SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE-almost

I had so many things going through my mind this morning, I was unable to choose one of them to post, so here goes a long one. Perhaps, I can take the next year off....yeah, sure.

Most importantly, today is my mothers 93rd birthday....shhhhh, don't tell anyone. She told some of her friends where she lives that she is 84!! I told her she should be proud of her age and how active she still tries to be, despite extreme osteporosis, but, no, she wants to be 84. She has had a hard life. Always working hard, taking care of my father through his alzheimers, then my grandmother......me. As an only child I am doing my best to keep her happy these days......and let me tell you, sometimes it's not easy (she can be cranky :-)).

The photo above is a "mishmash". It's actually a beautiful photo my daughter Emily took of her, after she "dressed her up" in the weird makeup and curlers. Emily won an award in a show with that photo. I decided to photograph it in the frame. What you see is my reflection, in my blue PJs. I liked it this way. Just ignore the as yet uncombed hair.





She met my father at a ballroom dancing. She loves to dance. The old photo is when she was in her late 20's, still not married. The one in the middle is her now, with my son Daniel, at his wedding in October. What a happy day for all of us. Then the woman who now has trouble walking a few steps without a walker, is seen dancing the hora at the wedding. There is no keeping her still when the right music is playing. Her favorite TV show is "Dancing With the Stars".

Below are three pieces I did , using my mothers images, in response to feelings about aging. They are sandcast glass imbedded with copper. I love working in the sand, imbedding an image and then pouring the hot molten glass into the image and watching it cool.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM. I LOVE YOU.





These next images I did for Constance, at Rochambeau. One of her last posts had to do with one of mother natures most beautiful designs, the shell. They make her happy. I got inspired and needed to sketch.




Lastly, my friend Judy at Red Velvet, has been posting some incredibly thought provoking images and writing about the Holocaust. I had mentioned in a previous post or two about an incredible museum in Philadelphia, The Liberty Museum. founded by a man named Irv Borowsky, an incredible man with an incredible art glass collection. He put together a great group of artists that made pieces for a book and exhibit called "Artists Confronting the Inconceivable", remembrances of the Holocaust. Below are just some of the unique and beautifully emotional works that were chosen.


Listen to the Flames by Toan Klein


Portrait of Anne Frank by Dana Zamecnikova


Please Look at Me by Steve Tobin

VISITING NEW YORK

Trash cans in Brooklyn. So....do you think they look better "decorated", or not? I found them to be a welcome change. They made me smile :-)


A face on the wall of a bathroom in Bistro Moutarde in Brooklyn.


From the always fabulous windows of Bergdorf Goodmans. "Fall preview"!!! if you can believe it...so soon.


The product of a wonderful day shopping at New York Central Art Supply. They have the best paper, brush, paint and just about everything else collection/selection I have ever seen crammed into an incredibly small space.


We went to see the Broadway show "Jersey Boys" and went out to dinner for Emilys birthday. I had not been a HUGE 4 Seasons fan (any of you "youngsters" remember them?)....but this show featuring their story and music was fabulous.



Last but certainly NOT least, on the way up to NYC, Em and I had "Dunch"( what we are calling a meal between lunch and dinner) with my friend Constance. I've mentioned her in another post and how fabulous her handbags are. You can see her blog by clicking on her name to the right......anyway, she brought some samples of her new work and this one just grabbed me. I only wish you could see all of the fine detail work inside as well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY

"When I approach a child,
she inspires me in two sentiments:
Tenderness for what she is,
and respect for what she may become."

-Louis Pasteur

My lovely, talented daughter, Emily turned 25 yesterday. This is my way of sending everything wonderful her way. Happy Birthday, Em!

PHILADELPHIA MURALS

First, I would like to send many thanks to everyone that offered such kind words from my last post. I've spent the last few days in New York City with my wonderful daughter, keeping her company while she is starting grad school and have not had computer access (sometimes a blessing!!).

With all of the "away time" I have had lately, I have not had ANY time for creating. I do find it mind expanding however, coming up with creative things to post. Since I was in the "big city" the last few days and usually tend to see "rural beauty" on many blogs, I decided that I would share something incredibly wonderful about my city, Philadelphia.

