Sunday, April 23, 2023
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Sotomayor, Awards and more
Some news....
A month ago, Sergio and I were honored to be the recipients of "Best Artists in the Washington DC metro area" in the category of visual arts! Thank you Washington DC! More thrilling: the third visual artist to receive the reward is our dear friend Gloria Valdes Tarasca; she is our Godmother of sorts, as she is responsible for our meeting in Queretaro, Mexico- ten years ago!
I was commissioned to paint a watercolor for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and I was thrilled to receive this note:
"Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor received your wonderful painting.
She was very appreciative and grateful and said it will go in her office.
I too thank you for providing your wonderful art congratulating the Justice on her distinction to serve
on our nation's highest court."
~ Franklin Garcia -US Representative (shadow) Elect, DC.
As you all know, we are now printing some of our work on canvases here in the studio. All our reproductions are made to order by us *in house* to ensure archival quality and color matching like none other than the artist can attain! Please contact us if you are interested in any of our work!
This coming weekend, we will be hosting our 9th Annual Open Studio!
YOU are invited and we will be making a video as usual for those who are far away...
Watch this video for a little peek of our 2015 Open Studio.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Abstract Painting Process in Pictures
I have been working on abstracts for the past 6 months and the process is fascinating and challenging at the same time.
Each piece goes through so many transformations that almost always I find myself working over a piece and transforming it into something entirely different that what I envisioned.
Often one tiny mistake leads me to start the whole thing over again, one over the other over the other.
I have sometimes realized that I bury a good painting with a bad one then another *almost there* replaced by another and then another.
Documenting the steps makes me feel a bit better about it, so here it is....
I kind of miss the pieces that are created only to be buried under more paint....
so here it is, one of several pieces I have documented these past few weeks.
This first photo is how it looked after one long day of working on it. I love pink and black together; I also love sap/olive green and pink- but Sergio hated the combination as much as he disliked the white splatters I made over the center, so... since I disagreed with him on both of those points, yet also was unhappy with the piece, I let it rest for the evening.
The next day, I added white all around to soften and break the space a bit.
Then more white:
Then more white:
At which point I encapsulated everything in one area inside the white splatters...
I liked the effects of the soft white and back and forth play of the original colors peeking through, but I was unhappy with the shape/composition
so I covered it in a glaze of burnt sienna
I liked the effects of the soft white and back and forth play of the original colors peeking through, but I was unhappy with the shape/composition
so I covered it in a glaze of burnt sienna
I liked it more now, but also wanted to add some white for balance towards the bottom.....
At this point I liked it. And it is here where it gets complicated when you second guess yourself AND you are married to a fellow painter whose critiques you respect but .....
so this, I liked.
A lot.
But then I did this:
and I like that too... though at the time, I didn't realize it, so I went on...
And then the palette knife into some squarish forms...
At this point, the squares began to remind me of my "Cities at Night" Series,
so I began to create the
watery reflections below
And the one that follows became another piece that I liked.
I should have shown it to our son because he loved it when he saw this photo below,
but alas... I was still unsure and Sergios critiques were still the same
So I got rid of the watery effects
And regretted it right away
alas, there was nothing to do but continue
So I turned the canvas on the side and add a glop of white oil paint to it and picked up
the palette knife again
I then decided to add more black to the central image
at which point everything changed for me
I became quite involved in the process and did not document further....
I became quite involved in the process and did not document further....
A few hours later, I had finished.
Admittedly, this is something I am very, very happy with.
The process was long, and full of surprises, a few challenges and lots of fun, a labor of love.
I think it is a lot like life, we live, love, make mistakes, grow, stretch this way then the other, try this then that, we learn from others as well as from own revelations and ultimately,
Admittedly, this is something I am very, very happy with.
The process was long, and full of surprises, a few challenges and lots of fun, a labor of love.
I think it is a lot like life, we live, love, make mistakes, grow, stretch this way then the other, try this then that, we learn from others as well as from own revelations and ultimately,
the process is indeed, half the fun!
The image below is not very good
(lots of reflection as you can see)
I will replace it with the scanned image once the piece dries.
