Announcing my first RI art show.

The Journey

AS220 - Main Gallery, 115 Empire Street, Providence RI

July 7 - July 25, 2015

Reception: Saturday July 11 5 - 7 p.m.

When I returned to New England in 2012 after 15 years in Seattle, I realized how much I had missed the dunes near the Atlantic coast.   This series began as a rediscovery of that landscape.   In painting the dune path I am painting the journey.  We know the ocean is over the crest yet it remains hidden as we climb the hot sands.  It is a landscape with an ever-changing personality: its calm and dramatic nature. A character of extremes, it can feel isolating and yet that space is full of emotion, of ideas and of color.

This journey is a quest for home.  Home - the place where we are seen.  The place where we are heard.  The place where we can just be.

Where do I begin?

I haven't posted in a month, and it's been a month of weekly snowstorms and blizzards.  Visually stunning and practically challenging.

Let's begin with an iPad painting I completed last night, of one of the streets on College Hill…on the east side of Providence.

Okay...being throwback Thursday, this photo is over 8 years old, taken on an NYC trip where I purchased my camera. The same camera I am still using.

While dealing with some very dark emotional days, another part of me has been getting increasingly excited. (Yes, I am a complex person...not being an "either/or" but instead an "and" kinda girl). 

The excitement comes from an upcoming and what is becoming an annual NYC trip consisting of 4 days of immersion in art with a dear friend who is an amazing painter from Seattle. And yesterday I just discovered that one of the jazz groups I've been aching to hear gig again happens to be performing on our last night in NYC.  Sue and I are going to experience Manner Effect 's music in the Lower East Side at the Rockwood Music Hall (which is one of my fave music venues) on our last night in the city! Can't wait to hear this music again.  And see loads of art! And have great art conversations!

It's crazy cold out.

The view from my living room.

On Saturday, Providence enjoyed its first snow of the season.  I noticed the flakes begin to fall in the late afternoon and decided to walk downtown to enjoy the quiet and the magic that comes with a snowfall and at the same time, check out a few art shows that were holding openings.

After seeing art, I went into the AS220 bar where I could enjoy the snow from the large windows while  warming up with a drink.  As I sat I was fascinated by the one yellow lamp amidst the red ones...over the large metal beer tap and the bar and so pulled out my iPad to paint it.

This morning's light through my studio window.

Last night was an amazing evening of good friends and new friends and fire, food and music.  I never thought I'd be playing the guitar outdoors in 20 degree weather.  It was all pretty magical.

Wandering behind homes all connected by a community backyard, we followed the lights to the candles which led us to the fire.

Fire. 

Destroying the old.  

Making new.

Because I really dig fire and get to experience it often since I've moved to Providence, I am looking forward to enjoying NYE with friends, outdoors...around a fire pit. Stoked! Just figuring out my attire because it's dropping to 20 degrees tonight.

Happy New Year everyone!!  

(photos taken earlier of Waterfire, the Iron Pour, and a friend's backyard)

I enjoy being able to see an expanse of sky from my house.  This was taken Sunday morning from my living room.

Yesterday, I discovered the 2009 award-winning animation, "Mary and Max" on Netflix streaming.  It's kind of brilliant.  Beautifully done.  Funny.  Sad.  A black comedy in claymation and not meant for children.  The film so entranced me that I'm watching it again this evening.  Here are some shots I took of the film on my laptop screen.  Gorgeous stuff.

It's been a while...months, since I've posted.

August and September left me financially strapped.  I was in the middle of a lengthy hiring process for a new job, my temp job wasn't paying the bills and I had maxed out my two credit cards with frivolities such as food and gas.  I became acutely aware of how frightened I was, although I tried really hard not to have it consume my days.

In this, I also wondered where the blog was headed.

I missed blogging.

I began my new position at the end of September and it took me until this month to get caught up on my bills.  As of today, I am no longer behind in my payments. The new position covers my monthly expenses will a little left over to enjoy a nice dinner out with friends once a week.

Solstice and the holidays are upon us.  This year, maybe due to the stress of the last 12 months, I've relished this season.  December came and I immediately put my little feather tree in my painting studio. A week later, I had the wonderful smell of evergreen in my living room with my green tree.

I don't know what next year holds but there has been a building excitement deep within me.  I sense changes.

Life is an adventure, isn't it?

I was watching a movie on Netflix and feeling out of sorts.  Maybe it because I talked myself out of going to the gym after work.  Or maybe something else.  I turned off the movie and decided to listen to music and do a blog entry instead.  And, make a gin and tonic.  Because you know, priorities.

The passing of Robin Williams has hit me hard.  It is only the second time that someone with celebrity status has died and I've been teary.  The first was a few months ago with Maya Angelou.  

As some of you know, I have no use for the concept of celebrity:  the character of a person always trumps fame and popularity.  But even though I knew Williams because of his movies and Angelou by her writings,  I was always more impressed by their strength of character.  And for me, that is what made them worth paying attention to.  

I don't believe that Robin Williams' death was tragic.  Yes, it is a loss for us, but I believe it was his time to explore the next phase of his journey.  The man, this wonderfully irreverent being, was filled with intelligence that was tempered by love and kindness.  I do believe that depression could have played a part but am highly cynical of our culture when it speaks of depression.  I believe in life experiences and some of them are simply different.  I believe in the few who are here on earth and are 50 years ahead of their time.   They hold a brilliant light which is a combination of intelligence and empathy...greater than a compassionate heart. With that, in addition to joy and sadness, there is an isolation that is deeply felt and is carried.  It matters not how many loving people surround the person.  They will feel like an alien at times.  

Human experience is such that we simultaneously all fit and don't fit.  We are all the same and all unique.  We can all (if we allow ourselves) feel deep isolation.  It is the human condition.

Within that, there are a few who feel it more acutely than others.   And I abhor the swarms of voices that clamor "depression, depression, depression".   Americans are so reactive and honestly, most times it makes my head want to explode.   I believe there are many reasons for depression, one which is the by product of being born ahead of your time.  Hence, sometimes treating the depression is simply putting a bandaid - a quick temporary fix but it does not do much to alleviate the suffering of who immerse themselves in our world and live extraordinary lives. 

We are quick to grasp at solutions in a futile attempt to make sense of life and sometimes, things just are what they are.  In our world, our universe, there are more questions than answers.  And guess what?  That really is okay.

Everyone life is different.  There is not one ideal path.  We all have our wounds, our scars, our demons.  And we all have our journey, specific to each one of us.  

from Dead Poet's Society (the first Robin Williams film that branded its mark upon me):

John Keating: Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular, even though the herd may go, [imitating a goat] "that's baaaaad." Robert Frost said, "Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

And this...definitely this:

"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

(photo taken in June 2007 in NYC)

Cleaned 6 weeks of dried oil paint off my palette in preparation for tomorrow (baby steps) and now am settled in to rewatch "The Tales of the City" on Hulu Plus. I loved the books and periodically reread them. But am I the only one that thinks the televised version smacks of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman"? I will say that Olympia Dukakis was the perfect Anna Madrigal.

This link is for a 2014 Guardian article on Maupin talking about "Tales of the City".

Another from Point Judith.

We have had a gorgeous summer thus far.  Considering the last two years offered months of massive humidity, which I loathe, this summer has felt like August in Seattle.  It has been mostly dry, a very frequent breeze which added to my comfort, and only a few uncomfortably humid days.

This weekend, which also thrilled me, a grey, cloudy weekend was forecasted.  I like the change.  And I love the ocean on grey, wet days.  It's an entirely different energy and for me, just as needed.

Yesterday evening I decided to drive down to Point Judith.  As I'm heading into this little town I notice people clamming in the marsh and had to throw my car in reverse to stop and enjoy the sight.  

I like how colors seem to glow on grey wet days.

Omg. It's almost the end of July and the summer is flying fast. Weekends are booking up and although I'm enjoying myself, I want summer to extend the season for another 3 or 4 months. There is lots I want to do and I fear there isn't enough time. 

(photo taken in Westport MA last Friday)

It's been such a busy time, and I've realized that a big part of that is exhaustion.  Yes, I have much going on, but I realized that I've become overwhelmingly tired.  The stress of not being a fulltime employee with benefits, as well as a mattress that has bit the dust has led to major sleep dep.

In this, I attempt to do what I can to rejuvenate myself.  Last Saturday I spent a day in Provincetown with friends.  It was glorious, although doing Ptown as a day trip is always difficult for me.  I always want to being able to at least spend one night so I can wander the beach and then Commercial St at night without worrying about driving home in the middle of the night or to get up early to wander down to the water as the sun rises and the air is quiet.  But, a day trip is better than no trip.

And I did even manage to capture the super full moon.

And yesterday, after work, instead of going to the gym I decided to head to the beach and spent an amazing 2 hours walking in the water.  It was the perfect end to a work week.

Happy Pride to NYC, Seattle, Chicago and all the other cities celebrating today!!! 

(photo from my first NYC pride in 2012)

Pride weekend in Rhode Island!  

Saturday was Pride Fest down next to the canal.  This year was the first year that I could check it out.  I walked down and spent a fun hour before walking to the train station to hop a train for dinner with some Seattle family who had been on vacation in NH before catching their flight back to Seattle.

I love my new city.

A gay caped crusader heading toward the iconic Superman building.

Lobster rolls at Pride Fest.  Must be Rhode Island.  

After a wonderful dinner I grabbed the train back to Providence in time for their night time Pride parade.  While walking to the center of town I saw the most glorious light.  This is not photoshop enhanced.

And then, as always, the parade was a good time.  There is something magical about celebrating at night.

It's been a while since I posted.  I have full intention of returning to this blog with longer posts and more frequent entries, but sadly, I've been neglectful.

One day it will happen.   

I am still working a temp position and I need to keep reminding myself that there is a fair amount of stress when not a permanent employee.  In addition, it doesn't really pay the bills.  I spend my time out of work in an attempt to keep a semblance of normalcy and routine in the midst of this shaky ground.  It involves spending more time experimenting with cooking, which takes time, hitting the gym 4 - 5 times a week, work with my art and then make time to see friends and visit my folks once a month.

So, that's my life in a nutshell.  It may give the impression of a mundane life but there is much richness found in the spaces.

Last weekend I had planned on going to the beach, but stayed in and worked on paintings for two days.  I hadn't been to Horseneck Beach since April.  

On Wednesday afternoon, as I was leaving work I took a left instead of a right and ended up here.

Horseneck Beach. The snow fences have been taken down, the path is cleared and the last vestiges of winter's mark are disappearing. 

Today's painting time included this quick little 12"x16" oil study on canvas in preparation for larger painting.  

In honor of all my beloved Bears around the country, "Still Life with CPap" is based on a photo I took at Phil & David's back in 2007.  I just waited until the time was right to begin the painting.

Since I've returned to New England, one of the few things I've found very challenging is the late winter/early spring grayness. After spending 15 years surrounded by green lushness, with camellias blooming in January, cherry blossoms opening at the end of February and even seeing roses in December...New England, for all it's cool stuff, has a harsh and dreary six weeks. Here it is, the 3rd week of April, and I am over the moon jubilant that the big tree outside my studio window is finally waking up.

The potent desire to clean house while in the throes of art grant and submission deadlines is clearly encased in the law of physics.

When the light is right, magic happens.

I've been going through all my photos from a magical afternoon at Horseneck Beach on Sunday…in the snow.

Here are a few for now.