In 1984, a woman named Jane Golden, started what was supposed to be a short lived mural program, to combat the worsening graffiti problem we were having (I was particularly struck by the incredible amount of graffiti I saw in Portugal, which I was told was a recent problem.....just thought I'd mention that). To make a long story short.....yeah...right!......Philadelphia now has the most murals of any city in the world (over 2700)! There are wonderful tours. There is a website (www.muralarts.org). They are truely transforming. These are just a few examples. Enjoy.

FOR PAULA AND CHIC

Last Sunday as I was preparing to send an altered book for an altered book exchange/round robin, I decided for a number of reasons, that I would dedicate this book to my dear departed friend and artistic mentor, Paula Schaefer. The image that you see above is a portion of one of her many beautiful ceramic pieces. My husband and I discussed the fact that it had been far too long since we had seen Chic. her husband, and we were going to call him and make it a point to get together. Bob and Paula had initially worked together at a mental health program (she was the art therapist). We were married in their beautiful back yard. They were like second parents.

I was called yesterday morning, by another dear old friend, only to be told that Chic had passed away last Sunday (the very same day we discussed calling him and I was dedicating my book). Needless to say, we were very sad. Sad for the loss and sad for the fact that we hadn't called sooner. I will miss them both now.


-Chic with my son Daniel-



-Paula in a clay workshop we did together-




The above was the wedding cake that Paula helped me make for my wedding party. We made each letter a different flavor in a rectangular pan. After it was baked we cut out the letters and then iced it (we had a little help with that part). It was beautiful....

FROZEN IN TIME-Betye Saar

Last year, the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts, had a retrospective of Betye Saar. I wanted to share her work with those of you that are not familiar with her. Anytime I see anything that has the key words "assemblage", "found objects", "mysticism" and "inspirational" I am immediately interested. This exhibit called "Frozen in Time" , was dedicated to her work with photographs, specifically.

The fact that she was born in 1926 and has been creating these works since the "60's is amazing to me. I find her use of color and materials to be extraordinary. Her inspiration stems from both social and political movements, popular culture and personal memories.

FOUND IN PORTUGAL

It has taken me awhile to discover that old postcards are the best thing to bring home from my travels. Not only are they beautiful to look at, weigh next to nothing, fit almost anywhere.....but, the hunt.....that's the best part. Searching out those old musty places that sell.......OLD STUFF. In Portugal, apparently it's called "brik a brac". Everytime I found a place that looked enticing, I'd point and ask "how do you say that in Portugese?" and that is the answer I got.

These colorful beauties are from a little old book shop in Porto on the Rue Das Flores called Chamine da Mota. One is postmarked 1907. I have no clue what I will do with them........yet. I like looking at the colors and the expressions on the faces.

I ran into this quote today that I found amusing.

"When I was a child, my mother said to me 'if you become a soldier, you will become a general'.' If you become a monk, then you will end up as Pope'. Instead, I became a painter.......and wound up as Picasso". -Pablo Picasso

PORTUGAL-DISCOVERED

I spent the last week visiting Portugal. My husband and I have been lucky enough to be offered trips like this through our business. I must admit, it was not on my list of "1000 places to visit before I die".....but when opportunity knocks....

Impressions- A language that would take me a lifetime to learn....nothing like I've ever heard, most likely a mixture of the many places that Portugal conquered centuries ago. ........great seafood, duh, it's on the ocean....speaking of which, I can't tell you how many people (smart ones, at that) that were confused as to where Portugal is actually located. I told our great guide, Margarida, that they need a major promotional department..........GREAT PASTRIES........an incredible mixture of styles and cultures.......art and architecture that I would like to see restored, PLEASE........good road system....beautiful wine country outside of Porto, where they grow grapes to make......TA DA...Port wine....yes, that's where it comes from....lot's of blue tile mosaics and majolica.....
.



One of our favorite places was outside of Lisbon called Sintra and the castle there called Palacio de Pena. Your fairy tale castle comes to life. Built in the 19th century over an old 15th century monastery...which in turn was built over another religious site....incredible "karma".




Oh....and I found Prince Charming.


....who then wisked me off to Cabo de Roca, the western most point of continental Europe.




The wine country of the Douro River Valley.....




Life is just a bowl of...fresh picked roadside cherries.

EXPERIENCE AND MEDITATION

"The human mind cannot create anything. It produces nothing until after having been fertilized by experience and meditation; it's acquisitions are the gems of it's production," de Buffon


This week will be time for me to experience and meditate. ....ooommmmmm