Crazy Busy

Sorry I've been crazy busy. I have a gallery opening tomorrow in York. A good thing. York is a small town, but its where I live and teach so perhaps people will show up. My last few shows have been in New Jersey at Shazza's which was awesome, Elizabethtown (terrible), and Lancaster. Lancaster has a great art scene but I felt like I didn't belong. I do not live in Lancaster and I do not paint the Amish. You either paint the Amish or you need some trendy shtick which I do not do.

Anyway. I am actually excited about the York show. It is an invitational exhibit. I was invited to show with three other women artists. I feel that my little town acknowledged me a bit.

Also I am teaching all new classes. I wrote curriculum for Fine Art Photography, Cultural Art I and II and I am developing these classes and spend an incredible amount of time planning for these. I am teaching all three this semester and forgot how much work new courses require. In addition to these I am teaching two special ed classes, one for the multiply-handicapped and one for the autistic classroom.

And of course my children keep me busy. I have a high school junior and a college sophomore. The youngest is involved in everything, the oldest is doing well but her roommates keep her life full of drama.

Well, with that said I hope to be touching base more often. Peace out.

Year's End Whine, vintage 2011

Oh let's just call this year a fail. I failed. I was supposed to blog about tacky holiday decorations but I failed to carry my camera when the inspiration stuck. Sorry. I've been a very bad blogger. Here's to the end of a crappy year! 2011 was full of death and despair. There is nothing like going to three funerals of three young men within the last three months of the year. The first was my brother-in-law, the oldest at sixty, the second was a dear former student who died of suicide at 23, the third was a 14 year old current student who died in a tragic skateboarding accident. That was last week so I apologize for the foul mood.

November 29 had surgery to remove a wandering hemo clip that "wandered" from a prior surgery to a most uncomfortable place.

I struggled the first six months of the year to lose about 12 pounds. I believe I've found every single one of them once again. Sigh. Judging by the way my jeans fit, I believe they brought a few friends along.

Anyway I am looking forward to 2012! The excitement of a presidential election year. The Republicans are all vying for the religious vote. Mitt Romney is actually somewhat sane but the Religicans don't like him because he is a Mormon! The rest of them are totally and completely ridiculous. I am just afraid one of the lunatics might actually get elected. Then what?

Oh, some are saying the world is supposed to end? That might be a better option than Newt Gingrich.

Holiday Decorating...The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Daughter and I are on our search for the good, the bad and the ugly displays of the season. We wanted to do the twelve days of Christmas, but I had the wandering hemo-clip thing surgically removed and then we got busy. Anyhoo, I take no credit for this photo. It was sent to me by a friend. I thought it quite funny and I think the holidays are better if they make us laugh! We all need to laugh. Hopefully I will manage at least two more posts. I will leave it to your discretion to decide the category!

Killer Show at Idiosyncrazies!

Did I tell you my sister Shazza's gallery Idiosyncrazies was named the best Gallery of Ocean County, New Jersey? Did I tell you that I had the honor of showing my paintings with her in a "sister show"? Did I tell you that she sold two, maybe three of my paintings? I am honored and amazed. In the first photo you will see our display, Shazza's photos and my paintings. A few of my paintings were inspired by her photos. I tried to paint some beachy themes because her gallery is at the beach! Well Shazza sold two of my woodsy themes. One being my signature "Sacred Grove" painting. I credit Shazza's incredible salesmanship along with the good people of New Jersey. I never felt quite as at home in the Lancaster Art "Scene". Perhaps the New Jersey people appreciate my mystical vortexes and trippiness a bit more.

Here we are at Shazza's store. Some of the relatives showed up! Pictured are cousin Cynthia, my father (aka semiconductor), Shazza, Self, Aunt Bette (aka Mrs. Doubtfire), and Jeannie. Aunt Bette is my mother's sister, Cynthia and Jeannie are her fraternal twin daughters. They are holding a print of my Dublin "Chimbleys". My framer and one of her employees requested to purchase prints of Chimbleys. That was inspired the view from my hotel room on our family trip to Ireland four years ago.

Thanksgiving and Pearl Harbor

My youngest spent Thanksgiving in Hawaii. Not just for fun and frivolity but her Marching band was invited to help commemorate the 70th anniversary of the lives lost at Pearl Harbor. The first picture is of her friend and tuba player, Joel paying his respects at the U.S.S. Arizona memorial. The band played two performances there and will march in the Waikiki Holiday Parade tonight.


A few of the girlfriends with their leis still intact, getting ready to perform. Delaney had a wonderful time. Besides performing she found time to kayak and bury friends in the sand. She missed Thanksgiving with the family although they "provided" the cafeteria grade turkey dinner with instant mashed potatoes, it wasn't up to par. Delaney sent us a text telling us she missed our Thanksgiving dinner. We stayed home. There were only the three of us. Oldest daughter was home from college and appreciated home time. So lets be thankful. Remember the brave men and women who fought for us and pray to stop these stinking wars.

Death Month

Calacas

Sugar Skulls

In certain parts of Mexico, the indigenous people have celebrated El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead during late October and early November. This wonderful festival (lasting several days) celebrates the lives of deceased loved ones. The people believed that during this special time of year, the spirits of the loved ones came back to visit. Sugar skulls are made and painted in bright colors. Little handmade skeletons "calacas" are created, dressed in the deceased persons' favorite clothing and depicted enjoying their favorite activities. Tombstones are decorated with marigolds. When Mexico was "conquered" by the Spaniards, the people had no choice but to convert to Catholicism. The Mexican people incorporated their traditions into the Catholic All Souls Day.

I remember years ago suggesting to my daughter's elementary school PTO that we should incorporate some of these festivities into their fall festival. What fun it would be! (This was after a certain fundamentalism group outlawed Halloween). Needless to say that was immediately shot down and I was accused of Satanism.

October to me has become death month. I spent last weekend in Virginia following the death of my brother-in-law. Dr. Joe turned 60 on September 11th. One year ago we traveled to Virginia to "celebrate the life" of my husband's best friend. Michael was 51. My mother's birthday would have been October 20th. All three of them died prematurely due to different types of cancer. I'm not quite up to celebrating in the way of our Mexican friends.

I haven't felt much like posting. I felt the same way last year after Michael's death. Mom's birthday in the middle of this contributes to the down feeling. My students will be making colorful skulls in art class. Perhaps if I post the name of the project in Spanish I will not get flak.

Preserved Farmland Trust Painting

Here is the painting I've been working on for the Preserved Farmland Trust of York County, Pennsylvania. Thirty local artists were invited to participate. Each artist was assigned a preserved farm.

I was assigned to the 400 acre Snyder family farm in nearby Mount Wolf. I was given one day in July to sketch and photograph and gather a general impression of the land. The owner agreed to meet me at 6:00 p.m. one evening. I drove around with my sketchbook and camera, wishing that I had time to paint on location.

The cause is worthy. The owners of beautiful farmland agree to preserve their land in order to maintain some of the rural character of our county for future generations. The land directly across the road from this farm was turned into a typical sprawling suburban subdivision. I'm sure it was somewhat profitable for the owners, but much more so for the developers. Just beyond the ridge of hills there lies shopping centers, car dealerships, and traffic. The tower of he trash incinerator is visible, but not prominent on the horizon.

I am honored by the invitation to participate in this exhibit. There are some well known artists participating that I consider way above my league!