16 Dec 07

This week went by frighteningly fast, as has the past three months.

The week began anticipating a call from the foundry that has been handling my work alerting me the casting process has been completed. I got that call on Tuesday and went to see my casts on Wednesday. When I arrived they were all done just waiting for the patina of my choice and my final stamp of approval. After careful inspection I noticed my signature had been ground or sanded off the piece and the sprue holes needed to be filled. I waited for them to fix one of the pieces, when I saw it, I couldn't tell there were holes there to begin with and the chiseled in signature read better than my writing ever will! So I left the foundry and also my work for the last time. I was only correct in the former prediction. On Thursday I was called to come to the company which bought the work from me to sign certificates of authenticity and check out the packaging that the pieces will be delivered in. The certificates were quite incredible, the company printed them in house, as I would expect. I learned the company is a security printing company that designs and prints smart cards, currency, security cards, and passports. Of course the packaging was as exquisite as the documents, each sculpture was wrapped and placed in royal blue satin with the company logo printed in silver, placed within a silver foil box, and finally tied with pewter and blue ribbons, again printed with the company name.

My friend that I was going to be staying with surprised me with an email telling me she was coming to Zagreb to see me before I go back home! She came in on Thursday night and has stayed until Sunday evening, she is traveling to see a friend in Split and will return on Tuesday. So we spent the past few days walking around the city and checking out some exhibitions and galleries.

I really can't believe that it is Sunday night as I type this update and I will be home at this time next Sunday. So the next few days I will spend cleaning up the studio, packing, and taking care of all the mundane "leaving the country" tasks.

Now I have begun the worries of having too much weight to bring back, even though I was sure to pack clothes and other items I would have no problems saying goodbye to at the end of this adventure. I wouldn't feel quite as uneasy if I had access to a scale so I could weigh my bag before I leave. I am considering scoping out the fitness center in our building for a scale I may borrow for such a task of ensuring I don't have to pay $50 in overweight fees.

I'll try my best to post again before I depart, maybe during my overnight stay at the airport, if Munich has free wifi.

All my best
--AM