Blue Paint & Birds

Yesterday was a day for blue. I stained my hands blue working in the studio. Then when I was waiting at the bus stop for Olivia I discovered a flock of blue birds. They were very bright and very animated. It makes me feel like spring...but I still would like a decent snow storm! One day to play in the snow does not seem like enough for one winter. I have great childhood memories of entire winters covered in snow followed by intense longing to see the grass again.

Philadelphia

I love the people you encounter in Philadelphia. This morning as I swam laps at the Broad Street YMCA the lone lifeguard broke into song. Yes, I said BROKE INTO SONG. She belted out several songs, one of which I recognized from Corinne Bailey Rae’s album. She had a fantastic voice but even so as I swam back and forth enjoying the music a part of me was saying “the lifeguard is SINGING!?!?!?!?!?!” Man, I love this place.

Drawing

I've been working on this drawing for well over a year. I'm really going to miss it when it's done.

Double Spiral Continued

The double spiral now joined but still awaiting the additional rounds that will surround both bodies. This is the same piece shown in the Jan 13 posting. Yep, it's taking awhile to construct. I really can't wait to finish it because I have big plans for the next phase of it's development.

A Fine Day

Friday was an unexpectedly fine day. Warm and sunny and just generally beautiful out. It would have me wishing for spring except I'd still really like a little more snow before winter ends. I keep hearing about all this snow in Ohio and New York but we've had almost none in Philadelphia. And I do love the snow!

Terry Winters at Matthew Marks

This show was one of the highlights of my Chelsea trip. The colors and shapes are very blunt. They knock you out when you first see them. Several times I looked at the paintings and thought "Yuck!" But what beautiful yuck, like playing in the mud, texture, depth and then finally beauty. I'd spent some time in the previous galleries looking at work and trying to decide if it was good or not. But then I came in here and knew I was looking at a painter who knew what he was doing. What an awesome relief. Unfortunately I didn't get that feeling again until I encountered Dona Nelson's painting some 4 blocks later.

Hadassah Emmerich - Chitra Ganesh - Dona Nelson - Haeri Yoo at Thomas Erben Gallery

I finally made it to Chelsea and to the galleries! Two shows really hit the spot for me. The first was this show at Thomas Erben Gallery. I neglected to take a photo of Emmerich's piece so take a look at the image on ArtCal. It's a great show.

Chitra Ganesh

Haeri Yoo

Dona Nelson

Nelson's work really needs to be seen in person so in lieu of that I've taken several detail images. The first shows the intense tactility of the surface. The second and third images show the installation which allows you to view both sides of the painting. I spent a good long time looking at this work.

After a while I realized that the canvas was punctured and sliced repeatedly. From the back the light shows through. (see the white dots below.)

Advice

Today, some advice. Never, I repeat, NEVER do an image search on Google for "rash". I am scarred for life. And I still don't know what's wrong with my daughter. But I am coming to believe in a conspiracy. This is the third Thursday that I am attempting to go to Chelsea to see some art. I haven't given up hope yet...

Parades and Bystanders

We are so utterly happy to have a new president. Yesterday I found myself wondering if it could be a coincidence that the past 8 years were the worst 8 years of our lives? But no, I really don't believe it. I whole heartedly believe that a thoughtful and intelligent individual can make a difference. I think the geese and swans agree.

Winter Hiking

Loving Life

Virtual Travel

I love to travel and in the past have traveled to some really wonderful places. These days our travels are limited. We put most of our traveling energy into going hiking and visiting family. Luckily my Facebook "friends" are traveling all around the world. Now I virtually travel. I wanted to share some of my favorite virtual travel experiences.

Stunning beauty in Mexico with Courtney McCubbin.

True love in Egypt with Allie Terry.

Awesome structures in Cambodia with Myriam Ariey-Jouglard.

Making "snowmen" in New Mexico with Ann Bowden.

A Sense of Drama

For the past few weeks my Comcast phone, internet and cable connection have been cutting out. It's making phone conversation almost impossible or at least only possible in 5 minute intervals.

My friend Sally called me this afternoon. She said:

"I have to tell you something.

When you were moving across the country, changing jobs, going bankrupt and losing your house you often said, 'this is hard.'

But when I talked to you this morning and the phone was cutting out you said, 'This is ruining my life.'

I just had to tell you that."

Domestic Bliss

I've been sitting at the computer for hours now with the initial intention of writing this morning's blog. I say initial intention...I lost all of my will to the internet...sucked in as they say...and I found this. It preempts the blog I should have written and makes my mom's "shit" potholder seem tame. I love it. I might make my own. It would say "Filling the sink and leaving the dishes in it for three days is not DOING THE FUCKING DISHES." Right now I'm imagining a whole series of "domestic bliss" kitchen linens. I'm sure Matt could add to the collection with his own loving words. And then...just to prove what a domestic dynamo I really am I'll post my original images-all with lots of crap in the background testifying to my general ineptness at cleaning. (go here -Aunt Cookie- for the blog I found the image of the towel on.)

These images are all about that lovely color blue, teal, I guess. The girls all love it. That makes me happy because it is constantly presenting fantastic color relationships, sometimes harmonious, sometimes not. But they are always fabulous.

National Museum of the American Indian

January in the Studio