CAREN HALVORSEN A.K.A. ARTGURL
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Artgurl Articles

What can I say? My Muse has a mind of her own.

Pandemic Projects; Picking Up The Pizzas Of Our Past

4/11/2021

9 Comments

 
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 A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Away…

To be clear,
the year was 2004 and the galaxy was Fair Oaks, California. That’s when we built the pizza oven.

To be truthful, we didn’t build it by ourselves. It took a village.
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The oven itself, which came all the way from Italy, was a terra-cotta contraption of eight interlocking parts that needed to be “housed”  yet the written instructions were somewhat cryptic on this point. The manufacturer  assumed that EVERYONE  in 2004  knew what a finished pizza oven should look like. 

​Having endless imagination confined by a restricted budget, we used cinderblock.

My one aesthetic contribution: Glazed tiles. The A to Z of pizza  toppings.

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For 17 years , our 8x8x8 cinderblock behemoth, with it’s skinny- belt of alphabet tiles, pumped out pizzas. It fed our friends and warmed our hearts.

Then came the pandemic.
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The downside and upside of “sheltering at home”: it invites scrutiny while  offering permission.
​
During our last 30 years of household renovations, I’ve saved stuff: extra tile, broken mirror, leftover lumber.Are all artists hoarders? Perhaps. Or, like the Wicked Witch of the West, are we simply biding our time?

For years, these boxes  of building materials had been taking up space in our shed.So, when I asked my spouse “What would you think if I used that leftover tile on the pizza ov–“

“You go, gurl! ” He said.
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 Happily, some  fully vaccinated wizards  of my acquaintance  dropped by to offer their assistance which, for one halcyon Tuesday afternoon,   made life feel  almost like normal again. Grateful thanks to Dianne Van der Carr, Marilynn Rasmussen, Ann O' Connell and Abby the Wonder Dog.
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The finished product: :Mirror, broken ceramic tile, pebbles, and glass. Black slate interior.
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The Back: A mural. Just because.

9 Comments
Jeanette Locker
4/12/2021 03:49:10 pm

Great job, Caren!

Reply
Christine Holmstrom
4/12/2021 05:29:54 pm

You're such a genius artist - love the transformation from utilitarian pizza oven to fabulous art

Reply
Sheila Finch link
4/12/2021 05:35:03 pm

Your pizza oven is BEAUTIFUL! Steve said, "GOOD SHWAY!" (feng shui) I think the back of it is aahhhmaaaazing!!! :D

Reply
Rennie Hopping
4/12/2021 07:26:03 pm

AWESOME!!! LOVE the finished product!!! And...btw...your storytelling as well.❤

Reply
Annette
4/12/2021 07:38:54 pm

WOW!!!! I absolutely love it! You continue to amaze..XO

Reply
Randy
4/12/2021 08:02:21 pm

Bernini has nothing on you. If the rock has life and you just need to release it, the tile has tales and you just shared them. Thank you and I could not be more impressed and proud of the greatest and kindest spirit that I have had the privilege of experiencing.

We are all better because of you.

Reply
Holly Ragsfale
4/12/2021 08:11:03 pm

Can’t believe how this tiny, giant of an artist just keeps putting out with different artist expressions, never feeling fenced or bound she conquers with imagination, boundless energy and always we who look, see more and marvel!!!! You fascinate us all and inspire endless roads on creative paths...you are wonder dear Caren!!!!

Reply
Shelley
4/13/2021 08:29:35 pm

Can't wait to see it!

Reply
Micheal Glenn link
10/28/2022 12:54:18 am

Make piece piece thought data. Despite far offer society.
Never best serve activity anyone world. Middle particular month couple.

Reply



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The content provided by www.artgurl.com unless otherwise noted, is copyrighted © 2016 Caren Halvorsen. All use of www.artgurl.com website is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.All materials contained on www.artgurl.com, including all text and images, are copyrighted and are protected worldwide by applicable copyright laws and treaty provisions.
  • home
  • blog
  • illustrations
    • the tale of the time dragon's treasure
    • time for change
    • warmth of snow
    • no trump cards
  • jewelry
    • statement jewelry
    • go big or go home
    • jumping through hoops
    • jurassic sparkle
    • enchanted enamels
  • painting
    • expanding universe
    • enigma series
    • gilding the rothko
    • landscape series
    • masks we wear series
    • namaste series
  • sculpture
    • animated animals
    • garden art
  • store
  • about
  • contact