Today I had a conversation with a vendor. I remember I had heated words with this vendor in the midst of the big job last year. But then, it was a time in the business when everything was stressful. I still needed to work with them and order from them. This conversation yesterday wiped out those bad feelings from before.
I had asked the vendor, upon my last order, if anyone had mentioned a problem with the clay that I order. You see, I have to melt this clay. So, on any given day, in my studio, there are crockpots and hot plates with pans heating up this clay. Two months ago I had my interns set up a table in another room so that the clay will melt and smell out of the main work area. I did this in the hope of possibly protecting my lungs.
An art studio is not the best place for someone with lung problems and being that I am a very successful artist I don’t want the doctors or my health to determine that I must give it up. We have made lung health important. We have done that by providing workers with masks and respirators. In fact, when my daughter’s house burned down, I was able to take those respirators with me for all of those who entered the building. I think I provided 5 or 6. But this melting of the clay was something that I could control, and as it compares to my lungs, I need to take control of something.
So I began to have conversations with my vendor about the clay. When I placed this reorder I mentioned it to the woman who I believe is in charge of this business. She answered the phone and took my order, and on the chance that the last guy didn’t mention my concern I asked her.
“You have been the topic of conversation in the shop of late.” She said. “Not by name but by association. We have asked some of the big users of our products if they have experienced any problems. So far no one has. But you do work with so many things.”
Yes, I do. She knows because I purchase from her. None of the following are consistent, but we do use them during different stages of the process.
Plaster- Plaster is used for the mother molds. I’d like to say we always use a face mask with plaster, but it is not so. Here we have been less diligent.
Resin- We do resin with respirators, and at times if we are also working with fiberglass we look more like a hazmat group then a studio of artists. In honesty, I am leaving more of the resin to my workers. I love this luxury. These are the perks of having people who work for you.
Rubber- there is different types of rubber that are used for molds. Mold making happens over several days. I have never thought about wearing a mask during mold making because the rubber really does not smell bad. I have heard rumors of one mold maker having health problems. I am not sure what the health problems were, or what type of molds she made, but I was lead to believe it was the rubber we use. So the last time I wore a respirator or did it outside with a fan blowing away the fumes.
The clay that is melting in crockpots is a waxed base clay. We heat it up to make it malleable and then once it is on the sculpture, we often hit it with torches to soften it or to smooth. Sometimes we brush it with heated vaseline, which occurred to me yesterday. When we smooth it, we are heating up a small metal container of petroleum. That can’t be good. Again, I no longer do a lot of the smoothing. Much of the smoothing is done by others. I come in sculpt and say, “Smooth all of this out here.”
Recently we started painting some small figurines, well, my interns are painting them after I give them the instructions. One intern, who is hyper-aware of lung things because of my new issues saw that it requires ventilation. I make interns aware of the dangers, suggest alternatives, such as have a fan blow the fumes away and open a door, and everyone knows where the masks and respirators are. It is their prerogative about wearing them.
However, when I’m in the studio working, arrangements are made. For example yesterday I was sculpting in the studio. Well, two others were also working. One was grinding small resin pieces, and the other was painting them. So they got to work outside, while I worked inside.
Back to my vendor. She asked me what happened and I told her about the doctor who scared me in January telling me I might have 3-5 years to live. ( That death sentence is now taken off the table. But it was frightening at the time. ) This vendor had such great empathy and said, “I remember when they diagnosed me with pancreatic cancer last year, getting that news was devastating.” She said.
My heart sank. My mom had pancreatitis, and I am painfully aware of how difficult that was for her. We became quite informed about pancreatic cancer and new that of all of the cancers, well… that one kills fast.
“I beat it. I watched my brother die of it, and I beat it.” She went on to tell me about a surgery and other things, and I was just on my end of the line thinking, “you just have no idea what other people are going through, what they don’t tell you.” If we could all keep that in mind the world would be a better place. I am reminded of this upon every doctor’s visit. It is very humbling as I see people with very little lung capacity or being wheeled in wheelchairs or a burn victim, and somehow I give thanks for right where I am. With all that I am dealing with, I am thankful by comparison.
So, this conversation gave me a new camaraderie with my vendor and softened our communication. In the meantime, we are extra cautious in the studio, and I’m searching for a handyman or perhaps a son-in-law who can put in a shop vent to further move air out of that room. My interns are excited because they feel it will also help in the hot summer months to move air through. Of course, an intake vent is also important.
New materials are on their way, which means new creations and I’m excited that I can still create, for now.
Inspired,
Pusche
LINKS I HAVE FOUND ON STUDIO VENTILATION
Many of my friends where very helpful. One person reported that he could help me figure tit out because he took an industrial hygiene class on ventilation.
This guy tells how he created his workshop ventilation.
Photos are inspirational for me.
Love this over the work area hood ventilation.
I purchase this vent from Amazon
