turquoise sky. red mountains.

 Our last stop was in the land of turquoise sky, red mountains and it was a soothing balm after all the crazy hustle bustle of Vegas. We spent a morning at the Museum of Northern Arizona which is nestled amongst mountains + forest...and through an insane amount of luck and serendipity, I managed to be there for the Zuni festival which happens once a year!!!

 I sat in reverence and listened to a matriarch speak of earth + sky + ancient soul knowledge. She spoke of passing on her wisdom + language and culture to her grandchildren so that the Zuni way of life would be preserved. She didn't know exactly how old she was because she had passed into the age of timelessness + such things didn't matter anyway. She spoke in song while drums were beating in the background and chills went up and down my spine as I listened to her deep spirit speaking only truth and medicine. I felt the earth around me rise up to cradle and protect me...and I felt a deep and complete sense of peace.

In her voice I heard an ancient story that binds us all to a common truth. We are here, in this moment, to share what we know...all of our pain + truth + heartfelt beauty. We are here to follow our path, forge our journey; open ourselves up to life. I had tears running down my face after listening to her speak. It was a gift, unimaginable, and I was grateful to have received it.

I soaked everything in...all of the pottery (some of them a thousand years old!!), turquoise and silver jewellery ...drawings, paintings, dancing and books. I tried to absorb the ancient ways of embracing the wisdom of the earth, of connecting to the land and her truths. So when we drove up to the Grand Canyon that afternoon..I felt completely ready to accept her beauty. It was a humbling + awe inspiring experience...to fully understand how we are, simultaneously, so small + seemingly  insignificant yet...how powerful and connected to the Universe we are. Both truths standing in their own space without negating the other.

Early the next morning I went for a long walk walk by myself...it was cool and brisk in the mountains. My soul mingled with the earth ...and each step brought me closer to mySELF. I found this gorgeous black feather that magically appeared in my path. I don't know the exact meaning of it...but I really didn't need to...I knew deep in my heart, it was a sign, a gift, a message from the Universe. I held onto it tightly and put it in my journal (seen in pic above with a postcard by artist Serena Supplee). Magic.
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We are back home now and Tara is ecstatic !!! One of the first things she did was say hello to all of her dolls + babies. Then she put on her princess clothing and played dress up!!! The next few days are full of laundry, unpacking and gardening and things. 

Vegas = too much

(Tara watching the boats at the Bellagio)

We spent a couple of days in Vegas and I just have to say...I am not a Vegas kinda' girl!!! Maybe like...20 years ago but...definitely not anymore. I haven't been there since I was in my late teens and man...have things ever changed over there!!! Huge palatial over the top hotels and everything in excess (to the nth power !!) . First of all...I must be getting old because all I wanted to do by 11 p.m. was go to sleep!! I know, I know...I can stay up until 3 in the morning painting!! It was scorching hot for the two days we were there (like you could cook an egg on the sidewalk kinda' hot!!) and there were a gazillion people walking the strip. Exhausting!!! I longed for cool and quiet.  It was fun to see Tara in awe of the grandeur + lights + all the action.  But other than that??? It was all a bit too much for me. I don't like buffets or gambling. The shops on the strip were over the top expensive (100$ t-shirts???) All in all...I was glad to leave the hustle bustle and venture out into the vast open spaces, the red mountains and mesas of Arizona. I did spot Elvis though:)

on the road

(Tara still in Princess mode!)

on the road...pancake breakfasts, sunshine + miles of orchards, rest stops, laughs and silly conversations, passing through red mountains and dried up rivers, the Grand Canyon (pics soon!) and on and on. Back home soon!!

I love you San Fran!!!!

I love San Fran!!!! My dream is to spend a summer here...an entire summer, can you imagine?? There are 10 gazillion things to do over here...places to see, discover + experience. Quaint little coffee shops, bookstores, cobbled streets, art + culture. I love being in such a cosmopolitan city...it's so diverse in every sense. Tim and Tara spent a morning at Alcatraz Island (I had no interest in doing that) so I went exploring all over the place. I walked through Little Italy...browsing, people watching, coffee drinking and such.

I stopped at this little gallery (Arata Fine Art Gallery) chock full of treasures. This lady right here is the actual artist of the painting and the gallery owner as well...Arata is her name (love!!). There are paintings, sculptures, conte drawings and more. I had a good little chat with her and she told me how she came to open up her own gallery. One of the things she said to me that really stuck with me is "you just never know what opportunities life will present to us." Very inspiring.
Arata Fine Art Gallery
450 Columbus Ave
San Fran. Ca
It's right in the heart of Little Italy so-if you are in the area-you can stop in and then grab a cup of coffee and pastry at an Italian coffee shop too:) Art + great conversation + Italian coffee...can't get much better than that!!

