desertsong studio

hope is…

…the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

 

Although the Wallow Fire has ravaged & consumed over 386,000 acres, the amazing fire fighting crews have managed to prevent the loss of many homes & structures; the fire is now being reported as 5% contained. The fire came just under 3 miles from Janie’s home & the Retreat, but they have been spared at this time. Janie’s husband Don courageously stayed behind at the Retreat, allowing a fire tanker truck & crew to station themselves there & to fill up the tanker from the Retreat’s well while also helping out with fighting the fire & protecting structures along the Blue River. His knowledge from decades of work in the area as a U.S. Forest Service Wilderness and Trails Specialist was most likely invaluable to the fire crews. You can read the full account of this latest news & all future updates at the Retreat’s website--

www.blueriverwildernessretreat.com

The fire’s perimeter growth is being tracked at night via infrared technology & can be viewed on the following website; keep in mind that the boundaries do not indicate that everything within them has been completely destroyed as fire can jump & spread erratically, because it is affected by topography, wind, humidity & what fuel is available for it to burn--

http://www.azcentral.com/news/wildfires/wallow/wallow-fire-timeline.php

To see where Janie’s Retreat is located, copy & paste the following coordinates into the “Fly to” box in Google Earth (you can download a free version of Google Earth here if you don’t have it)--

33 43 18.67 N, 109 02 24.69W

To view unbelievable photos of the fire, visit the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest’s photostream on Flickr--

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apachesitgreavesnf/

For updates on specifics regarding the fire statistics, visit Inciweb’s Wallow Fire incident report pages--

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2262/

I was able to have a phone conversation with Janie yesterday & it made my whole world feel instantly better. At the time, she had not heard from Don since she was evacuated from the Blue this past Monday, but her calmness & courage regarding the entire situation were remarkable. She is still staying with a friend in New Mexico, but is looking forward to returning home to the Retreat, which may be possible very soon.

Below is a slide show of images gathered from my visits to Janie’s Retreat & the surrounding area since 2006. Some of the places will have been dramatically changed by this fire. Hope is gaining an edge, but thousands of people are still displaced from their homes, men & women are still putting their own lives at risk to fight the fire, the nearby town of Greer suffered heavy structural losses, the beautiful forest has been changed dramatically, & any creatures that could not escape the blaze were consumed. Please hold them all in your thoughts & keep hoping.

hope & fear continues

And the Wallow Fire continues to grow with zero % containment. The above image shows the boundaries of the fire as of June 5th. I borrowed the image from InciWeb.org, a website that I have been haunting constantly to monitor the growth of the fire & to see whether or not it is approaching the Blue River Retreat.

This fire has consumed over 300,000 acres & is now the second largest in Arizona’s history. Five towns have been evacuated  & four more are on pre-evacuation status. Yesterday, the Forest Service announced that the Coronado National Forest (whose land holdings are located down here around southern AZ) would be completely closing down entrance for any & all recreation activities until further notice. Why? Because even though there are signs posted everywhere that fires are not allowed & the Forest Service has covered all campsite grills & pits with plastic & bright yellow warning tape, & we have two other fires down in this part of the state that are being dealt with (one has actually been burning for an entire month), STUPID people continue to build campfires, & continue to smoke in the forests & throw their butts on the ground (as told to me today by a Forest Service representative, although I added in the “stupid” part which kind of goes without saying, but I am really feeling the need to vent).

This morning, my mind in turmoil over all of this & especially since I had not had anymore news about Janie since Saturday, I went for a long walk in Sabino Canyon. Good for my mind, but also so bittersweet as I realize it could just as easily be this wonderful place that is burning. I used to walk there really often; I have been thinking about starting to do that again. All of the fires burning in AZ are making me realize that I have taken for granted that places like this will always be there. Hopefully the Coronado Forest closures (which include Sabino) will end soon with the beginning of our monsoons & will be lifted.

I returned home to find that Janie has posted a message on Facebook… it is both good & sad. Hope & fear. See it below… I will continue to share any communications I receive from her in case anyone who reads my blog & knows Janie is not on her contact list or connected to her through Facebook.

 

I am evacuated from the Blue River. Please read my note.

by Jane Hoffman on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 1:01pm

Hello Friends,

Don and I were evacuated in haste from the our place on the Blue River yesterday around 1 pm. due to the Wallow Fire.