Not only do I love my finish piece.... Sergio took one look at it and his eyes opened wide as he said:
"it's so damned good, I wish I had painted it myself"
Here is a close up of the piece:
Let me know what you think and if you would like for me to share my process with you more often!
Love & Light,
Claudia
Monday, November 10, 2014
A circle of Love, Seymour Gresser
Alav Ha-sholom, may you rest in peace, dearest Sy.
Great man, poet and sculptor...
Seymour Gresser “Sy” May 9, 1926 -- November 1, 2014
We love you and you will remain in our hearts and lives forever.Thank you for your love and wisdom:...
"... that's why we do our art! To express our divinity" ~Sy Gresser
Sy came into my life only 9 months ago, but in our hearts we knew immediately we had a soul connection and had known each other already... we knew it was all "magic and serendipity" as he said... I say: *mirmagical* a blessing...
An other worldly connection-- a connection with one another, with art, my papa.
Sy and I emailed for a few months before meeting in person, and it was not until then that we both realized he had been my papa's friend.
Not only that, but it was my papa who mentored Sy years ago in regards to his art and fellowship from the OAS to create his art in Mexico. Everyone who has known Sy is keenly aware of the fact that the trip to Mexico had an enormous impact in Sy's life, indeed-- it is what took him into the depth of his lifelong career as a sculptor. The OAS fellowship is mentioned in everyone of his artist statements... and it was a trip that came about for him when he was going through a particularly difficult time in his life... so the circle comes around- and so we met when I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life.... a circle of Love.
Sy and I emailed daily. We tried to visit him every Sunday, and I planned to do that for many years.... it was a sweet time of talking about Mexico and China and our art and culture; he told me stories about my papa that brought so much comfort.... he was/is family. An extension of my dear papa here on earth... a gift.
Sy was my parent, my mentor my friend for these nine months which have been so tough... he came into my life exactly one week after I came out of the denial of the abuse.
He has been my anchor, my comfort, my hope.
I will never be the same-he will always be with me.
My heart is full of sadness and gratitude too....
Sy and I emailed for a few months before meeting in person, and it was not until then that we both realized he had been my papa's friend.
Not only that, but it was my papa who mentored Sy years ago in regards to his art and fellowship from the OAS to create his art in Mexico. Everyone who has known Sy is keenly aware of the fact that the trip to Mexico had an enormous impact in Sy's life, indeed-- it is what took him into the depth of his lifelong career as a sculptor. The OAS fellowship is mentioned in everyone of his artist statements... and it was a trip that came about for him when he was going through a particularly difficult time in his life... so the circle comes around- and so we met when I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life.... a circle of Love.
Sy and I emailed daily. We tried to visit him every Sunday, and I planned to do that for many years.... it was a sweet time of talking about Mexico and China and our art and culture; he told me stories about my papa that brought so much comfort.... he was/is family. An extension of my dear papa here on earth... a gift.
Sy was my parent, my mentor my friend for these nine months which have been so tough... he came into my life exactly one week after I came out of the denial of the abuse.
He has been my anchor, my comfort, my hope.
I will never be the same-he will always be with me.
My heart is full of sadness and gratitude too....
Nine months... I can find great symbolism in the time frame... nine months of gestation-- and here I am, MUCH better than I was back in February when I met him and I was experiencing such a painful time in my life, here I am, nine months later-having been soothed and loved and nurtured by Sy.... by proxy, Sy and my papa Luis.
I love Sy
My heart is full of gratitude to my papa and to God/Spirit for bringing us together, even if for a short period of time....
Sy and I connected through my papa, trough something so intangible that only he and I understand.... we have shared daily for the past 9 months.... it has been love and sweetness and a connection that surpasses time and I know our souls will meet again...
But there is sadness too, when we loose someone.....
and my heart goes out to his wife and children....
A few days before he passed away, my sweet soulsister, Ana Medina offered to play her healing bowls for him and he was delighted and comforted by the healing sounds of the bowls.
(Ana took these photos and sent me the message below).
It was such a blessing to see him and his wife receive and bathe in the holy sounds...
My heart is filled with love and sadness and gratitude.
