Big Hands ... Tiny Art

May 14, 2016

Today is the day, finally! Doug’s first-ever show of his teeny-tiny cut paper art is on display at the Mark Twain Library in Redding and today is the opening reception.

I’m just going to share a few photos here, along with excerpts from the lovely news article, written by Maggie McIntire.

Standing at 6’4, Doug Crites-Moore nearly fills the doorway when he enters a room, yet his passion is sitting at his dining room table for hours on end, creating whimsical paper sculptures that stand about an inch tall.

Nearly 40 of Crites-Moore’s intricate works are now on display at the Mark Twain Library. Crites-Moore, a longtime Redding resident, will give a gallery talk and share the process and inspiration behind his work on Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m.

TINY WOVEN PAPER SHOE :: ONE INCH LONG BY HALF INCH WIDE

For as long as he can remember, Crites-Moore said he had a fascination with “tiny things.” He made his first paper sculpture, a stereo console cabinet, when he just 10 years old, growing up in Oregon.

“It’s hard to explain. I’ve just always had an interest in making really tiny things. It’s in my DNA,” said Crites-Moore, a retired Senior Marketing Manager at IBM. “For me, it’s Zen – total peace. When I’m making these things, it’s the closest thing to being in my heart.”

CHRISTMAS TREE WITH TRAIN ON TRACK AROUND THE BASE :: THREE INCHES TALL

The tools he uses include water color paper, dental implements, tiny scissors, X-Acto knives, blades, little clamps and tacky glue. He often creates the sculptures to give away as gifts, or to celebrate holidays. Crites-Moore said some creations take just a couple hours, and others have to be assembled in stages over the course of several days. One of his favorite works is a gift he made for his daughter, Adeline, a Noah’s Ark that stands just an inch and half tall – with miniature Noah and his wife standing on deck, tiny birds flying overhead and four pairs of animals marching aboard.

ADELINE’S ARK :: ABOUT TWO INCHES TALL AT ITS TALLEST POINT

Crites-Moore said his wife Morna, has encouraged him to follow his passion for turning plain white paper into works of art.

“She has always seen that I’ve had this thing, this passion… she encourages me all the time, ’’ Crites-Moore said.

In case you’re wondering, I am 5’ 1" tall. I used to be 5’ 4" tall - and I thought that was short. It’s a good thing Doug likes tiny things, although I’m only tiny in the vertical.

Rainy Day

June 1, 2015

It's just a cold, rainy day. Not what one expects for the first day of June. The rock sculptures are thanks to Dougie; they greet you at the bottom of our driveway.

rose petals from doug - to use in the dye pot

The roses Doug brought home last week are spent. I'll try the petals in a dye experiment, even though I am finally getting it through my head that it is more likely leaves that will give good results. The leaves were in the bouquet. I don't know what they are but I'll give them a whirl.

I finally dislodged the rusty old iron cauldron from its hiding place. Surely I should have some eco-luck if I use this as a dye pot.

It's so cold and rainy, I may even use some of this tonight. Happy First Day of June!

Roots

November 25, 2014

I've had my new right knee for about ten weeks and it feels great. In fact, when I do my exercises it is often the other knee which causes me pain. Soon I'll be planning the second surgery.

My core set of exercises consists of going up and down the stairs, riding the stationary bike, and walking. Yesterday, Doug and I took a little walk and I took a closer look at the tree that uprooted in the heavy rain we had a week or so ago. It may not show so well in this photo (I should have had Doug stand next to it) but this root mass is huge! I'm usually inclined to let the woods be, but this tree is so enormous that it really is a bit of an eyesore. I don't want to think about what it will cost to have it cut up and removed ... well, save the wood for the fireplace and remove the rest.

We didn't walk far because my left knee was acting up, which would be okay except that once it starts there is a concurrent pain that hits my back and that's the one that makes walking more or less unbearable. We walked to the end of the drive and then we sat on a little bench which Doug installed about twenty years ago, for use when waiting for the school bus. When it was time to get up and head back to the house, Doug offered his hand, partly to help me up from the bench and partly to keep me steady, to ensure I wouldn't fall while walking. I suddenly had a memory of a darling, white-haired older couple I saw in Ann Arbor, Michigan, about thirty seven years ago. They were walking down the street, autumn leaves all about, and they were holding hands. I thought it was so sweet!

Yesterday, I realized that now we are the older couple. From now on, when I see an elderly pair holding hands, I'll wonder: is it because they are still sweethearts after many years together, or is it because they hold on to keep each other from falling down. Probably it's both!

After all, those roots we build during decades together run deep and support us in many different ways.

March - It's been real

March 22, 2014

I'd like to translate the gorgeous pattern on this apple to cloth. Seriously, click on the image to enlarge it. It's fabulous!

If I ate the apple - one a day to keep the doctor away - maybe then I would not have awakened in the early hours a few days ago, wondering what hideous new pain was besetting my body. I am greatly indebted to the awesome volunteers of the West Redding Volunteer Fire Department. Not only did they quickly arrive at my house and carry me away to the hospital, they also managed to convince me I really did want to put on pants first. In my defense, I was a bit delirious, partly from having put up with the pain for an hour or so and mostly from having found some narcotics leftover from a dental procedure. In the ambulance, Celia kept me calm and and Joe (I think his name was Joe, but Doug says it was John) gave me morphine. And once I had enough morphine in me, they both politely listened while I attempted to tell a somewhat off color joke I had seen on Facebook. Here's the joke:

Maybe part of the reason I find this to be funny is because my "old man" is finally going to retire, after a mere 44 years with IBM. I am so happy that he is going to be free to pursue what interests him. We have been nudging him toward retirement for quite a while now. I began to believe he might just never make the leap. It will be interesting to see what he does since he has many talents.

For a happy and delicious wrap up, let me share what I did as a result of visiting Gwen Buchanan's glorious blog, Desideratum.