höganäs. There will be exhibitions, knowledge base and a permanent show with work from 45 south Swedish ceramic artists and potters.
Keramiskt center
45 ceramic artists
All info I could find is in Swedish.

rabbit rabbit

Waiting for Rabbit and Rabbit to dry, to be fired. One will be pink and one blue when ready, now freshly painted with slips. They will stand in the flowerbed at the elderlies garden I'm working with this summer, and be the non abstract element in the art piece. People suffering from dementia appreciate when they can recognize what they can see. The abstract can be very confusing.

Making rabbits was so much fun, now I just hope they will survive glazing and firings.

Another person from the past appeared; what would we do without internet? Anne Heslop, photographer I met in London after we both had experienced Kutch in the northwest corner of India. So happy to see her lovely lovely photos and that she offers her creativity and talent to charities.
www.anneheslop.co.uk

outdoor

Studio space expanded with the new parasol, protection from the rain more than the sun.

I'm working on the concrete parts of the piece for the elderlies place. The material needs days of nursing after forming. Concrete shall not dry out too fast, the longer it's kept wet the better. I'm so happy I have an outdoor space.

Huge and happy crochet piece, Takino Rainbow Nest by Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam (thank you Åsa Bergdahl).

summer job

Slow and steady progress in my summer job. The deadline is set, September 1 all the elderly people move into their new place, mid August all little pieces must be in place. No stress.

Mafune Gonjo blog, glass artist putting little pieces together.

progress

Testing and trying, all these little pieces needs to find their place. Time to have a little break

Jenny Klemming, inspiring jewellery
at Dalslands Konstmuseum in group show "Nature"

in between tiles

Hope your Easter Days are lovely!

After two lazy days I'm off for precious uninterrupted studio hours. Amazing how some work makes me feel free.

Just finished a small in between order, six mosaic tiles for the repaired kitchen in one of Konstepidemin's guest studios.

Much larger: Jennifer Forsberg's commission for a children's swimmingpool.

birthday work report

Work in progress, bits and pieces slowly coming together. The garden for the elderlies is ahead, most preparations done, all materals ordered and decisions made. The wall for rehab swim bath in Växjö still in test stage, but advancing.

Yesterday, birthday celebration. All greetings made me happy, both real an virtual :)

Gift from Maria: Thank you! Still goosebopped; listen to Theresa Andersson here...


Marianne Hallberg show at Kaolin, Stockholm...
Artist talk April 4 - kaolin.se

about time for rabbits

So, this is one of the things I've been busy with, a commission for a nursing home for elderly people, with dementia. And it will keep me busy all spring, I'm so happy.

It is an inner yard that was already planned by the landscape architects. It is accessible for wheel chairs, all the plants are in flowerbeds raised from the ground.

I saw the drawing as a baroque garden and played around with the ornaments and elements. The yellow shapes will be made in mosaic, the same level as the plants. They can be seen from above as well and one can put a cup of coffee on top. I will make a blue ceramic border to the mid rectangle and most surprising to me; two rabbits jumped up from somewhere and wanted to join. They will be ceramic but I wish there could be live rabbits with soft fur to stroke, as well.

It's been interesting to read the research about perception of people with dementia, their world is a bit different and there are rules to follow not to confuse them. Contrast, clear colours, no smallscale patterns, figurative before abstract in short.

Thank you Charlotta Klingström, for telling me to update! Preparations are time consuming this time of the year, it's easy to run too fast. Camera is full of photos meant for the blog.