Sacred Spring

The Priory

2010-04-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

K.ClemensK.ClemensK.ClemensK.Clemens

Revisiting my youth under a balanket of snow, warmed by friendships that I've always known. March invited us home for a winter white wedding of my dearest friend. These are some pictures I took during my stay at The Priory. The picture of the chapel was taken at the historic Heinz Chapel where the vows united the newly wedded Vivians.

2010-02-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

K.ClemensK.Clemens

Monarch Sculpture Park- Series 2 of 6

2010-02-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

K.ClemensK.ClemensK.Clemens

I headed out to Monarch Sculpture Park yesterday in Olympia, WA. Was nervous that the clouds weren't going to break, but as soon as I arrived the sun started to make itself known. When I first pulled up the rocky driveway it seemed that there were other visitors at the park but as I winded down the hill I realized that I was alone. It was refreshing to be at a park that wasn't one plain were everything is in eyesight. Small vingnettes were set up through the woods and jaggers, seeming more like a mystery ready to unfold. At certain points, I thought that there was someone else present, as a sculpture would catch my eye peripherally, making me do a double take. As I wandered around I noticed a maze centered near the middle of the park which was gated by a wood and electric fence to keep the deer out. I was a little apprehensive about entering. As I unlatched the gate, a beguiling site was revealed to me. Although the maze, as it is referred to, was not home to many sculptures, the ones that were present were hauntingly beautiful. It wasn't necessarily the sculptures themselves, but the way the were placed in the maze. Behind the fence, beyond the maze, were a cluster of sculptures that weaved back and forth through the tall grass. These two parts of the park were the most intriguing to me. Certain areas reflected the hard times that has befallen the park as a result of the economy. I hope that more people attend the park and make donations as the people that work there are a joy themselves. Special thanks to Myrna and Jan who were outside planting and were kind enough to take some time out to talk to me. It seems that most of the visitors find this park through some outdoor backwoods guide, but it should definately be exposed to more as the feeling and sense that I received from the park was mystical. ~K.Clemens

2010-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

K.ClemensK.Clemens

K.Clemens

K.Clemens K.Clemens K.ClemensK.Clemens

All pictures taken today at Monarch Sculpture Park in Olympia. To view more pics visit my flickr site and wait for the next show!

Monarch Sculpture Park- 2nd series of 6

2010-02-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Heading to Monarch Sculpture Park this week, where there are 140 works of various artists spread over 80 acres. Completely excited about this park and the road trip. The park is located in Olympia and is about 1hr. and 45minutes out from Seattle. I look forward to sharing the pictures and my experience with you all!

~K.Clemens

2010-02-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

K.Clemens K.Clemens

K.Clemens K.Clemens

So everything has been completed for the first installment of the six part series titled "Sacred Spring". There were a few bumps along the way, but now that I have the first one done I'm ready to make my trip out to Monarch Sculpture Park in Olympia. Was geared up to go yesterday, but held off to take care of some things. Still had the need to see some sculptures and headed out to Mercer Island to complete some last minute details about the first showing at Cellar 46. These are some of the pics taken on the island, but they will not be a part of the series. At least not that I know of yet. Enjoy! To view more of my work check out my site on flicker or head out to Cellar 46 for some great food, whine, and atmosphere.

http://flickr.com/photos/clemensdesign

"Sacred Spring" Series 1 of 6
Olympic Sculpture Park
February 2110
Cellar 46-The Mercer Building
7650 SE 27th St., Suite 120
Mercer Island, WA 98040

Special Viewing: Meet the Artist
Cellar 46- Friday February 26
2:00-5:00 pm.

Appreciate the Support!
~K.Clemens

2010-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:00

I found myself in the frame aisle feeling more than overwhelmed. Every frame and mat needed to embrace the feeling of the photo to have a cohesive statement. Arms filled with various choices I laid everything out on the table and started with my smallest prints till I had those completed and moved to the next size up. Thank goodness the store was not busy for as I looked around it appeared a tornado had hit the area in which I was working. After each section was complete I started to move the piles to the counter in the front of the store. As the images and frames got larger I started to run into trouble with variety and matting. I finally chose to have some of the mats custom cut as the color options were limited. After 4 hours of intense pacing and walking through the aisles I was finally finished and made my way to the register. I cringed and held my breath as I saw the employee ferviously punching in codes and numbers. I braced myself against the counter as the employee asked if I was ready to hear the total. The numbers rang in my head as I nervously asked if there were any coupons or any other discounts that maybe I hadn't known about. The employee's laughter answered my question. I handed over the plastic and loaded up the car, ready to be back in my comfy pants and house. I decide to wait till the next morning to start to assemble the frames and by that point I was sick of looking at it all. Early the next morning, I began with my favorite image which I had a custom mat cut for. Of course the mat was too large for the frame and I would once again have to journey back to the frame store. Just a little hiccup, which I knew there would have to be one. I moved on to the rest of the frames and became increasingly frusterated as little pieces of dust or dirt would get trapped in the frame, or on the mat. Then the image would slide and become askewed right after I seemed to find the perfect placement. After figuring out some techniques I was flying. Three days later with sore fingers and tired eyes I am finally finished, or so I thought. I needed to go back and reopen all of the frames and refight the dust, so that I could sign the back of the pictures. Good thing that I have a month for my fingers to heal before I will have to do it all again for the second installment of the series. As I pass by the framed photos in the house I realize it was all worth it. :)