I am staying with my friend Kris in San Lorenzo NM. Our dog Dinah is with me. Don stayed on the Lower Blue to help people there get ready in case they will be evacuated.

Karl and Gretchen have been our main source of information about the fire and disseminating news about us and all our dear friends who have also been evacuated throughout the week.

As far as we know as of this morning, the Blue River has not burned with the exception of Campbell Blue off of Highway 191. At this point we do not know how far down the fire has traveled.

I wanted you to know we are safe, and I am well taken care of by Kris.

Gretchen is going to post up-dates on our website: blueriverretreat.com

I will not have internet access where I am staying, but I will check my email when I can. I do not have cell phone coverage except when I am in town. Please share our website with others you know that would like to know our status. I did not have time to bring my computer with my email addresses.

Love, Janie

hope & fear

This morning as I was collecting fading blooms from my large coreopsis plant, to dry for later dyeing, my thoughts were filled with these two emotions. The seeds that grew these beautiful dye flowers came from my friend Janie Hoffman’s own dye garden. She taught me natural dying, her tapestries inspired me to become a tapestry weaver, she was one of my first tapestry teachers, & she has been a long time member of ATA & other fiber organizations which I became aware of through her. Since I first met Janie as a student in her 2006 IWC natural dyeing workshop, she has become a dear friend. Readers of this blog also know that I, along with scores of other people over the years, have spent many splendid days at her Blue River Retreat in the White Mountains. Now, the retreat itself & the life that she & her husband Don have nourished there for decades is in dire jeopardy of disappearing in a giant blazing fire that is consuming the mountain wilderness of northern Arizona at a frightening rate.

The Wallow Fire, as it is being called, started in the Bear Wallow wilderness on May 29th. Although many western fires are caused by lightning strikes, this one is listed as “human caused”; I have heard that campers who ignored the Red Flag warning prohibiting campfires are to blame. Now, because of their selfish & careless behavior, the wilderness they were enjoying is gone; at this point the fire has consumed over 233,000 acres & is now the third largest fire in Arizona history causing whole towns to be evacuated, destroying cherished properties, & putting thousands of lives at risk, including over 2300 firefighters who are battling the blaze. At this time, the fire is zero % contained. You can read more about the blaze, see photos like the one above, & get the latest updates at InciWeb. These burned areas will not return to their former glory for many generations.

Although the Blue River area residents were advised to evacuate, many chose to stay, including Janie & Don. If you have never been in a situation like this, it may be hard to understand why people would not leave. Having experienced 23 years of hurricane seasons in Florida, I can appreciate why they would decide to stay. At this point, the fire has been located southwest, west, & northwest of their location & as it grows & moves roughly northeast. Don is a retired Forest Service ranger & has been keeping a close eye on the situation. Their grown children, Karl & Gretchen, who live in other states, have been in constant contact with them. Janie has their things packed. They are prepared to flee if necessary. The last communication I had from Janie was via an email that brought tears to my eyes & my heart in my throat on the morning of Saturday, June 4. She posted more news on Facebook, along with photos later that day. I haven’t had any other news from her since then. If you happen to know Janie, but aren’t on her email list, I’ve posted her news below… 

 

June 4, 2011 11:24 AM (via email)

Dear friends and family,

Don and I are safe and still at home. We have been keeping a close watch on the Wallow Fire. Don has been climbing up to the top of the cliff above the barn about 6 times a day to scope the smoke plume and scan the smoke across the landscape to the west. Based on all the information we have been gathering each day, we have not evacuated. Karl and Gretchen check in with us all day and provide us with detailed updates on what they have learned through various sources on the internet. This has been invaluable and has freed us to prepare to evacuate if necessary and to answer phone calls. We have been staying in close contact with friends who have been evacuated out of Alpine and Nutrioso. Many are staying with other friends in Springerville/Eagar, and others have left the White Mountains, but are in contact with us.

A recap of our week:

Sunday, May 29: the fire started in the Bear Wallow Wilderness area to the south and west of us.

Monday, May 30: we have some smoke

Tuesday, May31: we can see the plume of smoke to the southwest. The fire is growing to the west and north of us.

Wednesday, June 1: it is not smoky here but we can see the smoke to the south and west.

