Mandy Greer's beautiful work hanging in the cathedral. It was a very special experience. Sadly it was tough to photograph handheld and many of my images were blurry. But here are some of them.

After lunch with a wonderful friend on Tuesday, I headed to the upper west side. A Seattle artist had work in an exhibit that opened recently at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and I wanted to check it out.




The sign was posted on the fence on the cathedral grounds.

After the Highline, I hit a bunch of galleries in Chelsea. I only took a couple photos...and here they are:





The description for the above work:

Still on the Highline on Tuesday...there were many interesting vantage points to see the Empire State Building. And with the greyness of the day, low clouds and heavy humidity...it made for cool viewing. I'm especially proud of the first photo.

One thing I miss in Seattle - torrential downpours.
Yesterday I luxuriated in the massive rain while at mom's. A deep, drenching, clear the air rain. And now, I'm looking out the window and the sun is shining.

Some of what I saw from the Highline in Chelsea on Tuesday morning...

Arrived in Providence, RI Monday morning.

We met up with Pete and he kindly showed us around the city for a few hours. It was my first time spending any time in this place that will be my next home and it felt good.

One very special part of this time was when Pete generously showed me his paintings. I was overwhelmed...and teared up. They are wondrous and deeply moved me.

A few scenes from walking around Providence.

Let's back track a little bit. I'm now nestled at my mom's and so can rest for the next few days. Here are some more from Boston.

Driving to a pretty fabulous Brazilian restaurant with M & E on Saturday evening and I saw this piece above the doorway. What made it even more charming was that the bull horns, the fish's tail and one of the chef's plates is in relief.




And here are a couple more photos from Castle Island (where I photographed the nuns) from Sunday.

More MoMA notes -

Alberto Giacometti has been one of my painting/drawing gods since 1995. If I could do what he does...his line, his energy, his exploration...





There are a few Matisses that I really enjoy. Here is one. I love how Matisse breaks up space.




But this...this is probably my favorite Matisse. I don't even know the name, and didn't look at the sign. But I have my own name for it: "Spanky and His Buddy".

When I first moved to Seattle a friend gave me a goldfish in a traditional goldfish bowl. I called him Spanky. Thing is, I felt so bad for him because he was alone and there wasn't any more room in the bowl for another goldfish. After a few months, I brought Spanky to the fish store and they put him with the other fish.

The palette in this painting is pretty sweet. And those little bursts of red...yum.





Check out these two details. This is some serious painting.

My Wednesday transportation plans needed to change which for me, was a big plus. Instead of leaving the city before 8 am...it meant I was now on my own and would take a bus a little later in the day.

The massive bonus was that I could actually take the morning to see the brand new De Kooning Retrospective at the MoMA. (You can see some of the exhibit at the link.) Originally I thought I'd miss it because the MoMA isn't open on Tuesdays and so was planning a weekend return to specifically see the show. Huge score.

I was in line about 15 minutes before the MoMA opened and spent a super delightful hour and a half in the museum. No photos allowed in the special exhibit but did take a few photos in the other galleries.

Left the house about 9 am and spent the entire day and evening wandering all over Manhattan, enjoying great company and good conversations...seeing art and walking, walking and walking.

And sweating, sweating and sweating.

I just returned back to the apt about a half hour ago and had to immediately take a cool shower. Damn it's humid out there and it is the one thing I do not look forward to when I move back east. I've been spoiled by our Seattle weather (regardless of all the complaining that many Seattle folks do.) We have it easy.

Sunday at Castle Island.

I think I've asked Matt at least four or five times today "what day is it?" I really haven't stopped yet...nor have I slept much, due to the heat. So I'm running on adrenalin and exhaustion. When I have a moment I'll post more but for now, here is a photo taken on our way out of Boston this morning. It pretty much describes the day. We headed to Providence where I had my first real feel of my new home. Meeting Pete, he showed us around...and we walked quite a bit. It was an emotional afternoon for me...between smelling my new city, seeing some friggin' powerful painting, and dealing with a few memories.

After a delightful late lunch, we parted after 3 pm, and drove down to NYC where I'm safely tucked into my bed in Queens and am looking forward to a long, deep, needed sleep as soon as I publish this entry.

Thus far, it's been a trip filled with gifts and good people.

We began today with a very late (almost 2 pm) brunch at a pretty sweet diner. At one point we were talking about photography and I explained that my camera is always set to take black and white photographs. So...I intentionally need to set it to shoot in color only when I feel that color will be the subject matter...(or an integral part of the subject).