I managed to catch up on a little bit of writing, reading and dreaming...all in a little coffee shop where very little English was spoken (San Fran is such an international city!!). I was in absolute bliss. And the streets here are so steep...I mean...you see pics of it but it really doesn't give you an idea of how hilly it is. If I lived here I would never even dare to drive (!!!) but it would be an amazing workout just walking around. Everything would be all toned + tight in no time at all:)

We loved strolling around Fisherman's Wharf...I could just sit there for hours...listening to the live musicians, peoplewatching, feeling the wind in my hair. This place is so rich in history.  And the seafood here???? OMG!!! Totally amazing. I could live here for that alone.

We created such great memories of San Fran....walking on the pier, the carousel at Pier 39, looking at a hundred different seashells in  a specialty shop on the wharf, catching up on some quiet time with Tim...wind + sun all around. I love the hustle bustle over here...the artsy energy and exploring. All the nooks + crannies just waiting to be discovered.

I spent a whole morning in Chinatown (with Tara!!!). Okay...a toddler in a stroller on a Saturday morning in Chinatown??? Probably not the best idea!!! But one of her fave. books is The Moon Lady(by Amy Tan) and I wanted Tara to see everything come to life (paper lanterns and silk slippers) but...it was exhausting!!!  After a few hours...we were both pooped!!!! Tim wasn't even going to try to brave it with us, smart guy:)

We picked up a pair of gorgous pink silk Chinese p.j.'s , matching silk slippers and an umbrella. Tara absolutely loves loves loves it and wants to wear it everday, everwhere...day and night!!! Good times:) This trip has been so nourishing to my soul...just getting out of the everyday (routines, to-do lists + housework!!) + lots of sleep, a little bit of sun + wine + reading...has been a breath of life.
We LOVE you San Fran!!!! Thank you for everything. I'm going to take lots of your bits & pieces back home with me!! xxx

"the painted word"

I went to see this fantastic exhibition at the Meridian Gallery called the Painted Word. The entire exhibit examines the connection between the artists' painting and writings. It was a relatively small exhibition but I stayed  here for well over an hour...reading up on the artists and just...absorbing everything.

My absolute fave. painting is this one right here called "A Seed Doing It's Stuff" by Armenian-American fiction writer/playwright/artist William Saroyan. I have (from a long time ago) been a huge fan of his poems + essays. And I just adore the energy, color + rhythm of this painting. Isn't it amazing???

There were other artists as well (Ferlinghetti, Rexroth, Hirschman and more) but...I kept on going back to Saroyan...his paintings simply held me in a space of intrigue and magic.



This exhibition was part of April's Poetry month...there are tons and tons of poetry readings and documentary films (the Red Poet) as well. I just love San Fran!!!! I think I could live here!!!

reclaiming mySELF

"For each of us as women, there is a dark place within, where hidden and growing our true spirit rises. These places of possibility within ourselves are dark because they are ancient and hidden; they have survived and grown strong through that darkness. Within these deep places each holds an incredible reserve of creativity and power, of unexamined and unrecorded emotion and feeling. The woman's place of power within ...is dark, it is ancient and it is deep...For women, then, poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital neccesity of our existence. It forms the quality of light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams towrad survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action. Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought. The farthest horizons of our hopes and fears are cobbled by our poems, carved from the rock experiences of our daily lives."

                                                               -Audre Lorde (Poetry is Not a Luxury)



I brought along a few books to read on the road, one of which is a collection of essays by Audre Lorde. I am falling in love...word by word...with her words + heart + intellect all over again. Her work brings me to mySELF. To what is right + whole + empowering.

(billboard seen In San Fran)

Ever since I gave birth and became a mom...I have had to give so much of mySELF to Tara, mothering + my family. Even little things (like reading or going out for coffee by myself) were simply not possible. I used to love dressing up in prints + colors and being so girlie...but these last few years...it's been easier to just let so many parts of mySELF go. It's just the way it is and I have no regrets at all. But now that Tara is growing up + gaining some independence...I am (little by little) claiming parts of mySELF. It feels so good...this rediscovery and excavation. This renewal + transformation.

I feel happier + stronger than I ever have. More comfortable in my own skin...more confident and tender towards all of my pieces (broken + whole). Maybe this is a gift of getting older? Maybe this is a gift of breaking open to vulnerability and truth. Maybe...this is just a gift. No striving for anything...no attempting "perfect"...just being. And this road trip has been a catalyst; taking me out of my routine + comfort zone. More soon!!

all Disneyed out!!!