We drove to Springerville, AZ. It is very smoky to the west of the highway. In Springerville we can see a huge dramatic column of smoke to the south that spreads and collapses in the evening to the northeast into New Mexico. It is smoky in Alpine on the drive home. There is a flyer in our mailbox announcing a meeting in Alpine on Thursday night at 6 pm to update the residents on the status of the fire and pre-evacuation plans.

Thursday June 1: We start packing. Don drives up to the meeting. It is pitch black in Alpine from the huge canopy/plume of smoke that blocks out the sunlight. He can’t even see his feet, it is so black. Incident command center announces that there is an immediate evacuation. People rush out to leave. The Blue River residents will not be allowed access out through the Blue River road to Alpine. Don helps a friend load up his horse trailer and drives home.

We lose electricity and phone in the evening.

Friday: We finish packing and help our retreat guests with directions and information on how to get out of the Blue on the Pueblo Park Road that takes them to Hwy 180 between Reserve and Glenwood NM. One couple chanced, with the sheriff’s advice, taking the Blue River Road north to Alpine because of their car would not be able to make it out on the more primitive Pueblo Park road. They were allowed to pass through the road block and take 180 at Luna Lake into New Mexico. All our guests were able to get home. Our phone and power come back on. Two Apache County Sheriff deputies came to our house to let us know that they were advising that the Blue River residents evacuate. Most of the residents on the Blue have chosen to stay unless the winds and fire shift direction. We continue to monitor conditions and have our sprinklers and pump going to keep everything watered.

Today, Saturday June 4: It was very smoky here when I woke up. We had not had any smoke at our place except when the fire first started. I got on the computer and started looking for updates. Karl and Gretchen called with more information and the smoke began to clear. We can see that there is a lot less smoke than previously on our western horizon. We are very reassured about our situation. Talked to friends and compared information. We are waiting for news about the fire’s spread near the communities of Nutrioso and Greer. We are hopeful that Alpine, Nutrioso, and all the other threatened communities will continue to be spared for the most part. It seems that the fire approached Alpine at night when the temperatures and wind drop. This helps the fire crews to do their work and protect structures and possibly back burn. It is going to be interesting to hear the story of this fire and the brave people who have worked on trying to stop it.

Love,

Janie

 

June 4, 2011 12:21 PM (via Facebook)

                                                                (the fire as seen from Janie & Don’s home)

Don and I are home and safe. We have been monitoring the fire since it started on Sunday, May 29, 2011. We are packed to evacuate, but so far the fire is traveling away from us. We are in contact with many friends who have been evacuated. We are hopeful that they are safe and that the communities and homes in the path of the fire will be saved. I have created an album, "Wallow fire", with photos taken this week from our home. May the monsoon season start early. Be well, Janie

 

Please keep Janie & Don, the firefighters, & the communities affected by this tragedy in your thoughts.

beau·ty

[ byoótee ] (plural beau·ties)

noun

Definition:

1. pleasing and impressive qualities of something: the combination of qualities that make something pleasing and impressive to look at, listen to, touch, smell, or taste

 

I experienced all of the above at the creative focus retreat I recently shared with DY, Janie, & Rebecca…

 

the beauty of a special home…

 

the beauty of time to appreciate the natural, quiet world…

 

the beauty of dear friends who know most of your quirks, yet who still love you & want to spend time with you…

 

 

the beauty of sharing creative time, creative space, creative energies…

 

the unexpected beauty of a child’s unadulterated creativity…

 

the beauty of knowing that the road to a friend’s home is never long…

 

Thank you, DY, for sharing your special home with us.

Thank you, Janie, Rebecca, & DY for knowing the creative song in my heart & singing it back to me.