There was an informal gathering in his studio one week after he passed, and his wife lovingly refered to me as "Sy's adopted daughter" ... and indeed, this is how I feel. A deep paternal link to this beautiful human. One of Sy's family members said a truth that is a good lesson for us all:
"Sy made everyone feel loved, because there was no judgement"
I love that... it is something that I aspire to on a daily basis:
it is unconditional love.
I will miss him terribly and my heart hurts to think of him not being *here* any longer...
but as I told him: because of my abuelita and my papa, I know dear Sy too, will always be near.
Seymour Gresser “Sy” was born 9 May 1926, in Baltimore, Md., the son of Simon Solomon and Sara (Williams) Gresser. Educated at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Washington, D.C. (1949-1950), George Washington University (1950-1953), and University of Maryland (B.S., 1949, M.A., 1972). Gresser served in the U.S. Merchant Marines as a radio operator (1944-1946). He has received an Organization of American States fellowship for 1960-1961. Gresser has been a sculptor and writer and employed in various positions, including doing research on American Indians, technical writing and editing, and teaching art. He has been an Instructor in sculpture, Sculptor's Studio (evenings, 1958-63), and Paint Branch Unitarian Church, sculptor-in-residence at Yale University (1969). His work has been exhibited in one-man shows and group exhibitions in U.S., Europe, and Mexico since 1951, including Smithsonian Exhibition, 1952; Washington Irving Gallery, New York, N.Y., 1956, San Angel Exhibition, Mexico, 1960, Capricorn Gallery, New York, N.Y., 1967, Harvard University, 1971, Fordham University, Berkeley Center at Yale University, and Athena Gallery, New Haven, CT.
Ana wrote:
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This is a long story. It was not my story until today. My soul sister Claudia Olivos has a very special friend, Sy, a fabulous sculptor who is soon closing a chapter in his soul's path on this earth. She has a deep connection to Sy, and I have a deep connection with her, so I by extension have a connection with Sy. My spirit called me to offer a sound healing to Sy, and he was not only receptive but excited. His wife said he had been talking about it for days. This morning as I was thinking how best to honor Sy's beautiful path on this planet, I was guided to wear white and purple. I was not surprised Claudia was also wearing purple today. On my way out the door, I knew I had to bring him rose quartz. Not just any piece of rose quartz, the rounded polished one I use for healing. Sy held it, admired it and enjoyed it's energy. I am honored, humbled and in awe of the beauty we can share at the end of someone's life. Sy touched my heart today, and his beautiful spirit will live way longer than his frail body. What a great reminder today that life is truly eternal, and the bodies are a temporary vehicle. Let's wake up....wake up the rest of our senses so we can be with all the love that is and drop the fear of the costume change we call death. Love is WAY larger than we can ever imagine.....
We made a trade of our art for his... and he told us to choose two pieces...
this is one of the ones we chose, and we did so without knowing what it was....
Serendipity again, as Sy later told me it was a Mandala!
This is a long story. It was not my story until today. My soul sister Claudia Olivos has a very special friend, Sy, a fabulous sculptor who is soon closing a chapter in his soul's path on this earth. She has a deep connection to Sy, and I have a deep connection with her, so I by extension have a connection with Sy. My spirit called me to offer a sound healing to Sy, and he was not only receptive but excited. His wife said he had been talking about it for days. This morning as I was thinking how best to honor Sy's beautiful path on this planet, I was guided to wear white and purple. I was not surprised Claudia was also wearing purple today. On my way out the door, I knew I had to bring him rose quartz. Not just any piece of rose quartz, the rounded polished one I use for healing. Sy held it, admired it and enjoyed it's energy. I am honored, humbled and in awe of the beauty we can share at the end of someone's life. Sy touched my heart today, and his beautiful spirit will live way longer than his frail body. What a great reminder today that life is truly eternal, and the bodies are a temporary vehicle. Let's wake up....wake up the rest of our senses so we can be with all the love that is and drop the fear of the costume change we call death. Love is WAY larger than we can ever imagine.....Sy's sculpture in front of our Washington DC area studio.
We made a trade of our art for his... and he told us to choose two pieces...
this is one of the ones we chose, and we did so without knowing what it was....
