In 2005 I was asked by Sharon Cosgrove artist and professor at Wilkes University to participate in an extraordinary 'paint along' with Turkish artists who were coming to Wilkes-Barre to paint for the week. We were sponsored by Linde Corporation who is business partners with Mete Bora who sponsors artist 'residencies' throughout the world. He is a huge patron of the arts hence creating SummArt - a huge platform in Istanbul for performing and visual art. Three years ago Scott flew Sharon and me to Moldova where we were hosted by Mete. We painted along Turkish and Romanian artists for a week and treated like royalty. Recently Scott asked Mete for a smattering of Turkish art to display at his office in Pittston, Pa. The work is hanging there as well as some works from the artists who participated in the 2005 paint-extravaganza. As a tribute to Mete whose birthday is June 5 there will be an open house and viewing of the artwork from 2-pm.
A beautifully renovated home in Kingston,Pa had this spot 'framed out' begging for a piece of artwork. The square shape (I love squares!) on a panel 36" x 36" fits perfectly.
There are reoccurring themes in my works - and the circle - oh my ! The almighty circle .... always charges me with tingling happiness. So - I paint them - and as of late, I'm really attracted to orange.
I have been working away on this mural for the Wilkes Barre Area Practical Nursing school. The director of the school, Mary Beth Pacuska, saw me working on the mural I did for Steve Taren's building Wet Paint in Wilkes Barre. The school being newly spiffed up, had a long hallway which Mary Beth felt needed something.... a mural, perhaps? We worked together coming up with the idea to depict the history of nursing visually. Working in sections on cloth all winter in my studio, it was adhered it to the wall on Thursday. The students came out of class to a transformed hallway which they really apprecatied! I really enjoyed learning about nursing - some strong woman - Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton.... and meeting another one - Mary Beth : )
A couple of years ago I did five very large Eiffel Towers for a new French restaurant called the Manhattan Bistro that is in Wilkes-Barre. A student of mine saw them and asked me to do one for her mom affectionately called LaLa. She gave me a list of LaLa 'isms' - like "We are sisters by birth and friends thanks to Prozac'. Lanie asked me to make it colorful, like her mom who being from Alabama is I'm sure just like her Mom... a beautiful, warm, colorful bundle of good energy and love.
From my molskine sketchbook - one a day ....!!!Julia Cameron suggests going on artists date once a week by yourself. Take yourself on a date! It could be going to a movie, a museum or as simple as going to a rug store to look at colors and textures from another country, and art store or a coffee shop in one town over.Matt Kahn says creativity is what we are all striving for - all spirituality is aimed towards one thing - and that is, creativity.How do you manifest creativity? By doing something different. Go a different way to work, brush your teeth with your opposite hand, eat something you don't usually eat, pay more compliments, ask someone you don't really know to lunch, take a different class. And then, congratulate yourself and get ready to create. Create your own reality. Create the life you want.