turbulence

Spring, after a progression of sights, sounds, & smells heralding its arrival, is fully ensconced here in the desert & hovering on the edge of summer. The procession began with the sudden verbosity of the house finches; after getting gussied up in their brightest plum plumage, they began warbling their heads off from every available perch & even while on the wing. Prickly pear cactus began sprouting new pads & flower buds which are now blooming— a feat that never ceases to amaze me when we are still behind in our normal rain amounts. Gambels quail began pairing off, stepping daintily through the desert together, their top knots bobbing jauntily. The male quail drove themselves hoarse shouting out “chi-CA-go, chi-CA-go”, “los PA-pa-gos”, “los PA-pa-gos”, & climbing high into the mesquite trees to yell “HEY” repeatedly all day. As soon as the temperatures were consistently in the upper 80s, palo verde trees became enflamed in yellow blossoms & the white winged doves arrived, strutting about, boxing each other with their wings, & building flimsy nests of a scattering of twigs. Mornings now begin with their chorus rounds of “who cooks for you”. We waited & watched to see which plants & trees had survived the unprecedented freeze we had during the winter. Amazingly, it appears that most have, although the fragrance of citrus blossoms is noticeably absent. Even though our citrus have been putting on  a proliferous growth of new branches after being pruned back to mere nubs of their former selves, it was too much to ask of them to also produce their heavenly blooms. Our Chinese jasmine has rallied to fill our courtyard with its delicious musk; if the breeze is just right, it can be inhaled across our whole five acres. Saguaros are covered with clumps of large flower buds, that are just now beginning to open & beckon.

Our largest blue agave sent up a giant green phallic spear almost overnight; it has continued to grow at least six inches a day & is now over 15 feet tall. The spear is the agave’s flower stalk & it is now growing little side arms whose ends will be covered with blooms held high in the sky for moths & bats to visit. It is the agave’s last stupendous act of life… the spear & flowers will drain the agave, killing it to produce a giant crescendo of juvenile plants that will establish themselves after the spear crashes to the ground with the weight of them all.

Spring is a turbulent time in the desert, when every plant & animal rushes to procreate before the searing heat of summer brings everything to a slow, melted crawl. Turbulence has also been a continued distracting presence in the studio since I last posted. I had hoped to have woven up to the three foot mark before leaving tomorrow for a retreat with DY Begay, Janie Hoffman, & Rebecca Mezoff at DY’s studio hogan way up in the northeast corner of Arizona on the Navajo Reservation. We’ll be together for close to a week of creative focus time & even though I am disappointed to only be nearing the two foot mark across the weaving, it is what it is. Sometimes life has its own ideas about what happens to your plans. A cold that lasted almost three weeks, pteronophobia (fear of feathers) procrastination, & a dog bite, courtesy of Roger displaying his displeasure at being yanked away from a tasty bobcat poop snack. He snapped, & my arm was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Luckily, even though it hurt like hell & shocked both me & Roger, it was very minor, is healing well, & did not affect my ability to weave. Roger was beside himself with biter’s remorse & I have forgiven him.

However, while uploading a progression of photos to the “on the loom now” album here on the blog (look in upper right hand corner of the blog) prior to writing this post, I began to feel much better about how much I’ve actually accomplished since starting the tapestry. I was reminded that the beginning stages are often the most difficult as the weaver figures things out (color, fiber, technique) & in reality the weaving actually alternates between moving along at steady flow & suddenly stuttering as new puzzles to be solved arise. I also have to realize that even though I physically cannot weave eight hours a day, I need to work on getting more loom time in. I will continue to add more photos to the album & it will function as a “quick review” diary of my progress.

Pteronophobia caused a great deal of discomfort as I began weaving the first wingtips. After a bit of a struggle trying to decide on what fibers & colors to use, the first feathers were finally underway. The weft bundles are a mix of slub rayon, two kinds of wool, perle cotton, & sea silk. When a weaver uses the word "struggle", it usually means several rounds of weaving & unweaving were involved, in this case over the course of more than an entire week.

Yet another area of "struggle" then surfaced in figuring out how to represent in a natural, yet distinct way the differentiation between the the primary flight feathers where they begin to overlap one another. These feathers, on average two feet long, are the quintessence of condor flight. I felt a very driving need to portray them in a very specific way. With the introduction of this new area of shading, I am now using three different weft bundle blends for the primaries. The breaks in the feathers occur naturally as the feathers age... flying an average of 100 miles a day cruising for food creates a good deal of wear & tear!

At about 1.5 feet, the buttes were taking shape visually, & the condor's two foot long primary feathers of her lower wing are beginning to create an impact. The far right dark purple area is the shadow of the Canyon's inner gorge. The gorge shadow was another difficult area to get underway as I worked to attain a very subtle shift from darker to lighter values, not only as the weaving moves up the warp to give the feeling of the Canyon's depth, but also from left to right to represent the deeper shadow cast by the preceding butte on the left.

 

 

 

I am looking forward to returning from my time with DY, Janie, & Rebecca,  refreshed & ready to tackle the next 8 feet.

¡Hasta luego y Hágoónee'!