Bringing the art supplies to the kids of Haiti

A group of us from Miami are traveling to the countryside of Haiti to deliver paints and inks and facilitate a day of art in the lives of 300 young students. It is kind of like Frederic the Mouse in the book by Leo Lionni. It's a story about a mouse who loiters in the sunshine when all the other mice are scurrying to gather supplies for the winter hibernation. Frederic seems to be spacing out on all the beauty surrounding him. When the winter supplies eventually run low, the mice turn on Frederic and demand that he share his portion of the gathering... and that is when Frederic composes poems and prose to describe the colors of spring, the warmth of summer and the miracles of fall... and it is in this way the community is sustained through the darkest times of winter.

Bringing art supplies to Haiti feels a little like this... bringing sunshine to the starving malnourished populace... hoping to hand them some inspirational tools and feed them beauty. We just must try to do the next right thing.
http://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Leo-Lionni/dp/0394826140http://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Leo-Lionni/dp/0394826140

Can there be too many cooks in the kitchen?

Not in my opinion. Perhaps I am spoiled. I am more of an eater than a preparer. Mealtimes are sources of rest and communion. Food is such a wonderful media to work with... and this evening we had a virtual dance in the kitchen. Hot pepper soup, shrimp tacos and tequila-iced papaya in the works with Bolero jamming on the stereo! I basically had to get out of the way!

Thank you, thank you, thank you

2016 Valentines

 One good thing about getting older is that winter seems shorter compared to when you were little. Now we are a month and a half into the new year and near the best celebration day of all- the day the majority of this planet's living species start their dances and rituals to celebrate love ... including a massive frolicking in the wild seas, forests, lakes and prairies!!! Just last night I watched the series of Blue Planet and saw the squid mating dance!!!! The males change colors as they perform a ballet for the females. Isn't that fabulous?

Inspired by the playfulness of the artist Jim Dine, I pushed the pigment as a squid dances and made this year's collection of outgoing cards.

Obsessively and quietly drawing with threads

This is for my son who has had issues with his hands this winter.

And this one is for my trip to Haiti next week...

I am trying to get these cliche images out of my head once and for all. I figure if I toil over them and put every single iconic heart image I think of in one blanket, I literally can wrap it up and move figuratively past the use of these trite valentines in my Art. Maybe. It's an exorcism of sorts.

Deering Plein Aire event

In partnership with the Grovehouse artists this weekend, Deering is hosting the annual plein aire event on the grounds of the historic estate. I didn't feel well enough to participate fully, but I did swing by to check out the artists at work. They will be there tomorrow as well. It's fun to see how each artist frames their perspective of the place. Back at my studio I played with my own version on a 3 inch by 3 inch canvas. I've set it against a frame of splashy colors; all fun shapes in both pigment and pulp.

I added the evening flocks of birds going to Chicken key for the night, and hints of the mother and baby manatee in the foreground waters.

Patricia Cummins

Jacqueline Gopie's painting

Check out these two artists: Patricia Cummins and Jackie Gopie

color theory lesson in process

Wild Culture! How about galleries, theaters and concert halls in the wilderness?

Deborah Mitchell points out a work of art along trail

#sundaysinthepark #airieresidencies # evergladesart  On Sunday Michael and I caught some performances and installations by artists in residence in the Everglades. Next one is February 28th at the Flamingo Marina!