                                                     (the cutest little Minnie...ever ever)
We are all Disneyed out over here. At least, Tim and I are but I think Tara could live there forever:) It's been magical for us to watch Tara at Disney this year because she is so much more aware and interactive than last time. All her fave characters and stories that we read everyday... come to life!!

 Tara's absolute fave princess is Belle so we stood in line for over an hour to meet her but...poor Tara got overwhelmed to actually see her standing right there. As you can see...she became all shy and started crying:( Totally understandable for kids that age...maybe next time.

Family pic in front of the castle:)

Tara's fave ride (and mine too!!) is the teacup. As you can see...she's having a blast. Tim always skips this one..it makes him sick ...all that spinning:)

And then we totally lucked out...just as we were leaving we saw Mickey and Minnie; Tara was in heaven!! She got a kiss from Minnie too:) As fun as Disney was...so glad to be heading up north to San Fran. xxx

high desert Ca.

                                                        (somewhere in California)
I can't believe how my little baby is all grown up...smart + sassy and just bursting with life. I have always been a gypsy...have loved travelling all of my life but these past few years after Tara was born...I have been in total nesting mode. We love our routine, familiarity and ...just being home. But now that Tara is a little older...I love travelling with her!! Showing her so many new places and things...plus...I get to experience everything through her eyes. We had such a blast at this little water park a few days ago. She absolutely loves seeing new sights and putting together what we have read with the places she visits.

                                                      (Joshua Tree National Park, Ca.)
I have to admit that when we arrived here in high desert California a few days ago...I was a little...uh! overwhelmed. I love greenery + mountains + lush flowers and the terrain here is just the opposite.. But there is an elemental beauty here...all stripped down. The trees look like sad and sombre sculptures...very elegant + sparse reaching their limbs up to the sky. There are hundreds of species of plants that grow here too...not like the Thar Desert (in India) where there was just sand. Over here there are all sorts of cacti (purple pink and orange), brilliant fuchsia desert flowers and yellow wildflowers. And at night....a carpet of stars cover the inky blue skies. And it is scorching...searing...hot all through the day. Still...it's not a place I would want to live...but it's definitely something to experience.

                                                  (Mothers Day, Palm Springs Ca.)
And the best news of all??? My family is back together and we are heading off on our road trip!!! Next we are on to Disney so Tara can get her Minnie fix. We tried to plan our trip to include all of our loves + interests so....lots of fun kids stuff, art, national parks, water, hiking, coffeehouses, summer music, r&r.

New Mexico magic

                                                    (somewhere in New Mexico)
Tara and I have been on the road these past 4 days...driving  to meet up with Tim. Tara has been such an amazing little traveller. Of course I have had to keep her busy busy in the backseat. Lots of rest stops, parks, books, movies, coloring books and singing. We drove through Sante Fe and stopped off for the afternoon. I just love love love Sante Fe ...everything is art in this charming town...even the bus stops!!! No kidding!! I went crazy taking pictures...every glimpse and corner is a photograph just begging to be captured.

This was an amazing artist from Burkina Faso (West Africa) who was painting right there in the church grounds. I stopped and we talked  for a good half hour about art, spirit, making his own pigments, symbolism and abstraction, politics, his country, Mother Africa...on and on. All the while Tara was listening intently, looking at his amazing art and wanting to get her hands in the paint, of course!!

Here's an old church ...I love the juxtaposition of the modern steel (moving!!) sculptures with the old stone + architecture. To me...it speaks of the passage of time and how we can honor and preserve the old (even in ourSELVES + our lives) while still accomodating the new. Growth demands it!!

I stumbled upon this gorgeous little store tucked away in an alley that has the most fantastic textiles. The store is called Passementrie and is located at 115 Old Sante Fe Trail. It's totally worth checking out. These quilts right here are handmade in India...I love the patterns + colors...don't you?

More quilts...I just couldn't resist. They also have all sorts of clothes, knitwear and accessories.

Old brass and copper pots from Mumbai that had me swooning. This was at India Palace where we had lunch. If you like Indian food...this is the place to go. They've been in biz here for over 20 years and are recommended by Fodors, Lonely Planet and...just about everyone in town!! The owner was an interesting + congenial man...and he treated Tara like a princess!! Oh!! and the food...I've been dreaming about it ever since!!

Every little alley and wall has an amazing piece of architecture. Here was this jewel of a piece just sitting there in between two stores. I would love to have it in my studio:)

Gorgeous (Spanish??) tile. I love the blue and white combo...very Dutch...very summery. Like I said...art everywhere!!!

Fat spools of Italian yarn...they were all stacked up on tables...hundreds of them it seemed. Makes me want to sew.

Metal art...I love the turquoise and copper combination. Tara and I stopped off at a little bakery/cafe and right across the way..I spotted this lizard.

