Getting the Donations

The first thing I did was to go by Earthstone Gallery and ask Marty if she would donate all of the setting materials.  Without hesitation, she told me to back my car up to the warehouse and she loaded me up with hardibacker board, mastic, & grout.  Then I went to Fastglass in Sparks and they donated all of the mirror needed. I had leftover glass tiles from other projects that I added to the mix and I was ready to go!  I asked several friends who helped out on the Peppermill project and everyone graciously donated their time to help.

That first couple of days that we were corresponding, the producer said that if I could make my way out to the set that I could be a part of the installation.  I didn't think this was even a remote possibility until a friend of mine offered to donate airline miles. So now that the airfare was in order, I had the realization that it was going to be really tough to pull together the funds for all of my other travel expenses in such a short time period, not to mention accounting for all of the time required to put off PAYING clients to make the panels and go to Alabama for 4 days.  So I put out a mass email to all of my friends and family and boy did they come through!  I feel so blessed to have so much love and support around me!

    

The Project

The project consisted of 12 panels 6" x 24" to 24" x 24", all designed to be mounted to the wall to be a part of the wainscoting. I made the panels in my studio, mounted them on hardibacker board and grouted them, so that they were ready to hang on the wall once they arrived in Montgomery, AL. My friends at Navis Pack and Ship wrapped all of the panels carefully and we got them shipped out less than a week after EMHE first contacted me....WHEW!

        

The Install

It took most of my first day of travel just to get out there. When I arrived I was informed that there had been tornadoes, so there was a weather delay of at least a day.  It turned out good because I have family outside of Montgomery and was able to spend a little time with them!  Finally toward the end of the third day I went to the jobsite and they still had not installed the panels, but I helped some other artists with a mural in one of the children's rooms. I stayed until I was about to pass out at 2am, but the other local artists who were heading up the mural worked on it for a solid 24 hrs!  I went back to the jobsite the following morning to help out with some last minute things with the mural and they still hadn't installed them by the time I left for the airport, but they filmed a small bit with me helping bring in the finished panels. And the pictures you see at the top of the page are ones that EMHE took after everyting was put together.  If you get a chance go to www.abc.com and check out the current season and the Jordan Family.




Thank you everyone for your support.  I want to especially thank the following people who made this happen: