how lucky

i knew i was lucky when a woman contacted me asking for some lessons in jewelry making... 

she came to my home a couple of times

and began to talk about a store she and her friend wanted to open

that carried work from around the world

and by local artists...

that beautiful, magical store is open

and the recluse that i am is out and in there twice a week (at least)... getting my spirit and senses fed... 

it is truly a refuge - you can see it in others who come into the space... and they want to bring some of it home with them...

it is a gift to the community... to those from the corners of the globe who are working to make their lives better with their art and craft... and to us, for not only did she ask me for lessons, but she asked for some of my pieces... i am honored to have my work included here... in a place of peace and giving... 

but what these women don't know - is how much they have touched our lives by welcoming the kids and i into their world... how they have become another stone upon this new path that promises love, sharing, laughter... how the timing of our meeting couldn't have been better for any of us... 

and i know i am lucky - 

to see what the incredible women of 'eyes of the world' are up to, you can visit them here... and if you live within driving distance of asbury park, nj - i encourage you to make the trip... 

a week later

found on my walk -

the fragile strength of a bee's wing

the oak tree hidden inside of an acorn
the return to earth promised by rusted street sweeper's bristles


prevailing thought on life and after hurricane irene: grateful

saturday afternoon emily and i went to the boardwalk to check the building sea, view the preparations...

the winds blew, rains soaked, flooding occurred, tornadoes appeared... for us, power outages, flooding, fallen trees... lucky... water in my basement - grateful... i was so sorry to learn about the damage done in new england... how so many didn't (why would they?) have flood insurance... and so i hope that fema helps them... 

a view of the ocean side of the bridge at the inlet where the river i live on enters... the apartments across the street are 2 and 3 stories high... i believe this was taken by the bridge tender... 

thinking on kindness...

'it is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned 

with the human problem all one's life

and find at the end

that one has no more to offer by way of advice

than 'try to be a little kinder'.

~ aldous huxley

feeling the long exhale of autumn... the acorns are falling, the trees are indicating the approach of their imminent show, nights are cooling... 

'your work is to discover your work

and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.'

~ buddha

thank you to the one who gave of themselves here... 

the series is divine... 

hair and make up...

new color - done last night... 

em is on her way to the studio - today the nj zombie walk is on the boardwalk in asbury and  they have been given permission from the guiness book of world records to make an attempt... 4200 zombies are what they are hoping to get... 

of course she is participating! i made sure though that one profile wasn't horrifying... she is working after all... 

infection site... 


i cannot handle scary movies - or gross scenes... em is my screener & tells me when to look away... but truth be told - i love doing the makeup... 

cycle art

is it me? or does talking about bicycles stir up the melodious harmonies of queen in your mind too?


i participated in a cycle art show hosted by the belmar arts council and artscap asbury park... it was small, but had a nice representation of the different kinds of visual arts... 

i really loved the sculpture high on the brick wall... 

these are mine in the shadow boxes... i was in such a rush getting them in that i didn't take pictures of them completed... the top one is a wall hanging... the bottom one is a necklace with one of nan emmett's hands... i believe i pick them up on friday - so maybe i will take pictures then... 

i posted about them semi-finished - or is that started? here... 

a bike in the snow on the boardwalk... 

exploration

part of sculptoure 2010 in asbury park

'exploration is really the essence of the human spirit.'

frank borman

the august art bead scene carnival blog topic iiiis - exploration...

exploring your world with open eyes gives you new perspectives... this sculpture is created from the debris found on the beach - it is a statement about pollution... 

exploring color can take you places you never thought of - like tie dye with yellow, turquoise and lime... emily has now used every color in the spectrum! i go with the flow - my only request was to do lime and yellow in the summer when my snow white complected daughter has a bit of color! 

exploring simplicity can cause you to think 'hmmmm'... 

exploring a used bike shop (to scavenge pieces for an art exhibit) can really make you see things differently  - i spy bracelet links... 

suspension parts for pendants... thanks to kerri who owns and runs second life bikes, a community oriented shop... 

'i want to ride my bicycle.

i want to ride my bike.

i want to ride my bicycle.

i want to ride it where i like.'

~ queen 'bicycle race'

exploration is a call to freedom... 

zombies

the new jersey zombie walk will take place today in asbury park... my daughter wants to be a prosthetic make up artist & so she is already there, watching a professional create undead effects... they are at the old carousel house... the 11-yr-old is going later... and to kick off the weekend, she and i saw 'zombieland' last night... if you can stand zombie effects, it really is funny...

i am going to take lots of pics later - but the plan is, at 5pm, the legions will gather in the old casino and spill out onto the boardwalk... dragging around town together during the city's first saturday night monthly celebration... this is the asbury park of bruce springsteen where madame marie's booth still stands - though she has passed - & the stone pony... where the morro castle beached, where rum runners came ashore...


this town is a bit like a phoenix... presidents went on holiday here in its heyday... and i grew up on these boards... for almost 2 decades the decline was severe... but it's coming back... with a real artistic edge... artists of all sorts... writers in the stephen crane house, visual art, theatrical... i have mentioned in the past that my daughter interned at a glass blowing studio on the boardwalk here this summer ... & while the rides are gone, there is a cultural center that is rich and creates excitement... i admire the dedication of those working so hard to make this happen... and so we participate however we can...

so if you are in nj - you may want to drop in... but watch out for zombies!