Adobe architecture reminds me of O' Keefe. The humility, earthiness, simplicity and elegance are mirrored in her paintings (I feel).  I adore the strong lines and connection to the earth...how it seamlessly blends into the desert landscape . These are found all over New Mexico...every one slightly different. In my dreams...I live here.

the mothering journey

Happy Mothers day!!!

Interview with artist Robyn Gordon Part 2

I am so happy to post the second part of my interview with amazing artist Robyn Gordon. You can read part 1 of my interview right here.I have been pouring over the photos of her art and am in awe of the detail and craftsmanship.
 I read in one of your past interviews that it has taken you many many years to start making the art you wanted to make; not for public consumption or what you thought others expected from you etc. How did you reach that place where you created from your soul?
While the children were growing up my husband and I wanted to give them the best ... as we parents do. Though I had a day job, I also created art after the children were in bed to boost our income. It wasn't necessarily to my taste but it sold well and eventually i gave up my day job and became a full time "artist", churning out quick sellers. One can only do that for so long! There came a time, after several life changing events in our family that I just knew that I had to start creating the art that made me happy .

What advice can you give to other artists who are struggling with these same issues.
Just begin! If you wait for the right time to do what you are passionate about life just fritters away. You need to do whatever makes you happy for your sake as well as the people you live with.
How do you balance being influenced by vs. creating art that is uniquely yours?
I have a quote by Hale Woodruff which sums this up for me
"I have tried to study African Art in order to assimilate it into my being, not to copy but to seek the essence of it, it's spirit and quality as art"

What is it about tribal art that appeals to you?
When I  first started carving as a child the only examples of carving for me to study were the African carvings that sold at the side of the road. I was intrigued by them and over the years have developed a love for all things tribal.
As well, a lot of your carvings are made up of collections. Can you share with us the inspiration/symbolism behind this?
Bottom line? .... I'm just an insatiable magpie. I always have been and even though my house is too small for any more collections I still manage to squeeze in more bits and pieces. Combining my passion for collecting with my art has been an unexpected thrill. Maybe incorporating my gatherings is just an excuse to continue my magpie habits, but these pieces do symbolize my life in South Africa. Whether it's a shard of china, rusty nails or metal arrow heads, they all connect to my experience of this amazing country.

Are there a few fave books you can recommend that inspire you as an artist?
A book I have read several times and dip into often for inspiration is 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women by Gail McMeekin. As the blurb suggested , it has been my portable mentor.
(Gail has also written 12 Secrets of Highly Successful Women so it's easy to confuse the two titles)

                                             (reading The Pulse of Mixed Media)
Robyn's art is featured in the new book by Seth Apter called The Pulse of Mixed Media. Of course I bought the book because Robyn's art is showcased...but there are an amazing variety of artists...chock full of talent + inspiration. They share all their "secrets" (dealing with creative blocks for instance)  and are very candid about any number of personal questions that Seth puts forward. It was so helpful for me to answer the questions as I read along..."if your art could talk, what would it say?" what is your secret dream as an artist?" I love this book!!
Dear Robyn, thank you so much for granting me this interview. I am honored and grateful to have the opportunity to feature your gorgeous art on my blog. thank you!

loving right now

* this quote that I came across in the current Where Women Create mag...I simply adore it!!! I instantly wrote it down in my journal...it gives me some perspective when I get frustrated with where my work is/where it's going right now.
* photography...I have been taking a ton of pics...in all lights + angles. Pics of Tara, trees, rocks, feet, self portraits, moods, art stuff...everything.
* the mountains...I love being able to see the mountains from my windows and no matter where I go during the day...they are large + looming...serenely beautiful + grounding.

*Working in my altered book/journal. I use clothes pegs to separate the pages while the gesso dries.
*Spring!!! It's in the air...crisp + new. I love seeing flowers spring to life, hearing birds everywhere and of course....losing all the winter layers.
* blogging. Just a few short weeks ago I was going through a major blog burnout but after taking a week or so off...I am just bursting with ideas and things I want to share!!

* rocks. Tara started collecting them a while back...she loves looking at them in great detail, holding them up to the light. Now...we collect them together on our walks. I just love these ones right here all piled up like solemn sculptures.
*gardening. even though it's too early to plant...still crushing out on all things garden!
* watching Tara run around in bare feet on the grass.

* luscious jars of paint. Swoon:)

*listening to the trees whisper + sing. That comes straight from Tara...she loves holding onto tree trunks (we have quite a few in our backyard) and putting her head right in the branches + leaves...she says she's listening to the trees:) LOVE!!

* the shortbread at Panera Bread. OMG!!! Those things are devious!!