This post has been a long time coming...

I apologize that I have not posted for quite some time! April and May were "whirlwind months" full of art workshops, a NEW job, a major computer "crash", and family activities. To begin with, ArtFest 2011, held in Port Townsend Washington, was FABULOUS! I took three wonderful mixed classes from Lynne Perrella, Michael deMeng (see my "female power" assemblage below) and Lisa Bebi. The weather was pretty darn nice and the views of the Puget Sound were gorgeous. I met so many wonderful and inspiring people, which is what ArtFest is all about.

My biggest news is that I am now gainfully employed by a wonderful organization called The Schack Art Center (formerly Arts Council of Snohomish County). The organization's building is a beautiful new 6 million dollar art center that just opened in Everett, Washington. It is complete with a hot  shop (for glass-blowing), kiln and flamework studios (for glass), multi-purpose classrooms and lovely gallery space. I was hired intially to work in the gallery shop as a sales associate, then quickly moved into the art class coordinator position. I am so proud and excited to be working with these wonderful people that I have known since the mid 1990's. They are very dedicated to promoting the visual arts (and artists) of Snohomish County. I am now working on steadily building up a schedule of art classes for fall 2011, and it's so exciting!

In the midst of all of this, my daughter transferred to Western Washington University, and has declared her major for fall, Graphic Design. I could not be more proud of her. She is looking forward to her fall line-up of classes, and in the meantime, will probably be working at Yosemite National Park in California for the summer. Way to go girl!

David and I (and Chai the Bishon) were able to "sneak" away to Fort Ebey State Park on Whidbey Island in April (pictured above). What a gorgeous, rugged place that is...complete with bald eagles, para-gliders, wind. rain, sunsets, sweeping views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. We enjoyed lots of gin rummy and good eats, too.

AND, I am thrilled to announce that the online auction to benefit the Street Children of Oaxaca is ABOUT TO BEGIN. Check back here on June 1 to get the link to PREVIEW a wonderful line-up of artful, contemporary shrines that will be auctioned off for a great cause. That's all for now...

Doodads and rusty stuff for my kid...

My Favorite Things, originally uploaded by jomoma58.

My daughter, who is attending her first year of art school in Vancouver B.C., called me the other day requesting some interesting things. Rusty stuff and found objects...ahhh, I have trained her well. I guess they don't have much of that stuff in downtown Vancouver. She is in great need of these items for her first science (really!?) project. The assignment? Create a "Cabinet of Curiosity" (in box form) of natural objects–basically, an assemblage piece. Joseph Cornell was one of the first artists to actually do this in box form. Check it out–they are fabulous!

http://www.josephcornellbox.com/

I am feeling fairly excited to put together a "care" package of rusty things for my daughter, and so glad her love of using mixed media and found objects has stayed with her. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Thoughts on my Daughter, Class of 2009

Tomorrow, my beautiful daughter will graduate (officially). Alas, she won't be present at the ceremony, as she is working for a resort in the Olympic National Forest for the summer. I can't help but think about her, and her 18 years of life, this week.

She was finished with high school in early April, attending community college through her high school's Running Start program. So, what did she do? She took a solo 'rail' trip (approximately 6000 miles!) to visit friends in New York City, and Missouri. Needless to say, mom was very distressed about this news when she started planning it in November. But, she returned safely, with $25. in her pocket, and some unforgettable life experiences...

One month later, she scored a great job working as a barista at a beautiful resort in the Olympic National Park. As a mom, I've had to let her go in 'little pieces', which has not been easy. I miss her! I worry about her. But I know she is fine, and will be just fine out in the 'big, wide world". In August, we will be trying to locate an apartment for her in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she will be attending a wonderful art school. Yes, she'll be on her own in a large city. 

Why does this remind me so much of myself at her age??? History does repeat itself. And, at 18 years old, did I care (or even think) about what my own mother might have been feeling when I departed into the Big Adventure of life on my own? Not a bit. 

I love you J., and I'm SO proud of you.

I'm just bursting...

My beautiful and talented daughter was just accepted into Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, B.C. We have all been waiting on 'pins and needles' for months now. She was also accepted into Western Washington University, as well as Portland State University. But, her heart lies in Canada (and art school). She just told me this morning that she's so excited to have loonies and toonies in her purse, and a bit apprehensive about having to constantly convert to metric!! I discovered this wonderful little art school on Granville Island (in Vancouver) a couple of years ago, and instantly thought about my daughter. We went up for a visit a year ago, and she was completely hooked. She has worked very hard to keep her grades up and get all of her college applications and paperwork in on time. She deserves this...I'm so proud of her.

Photo: self portrait, taken by my daughter.