Serendipity again, as Sy later told me it was a Mandala!
The word Mandala means "circle".
A Mandala represents wholeness, a cosmic diagram reminding us of our relation to infinity, extending beyond and within our bodies and minds.
The mandala appears to us in all aspects of life, the Earth, the Sun, the Moon and more obviously the circles of life encompassing friends, family and communities.
Mandalas are circular designs symbolizing the notion that life is never ending.
LOVE. PEACE. JOY to you and yours
Monday, August 11, 2014
As always, it is an intuitive process through which to date, has never failed to bring forth powerful personal messages.
In order to make the process even more interesting, Sergio is the one who matches the names to my finished Goddess paintings guided only by the image that has come forth (I don't look at any images prior to, or during my work).
He only matches the images he sees with images we have in our books of Goddesses, without looking at the meanings; it bears repeating that we are always amazed at the accuracy and parallel to our lives that we find with the inherent messages!
God/the Divine speaks to us in so many ways...
we only need to search and listen with an open heart.
A few weeks ago, on our Facebook page, I had asked for people's opinions of who this Goddess might be as I still continued to work on her... someone mentioned a Goddess of health... and honestly, I thought this is who she would be; however, when I looked up the meaning of the Goddess Sergio thought she was...
WOW!!
I could not believe what I was reading-I have spent the last 6 months pretty much *turning inwards* and *cocooning.*
Everything I have been dealing with these past few months (6 months today) has taken us to this place; and I trust the mariposa/butterfly will soon emerge, but for now, I have allowed myself a time for introspection- more time in the chrysalis....
Still, my mind gets the best of me.... I worry, I fret. and then I worry some more...
Only last week, as we talked about future plans the "to do or not to do", I told Sergio that I felt that for now, we should just try to not plan to much for the future and "let's see where the tide takes us...."
And so who was it that we pulled but a Goddess to encourage exactly that!
Goddess Sige!
Everything I have been dealing with these past few months (6 months today) has taken us to this place; and I trust the mariposa/butterfly will soon emerge, but for now, I have allowed myself a time for introspection- more time in the chrysalis....Only last week, as we talked about future plans the "to do or not to do", I told Sergio that I felt that for now, we should just try to not plan to much for the future and "let's see where the tide takes us...."
And so who was it that we pulled but a Goddess to encourage exactly that!
Goddess Sige!
Sige is the goddess of contemplation who reminds us to slow down, to pray/meditate, to quiet our minds and give ourselves time to re-center ourselves. and to rest.
The Goddess Sige encourages us to breathe and let go of words, worry, and plans.
The Goddess Sige encourages us to breathe and let go of words, worry, and plans.
We are to go into a space of silence deep within where we can access inner peace, where the world doesn't enter- where we can be alone with the Divine for comfort, healing, encouragement and renewal.
Indeed, it is common among those who seek spiritual growth, strength and renewal to seek time, to not communicate with their environment for a time; allowing for quiet and valuable messages to cut through to the heart and mind.
Indeed, it is common among those who seek spiritual growth, strength and renewal to seek time, to not communicate with their environment for a time; allowing for quiet and valuable messages to cut through to the heart and mind.
Indeed, she encourages us to do what I have been doing: a time to retreat in silence and spend time alone to rejuvenate and recenter.
It is not a time to make future plans and decisions, it is a time for your mind to be at rest.
You'll know soon enough when it's time to take action. But for now, quiet your mind, Rest.
Please contact me if you are interested in this piece.
And so it is... quiet time, rest and self care.
beautifully stated by one of my favorite poets:
“My Soul gave me good counsel, teaching me to listen to the voices not produced by tongues, nor shouted from throats.
Now, I sip at silence and listen to its in-wardness that chants songs of the eons,
reciting praises of the sky, announcing the mysteries of the Unseen.”
~Kahlil Gibran
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
our ARTventure in NYCity
A busy month for us with two trips to New York for our art~!
 |
| Claudia & Annie, another of the artists represented by Parcai Designs |
The first time we went, was to visit Surtex- the annual *trade show* for art licensing.