The quandry comes...in times like this photo when I'm conflicted between the b&w and the color...(yes, sometimes I will actually shoot the same image in both).

what my mind does when I'm overtired and therefore a wee bit punchy:


fluff with clams
fluff with jam
fluff with beans
and all things green
fluff with spam
fluff I am
fluff with stuff
and fluff with much
fluff with eggs and chicken wings
and pretzel sticks
please don't get sick!


More from Fluff Fest in Somerville MA.

Waiting for my flight...a redeye to Boston. Not only do I have a direct flight, but inexpensively was able to upgrade my ticket to more seat and leg room...seat 1A. I'll be taking a Unisom as soon as I get on the plane and hope to sleep through most of the night.

This...this is probably the most needed vacation I've had in a while. It's been ten months of heavy duty stress - between losing a beloved boss of 11 years, dealing with the year long process of two dental implants, being evicted from my studio...and although looking forward to it, planning a move to the east coast, which also means hastening the training of my fabulous assistant. On top of it my amazing physician retired, and this month while dealing with a studio move, I had to find a new web host for my art website because my super computer guy was leaving the biz and transitioning to other things.

In 2011, I've also been painting up a storm, and in my day job creating new systems because our work staff increased by a third and therefore there are that many more demands. It's been a year of upheavals in just about every aspect of my life. And it ain't over yet.

I'm excited for all the new adventures awaiting me.
And...

...I am pooped.

An old drawing from Dec 2007. Watercolor, charcoal and graphite.

I've been looking at some of my works on paper from the last 4 years and am enjoying the building anticipation. By the time I return from vacation it will have been just over a month since I painted. This is the longest stretch I've had of not working on art since June 2006 and it will feel so good to get back to a regular discipline.

Can't wait to immerse myself in drawings.

An old photo because I haven't had the energy or time to shoot a new one. It's been a full week. Tomorrow I fly out to the east coast for vacation. Much needed. It's been an intense couple months and I'm spent.

The elevator on the 4th floor of our 619 Western Arts building.




About a month ago someone left a note in the elevator.




Today I returned to my empty studio to meet my WA State DOT relocation specialist. He needed to take photos verifying that I cleared out my space and there were papers to sign so I can receive my moving and relocation allotment.

Goodbye Sophia Room.

Under the red tent at the Capitol Hill Farmer's Market.

Slow.
Quiet.
Easy.

This was today.


(Photo from Dungeness a few weeks ago)

All moved out.

My two best friends joined me for emotional and physical support and then I had the pleasure of treating them to a pretty awesome meal at Coastal Kitchen. Speaking of Coastal, they are wrapping up their Buenos Aires menu and will be featuring Morocco in the next week or two. Moroccan food is some of the most erotic food I've eaten. The spices. The flavors. I'm looking forward to it.

The paintings, the easels, the rocker and the bulk of the studio stuff is safely tucked away at B & D's beautiful home. My little apartment now has a small piece of studio furniture and 6 boxes I need to sort through. I'll be emptying the boxes into the rolling cabinet and this week, prepare my space to begin drawings.

Although the hastened eviction blindsided all the artists, and many aspects were less than ideal...I've been able to create many sweet moments that have been assisting with closure. I feel I've been blessed with time and space to say goodbye to the Sophia Room. It allowed for a place to carry grief and at the same time, a building excitement for new adventures.

Blissfully I have nothing on my calendar until work on Monday morning. The remaining weekend consists of peace, resting, regrouping, catching my breath and right now...a long, hot bubble bath.

This is the floor under where my easel used to live.

This is the landing of the 4th floor of the 619 Western Bldg.

I made it to the studio before 9 am and just arrived home about a half hour ago, after a full day of packing and then awesome quality time and dinner with C. Tomorrow morning, I'm picking up the UHaul at 8 am to move everything out of the studio and into B & D's basement for 7 months.

My studio is on 4th floor south. The elevator goes up between the north and south side. This photo shows the entrance to 4th floor north. Note the large crack above the door on the left side. That crack runs down the spine of the building and you can see it above the door of each floor.

And yes, the crack has definitely shifted in the time I've been in the building.

The magenta door is the entrance to the office of the Tibetan Nuns Project, an organization that has been around for over two decades which, according to their website www.tnp.org provides education and humanitarian aid to refugee nuns from Tibet and Himalayan regions of India.

The Tibetan Nuns Project is dedicated to:

Improving standards of food, sanitation, medical care, and education in Tibetan nunneries
Working towards future self-sufficiency through educational and training opportunities
Training nuns to take leadership and service roles within their communities
Improving the level and status of ordained Buddhist women
Assisting recently arrived refugee nuns from Tibet
Continuing to establish further facilities for Buddhist nuns

When I first moved my studio into the building over four years ago, I was quite pleased to learn the Tibentan Nuns Project was not only in the building but on the same floor. It added a little extra awesome energy to the space.

One more thing to love about my studio building.