2010-01-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

K.Clemens

The beginning of the week was a long and trying one. I didn't expect it to be easy, yet again, it seldom ever is. I went to the lab to pick up my print order and was excuciatingly anxious to see how everything had turned out. The girl at the desk called out my name to the back and another girl came out holding a large white envelope with Clemens written largely on masking tape across the cover. I stared in awe at the envelope and was nervous to open the flap. I sat down at the lighting desk and started to unveil the images one by one. I kept shuffling through them. This couldn't be my order. It musn't be my order. A slight panick attack started to set in, these images look nothing like how they looked on my camera, on my computer, on their computer. The colors were dull, the sepia red, the orange brown, and one of my favorite prints had a soft focus on it. I caught my breath as the women who had helped me asked how everything was. I contained my eratic nature and explained that the colors seemed off and that the large picture appeared fuzzy, then I flashed an uneasy smile. After matching the prints to the computer, she agreed and we set out to fix them. Another women appeared from the print shop next door to go over the snags. After about 2 1/2-3 hours and the poor girl about to collapse from running back and forth from the lab to the shop, things were looking up. One of the large pictures that I had the highest hopes for didn't quite grab the orange that I was going for, but not much could be done without an extra 50 bucks for an ink jet print, and I still had to shop for frames and mats tomorrow. I cut my losses and decided to think on it as I was just so relieved that everything else turned out as expected. The employees were so sweet, patient, and helpful that I left feeling good and would still use them again for their services as they were willing to weather the storm with me till things were resolved. Thanks ladies! After I got home I opened the envelope to get another look at the prints, my nemesis lay at the top of the pile. After taking it in and breathing I realized it wasn't nearly as a loss as I thought. It still had the quality that I wanted to capture. This was still the beginning of the process, I still had alot to do and I wasn't going to let myself falter from one glich.

2010-01-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

K.Clemens

I set out to visit the next sculpture park in the series on Sunday with my friend Elizabeth. Monarch Sculpture Park in Olympia was my destination. Earlier in the week, I checked the weather online and there was 40% chance of rain, so I figured we would find a break at some point to get good shots. At 8:30 AM, I awoke to rain and gloom in Seattle, so I decided to check the report again. Still 40% chance but 100% chance of precipitation every hour on the hour. So I decided to call the park. I stalk called them. Five calls and three messages later, I decided to disband and work on getting the first group up and ready for February's showing at Cellar 46 on Mercer Island. But first, I met Elizabeth for brunch, were I was feeling guilty for not atleast attempting to take a ride out to the park. Just then an unknown, well slightly known number from earlier that morning, was calling my phone. It was Myrna from Monarch telling me that she had received my message(s) and that it was drizzling and raining all day. She set my guilt at ease, and said that it would not have been a good day to visit the park. We spoke for about 10-15 minutes. She was so pleaseant and is interested to see my shots and in the project. Since, as she put it, she is a permanent fixture there, so I'm sure that I will be meeting Myrna in the near future. I look forward to it and hiking the trails and seeing all that this sculpture park has to offer! Thanks Merna!

2010-01-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

Bonds

Storm King, NY

K.Clemens

Antoinette Guillotine

K.Clemens Storm King, NY

Images captured on razor phone.

The Sacred Spring

2010-01-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

K.Clemens

K.Clemens
K.Clemens

When I wandered alone into over 500 acres of Sculpture Park in upstate New York I felt tranquil…calm, as if I was in a world that had been created in my mind. It felt like I had become a part of a think tank or was collaborating with an artists’ collective that allowed me to ease drop on their conversations in a dingy speakeasy. It was if I could communicate with Noguchi, Calder, and others- it was wondrous to come around a corner and find something beautiful created by someone’s’ mind at the end of it. An idea turned into a tangible and poetic creation. I was able to combine my past studies of theatre with that of interior design by taking images and creating an experience. Storm King, the NY sculpture park, was the beginning. Earlier this winter, after sitting with the notion of exploring the realm of photography and doing a series on sculpture parks for over a year, the timing seemed to present itself. The expedition will consist of the sculpture parks listed throughout Washington State, 6 in all. The series titled “The Sacred Spring”, inspired by Gustav Klimt’s’ Ver Sacrum, will focus on these parks and my pilgrimage thru the course of them from winter till the awakening of spring. This will carry me through Seattle up to the islands of San Juan and end in Spokane. Each episode of the series will draw from the inspiration of my surroundings, no certain style is predetermined. I thought it only appropriate to begin this project, in Seattle, where the concept was first awakened. In this particular showing, Jackson Pollock’s’ calligraphy along with Charles Mackintosh’s designs seemed to have surfaced. I hope that you enjoy the journey as much as I will. ~K. Clemens