Since I only signed on with my agents
Parcai Design in February, we thought it would be important to attend the show and get a first hand glimpse of what "art licensing" is all about.
The show began on a Sunday, so when I happened upon a "call for artists and crafts people" for the Saturday, I thought it would be a great time to do a "practice" set up with our tent and art in New York as we were scheduled to participate in the Washington Square Art Market two weeks later.
On the right, you can see some of my whimsical drawings for Halloween themed art licensing!
Our trial run was interesting.
Sales were basically the same as we have on a Saturday at our local Farmers/Indie Market here in the Washington DC area.... still, we had to subtract expenses from that (travel, tolls etc.)- but again, more than anything, we wanted to get a "feel" for showing in NY.Both of us have exhibited in NY in the past, but they have been gallery shows.... selling on the street is so different, and we have found that everything changes from one place to another-even within the same city.
During our first weekend in the streets of NY, we overheard many comments such as:
"Oh look, Mexican art!"
(never have heard people saying that before.. and it was said many times and both weekends... funny, I guess here in Washington DC everything is a bit more politically correct and we may hear: "Latino Art" or "Colorful art")
we also heard:
"Religious stuff... keep walking"
and reactions to my "Dia de los Muertos"/Day of the Dead: "how macabre!" "how weird"
(both of which we have not heard here in the DC area- which is admittedly more "religious" than NY, although we are not certain why the reaction to Day of the Dead art, as NY has many Mexican immigrants too).
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We came back home
~unloaded our car.... and a week later re-loaded with different art. |
| Deciding *what art* to take with us the second time to NYCity |
No retablos (reproductions we make on small pieces of wood), only three angels, and only a couple of "Dia de los Muertos" pieces in the "bins" not the walls.
The second weekend led us into some misadventures involving our lodging and transit to and fro the event ....
(we left our car in NYC and commuted to an affordable rental in NJ--the adage: "you get what you pay for" came true!).
The Washington Square Art Market was started by Jackson Pollock.....
"one balmy spring day in 1931, in the midst of the Depression Era. Jackson Pollock, desperately in need of funds to pay the rent on his Greenwich Village studio that also served as his home, took a few of his iconoclastic paintings down several flights of stairs and set them up on the sidewalk near Washington Square Park. His friend and fellow Village artist, Willem DeKooning, in equally desperate financial straits, soon joined him.."
As far as sales, the first day was horrible for all the artists, but the second day was profitable (though again, we need to subtract the travel & lodging expenses from it all); nonetheless we did make a profit and we were able to take our art to a wider audience, in short, we are very pleased overall!
It was again underlined to me how different the public in NY is to DC metro area...
This time around, with only three paintings of angels, we still heard comments that the art was "too religious" ....
One woman was *very tempted to buy an angel* she came back three times- but said she felt "like a hypocrite because I am not religious" .... (she did not buy it)
You can see our booth set up in NYCity here.
One of the BEST parts of the show
~the other artists we met who were exhibiting nearby: a Portuguese potter, a Chinese photographer, Jamaican painter and a native New Jersey couple who paint Americana folk art.
The interactions we had with them were fluid and natural and just truly amazing... it felt like "home" to us... not only wonderful people, they are all full time artists, which is what we aspire to....*hoping* that soon Sergio can let go of his day job as an assistant teacher...
One of the artists, a Jamaican artist, I am quite sure must have known my father as he was exhibiting in the UN in the late 70's and 80's which is when my dad was at the UN and as a side assignment, he would help with curating the UN exhibitions where this artist exhibited often at that time and also they both knew the Ivory Coast ruler/later: president Boigny who I remember having dinner with at my Papa's place in NYC.
It is always touching for me to meet someone who may have known my father...
We came home absolutely exhausted... part of it was the "not sleeping" the couple of nights before the trip as we had so much to get ready for... part of it was not sleeping when we arrived because other guests at the place we stayed at were making sooooo much noise all night...
One of the artists, a Jamaican artist, I am quite sure must have known my father as he was exhibiting in the UN in the late 70's and 80's which is when my dad was at the UN and as a side assignment, he would help with curating the UN exhibitions where this artist exhibited often at that time and also they both knew the Ivory Coast ruler/later: president Boigny who I remember having dinner with at my Papa's place in NYC.
It is always touching for me to meet someone who may have known my father...
We have exchanged phone numbers with the group and have already made dinner plans for when we return in September!
We came home absolutely exhausted... part of it was the "not sleeping" the couple of nights before the trip as we had so much to get ready for... part of it was not sleeping when we arrived because other guests at the place we stayed at were making sooooo much noise all night...
On our way home, Sunday, when we were only about 20 minutes from home, we came upon a HUGE traffic accident. It was after 2:00am... and we arrived upon the accident only minutes after it happened- ambulances and police began to arrive after we did.
Then, a second accident (a van that slipped in the oil spill of the first)- it was all very chaotic... and cars were playing *bumper cars* all around... we watched as the car in front of us hit the one right in front of them as that driver was standing outside his car looking at the chaos... it was awful... but we could not help but be thankful that we had not arrived there minutes earlier ... and pray for the victims.
We arrived home at 4 a.m.
It is now Wednesday, and I am only now recovering from all the travel and sleepless nights *whew*
BUT, it was all well worth it and we both look forward to doing it again for Labor day weekend in September!
Our space was in front of a Mexican Restaurant.... the owner not only bought a piece the last day of the show... he gifted us frozen Margaritas!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Mary Magdalene
Today, I am excited to announce I have been featured on Artsy Shark! You can read it here
And I want to share with you the woman I have most looked up to all my life:
Mary Magdalene:
I have always felt misunderstood and misjudged by my family of origin... thus I have always resonated with Maria Magdalena.
She loved with earnest understanding of the frailty of humanity; though judged and misunderstood of who she was as a child of God-she loved *no matter what was said about her*...
the rumors and negativity did not get in her way of Pure Unconditional Love for all.
She chose to do her work from a higher consciousness, where love reigns supreme.
This is what I aspire to, each day!!
When you are at one with the Divine and choose not to dwell in the states of judgement, human bickering & chaos, you are working from the levels of higher consciousness where love rules supreme and where the most good can be done.
Where you dwell in consciousness is where you truly dwell
keep your vibration high,
your thoughts sweet
keep focusing positively.. keeping your heart open to more love......
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Athena, Goddess of War and Wisdom
As I work through this process of inner healing, I was thinking about which of the Goddesses to share with you that applied to my situation ....
At first I thought of the Goddess Oestra, for new beginnings... but Athena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom; patroness of warriors and artists, called to me so loudly as I scanned through my Goddess images... I paused and listened.
And as I read what I wrote about her (below) several months ago..... she was telling me:
" this is a time for you to put your armor on... you are in full battle!
At first I thought of the Goddess Oestra, for new beginnings... but Athena, the Goddess of War and Wisdom; patroness of warriors and artists, called to me so loudly as I scanned through my Goddess images... I paused and listened.
And as I read what I wrote about her (below) several months ago..... she was telling me:
" this is a time for you to put your armor on... you are in full battle!
Indeed it is "a time for battle" as I fight for my emotional health and healing of the heart.
Although Athena is a warrior goddess, she battles with diplomatic wit and justice instead of weapons.
Her most powerful tool is inner wisdom and as such, reminds us to pause in the midst of our troubles and seek wisdom from our very core.
The battles we face in life are not to be fought with violent or passive aggressiveness, with false witness/gossip about others, with manipulation-- we are to fight life's battles head on with truth by our side always seeking for the highest good of all involved.
Too focus on what we need to do: dig deep, heal and finally to come out renewed and strengthened
Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.
~Arthur Golden,
~Arthur Golden,
I find it interesting that she is the Goddess of war and artists.... indeed, as many of us know: Art heals; and I recently heard one therapist advice that the best way to heal from trauma is to do something creative...anything- but it must be something that you love.
So for some it may singing, or knitting or cooking, planting a flower garden.... Art heals and is a necessary "weapon" for life and healing.
I am ready for my battle towards healing; armed with traditional tools as I am now not only seeing a therapist, but also have joined a support group for people who like me, are healing from trauma resulting from abuse. And I am also utilizing the tools of my art as my therapy and thus gifting myself May and June to heal and paint as my teaching load will be minimal these two months (the cut backs at my college teaching gig last month a blessing in disguise!).
Are you too "in battle" with something in your life?
Remember: we are not responsible for some of the challenges that life brings forth, but we are responsible for how we respond to them....things in your life may be horrible, but you have a choice of how you will continue/push through and not only endure, but be strengthened by the process.
Remember: we are not responsible for some of the challenges that life brings forth, but we are responsible for how we respond to them....things in your life may be horrible, but you have a choice of how you will continue/push through and not only endure, but be strengthened by the process.
We acquire the strength we have overcome. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
About Athena the Goddess of war, wisdom and the arts-
She's the daughter of Zeus, known for her creativity, wisdom, justice and diplomacy-
ie: averting war, solving problems in a strong, decisive manner. Her tree is the olive tree (the meaning of "Olivos" in Spanish is Olive trees). The owl is her companion.
Legend goes that Athena and her uncle Poseidon were both very fond of a certain city in Greece. Both of them claimed the city and it was decided that the one that could give the finest gift should have it. Leading a procession of citizens, the two gods mounted the Acropolis. Poseidon struck the side of the cliff with his trident and a spring welled up. The people marveled, but the water was as salty as Poseidon's sea and it was not very useful. Athena's gift was an olive tree, which was better because it gave the people food, oil and wood. Athena named her city Athens.
Athena Original Painting
$275.00
Thursday, April 10, 2014
My lost paintings have been found!
This is a rambling post because I am *so* excited!
The paintings (all oil on canvas) that were stolen from me by the Mexican government and 5 years later auctioned off.....................have been found!!
was contacted by the collector a few years ago, he was at first concerned because he knew they had been stolen, I am grateful he had the moral compass to contact me. We chatted via FaceBook and he assured me he would have the paintings exhibited throughout Mexico.
Sadly, he passed away soon after contacting me... may you rest in peace Omar....Thank you!
All I knew of him was his kindness and that he was a young man. It was very sad. I waited before posting on his *In Memoriam FB wall*....
I didn't want to be disrespectful to all those grieving. I posted again a year later, and so it has gone until TODAY, when I finally received a response from his sister about these pieces that I LOVE so much; she now owns the paintings.
and the one below measures about 3 x 4 feet. Each painting has poetry by one of my two favorite poets (Khalil Gibran and Pablo Neruda) that goes with it.
The US Embassy, the Mexican Embassy..not even the State Department could help me.... I prayed so much for them to come back to me, I imagined them in the same HUGE wooden box I built for them to be shipped there, just leaning outside our little home-I imagined it all with great Faith and prayer and *Quantum physics* imaginings too!
But they never arrived at my doorstep.
The box I shipped them in was so big, I had to enlist the help of 2 friends to carry it on top of a van, I remember driving through snowy streets to ship them down to Mexico...
The last time I saw them....
*wow* It is very, very AWEsome to know where they are.
I am not like this with all my work....I have collectors all over the world, many whom I have never met... but this group... (not the first to be stolen either, I had 3 paintings stolen from GALA theater in Washington DC many years ago-I have no documentation of those as I made them especially for the exhibit)- these were my favorite pieces at the time; sent down there for my first Museum show, in my *adopted country* -where my father lived for 8 years as a UN diplomat, where I spent many, many happy vacations.... where now I have not only the connection with my art there, but my Mexican partner in love & life -whom I met during that trip, who has never seen those pieces in person....
This is a small canvas, I sent three of these they measure 9" x 12" and were part of my "Visual Poetry" series.
This one to the right is super meaningful as I painted it the first time that my son went on a full week's vacation with the ex husband.... I was so worried and concerned, it was my prayer for Sacred care while he was away.
This is a piece that was bathed in tears as I painted it during that week,
lots of rum and cokes and m&m's ..... a time where everything was so new to me. I married so young, that being a divorcee opened up a world of so many things.... dating and dancing and paying bills and worries as a student/working single mom.... but my son was my *all* (still is!).... I pray he is always protected and cared for my *All that Is*.
I also sent them some of my favorite "Abstracted figurative" pieces
This piece measurees 2 x 3 feet (or larger)
These were pieces about love and desire. About broken pieces of humanity coming together to form an "us"
When I painted them, I was going through relationships in the style of the Surrealists: "serial dating"....
I was very interested in the concept of 'soulmates' and unions... sex was for the first time "in mind" and enjoyable (my first marriage is one I was forced into by my mother, it was love-less and sex was a chore).
I discovered so much about myself... a time of shedding and great personal growth.
See the wings? :
This piece measures about 2 x 3 feet.
I could go on and on... and in the past I have... before Sergio accidentally crashed my website two years ago, I had documented all my contacts with Mexican and USA authorities to try to get my work back. There, I had letters from Mexico lying about the fact that they had my work... a letter from the Mexican cultural attache, washing his hands off of the whole "affair" (as he put it)- admitting, yet back pedaling re: his knowledge of the theft.... etc. etc.
BUT, I don't want to focus on all the negativity... I am excited to know where these pieces are, and will hopefully someday be able to better document them via good photos or scans.
Spiritual awakening is the most essential thing in man's life, and it is the sole purpose of being. Is not civilization, in all its tragic forms, a supreme motive for spiritual awakening?
The paintings (all oil on canvas) that were stolen from me by the Mexican government and 5 years later auctioned off.....................have been found!!
was contacted by the collector a few years ago, he was at first concerned because he knew they had been stolen, I am grateful he had the moral compass to contact me. We chatted via FaceBook and he assured me he would have the paintings exhibited throughout Mexico.
Sadly, he passed away soon after contacting me... may you rest in peace Omar....Thank you!
All I knew of him was his kindness and that he was a young man. It was very sad. I waited before posting on his *In Memoriam FB wall*....
I didn't want to be disrespectful to all those grieving. I posted again a year later, and so it has gone until TODAY, when I finally received a response from his sister about these pieces that I LOVE so much; she now owns the paintings.
These two were part of the seven and are part of a series I painted entitled "The Soul Keeper."
The one above measures about 20" x 20"and the one below measures about 3 x 4 feet. Each painting has poetry by one of my two favorite poets (Khalil Gibran and Pablo Neruda) that goes with it.
The US Embassy, the Mexican Embassy..not even the State Department could help me.... I prayed so much for them to come back to me, I imagined them in the same HUGE wooden box I built for them to be shipped there, just leaning outside our little home-I imagined it all with great Faith and prayer and *Quantum physics* imaginings too!
But they never arrived at my doorstep.
The box I shipped them in was so big, I had to enlist the help of 2 friends to carry it on top of a van, I remember driving through snowy streets to ship them down to Mexico...
The last time I saw them....
*wow* It is very, very AWEsome to know where they are.
I am not like this with all my work....I have collectors all over the world, many whom I have never met... but this group... (not the first to be stolen either, I had 3 paintings stolen from GALA theater in Washington DC many years ago-I have no documentation of those as I made them especially for the exhibit)- these were my favorite pieces at the time; sent down there for my first Museum show, in my *adopted country* -where my father lived for 8 years as a UN diplomat, where I spent many, many happy vacations.... where now I have not only the connection with my art there, but my Mexican partner in love & life -whom I met during that trip, who has never seen those pieces in person....
The heart's affections are divided like the branches of the cedar tree; if the tree loses one strong branch; it will suffer but it does not die; it will pour all its vitality into the next branch so that it will grow and fill the empty place.
This is a small canvas, I sent three of these they measure 9" x 12" and were part of my "Visual Poetry" series.This one to the right is super meaningful as I painted it the first time that my son went on a full week's vacation with the ex husband.... I was so worried and concerned, it was my prayer for Sacred care while he was away.
This is a piece that was bathed in tears as I painted it during that week,
lots of rum and cokes and m&m's ..... a time where everything was so new to me. I married so young, that being a divorcee opened up a world of so many things.... dating and dancing and paying bills and worries as a student/working single mom.... but my son was my *all* (still is!).... I pray he is always protected and cared for my *All that Is*.
Love is the only freedom in the world because it so elevates the spirit that the laws of humanity and the phenomena of nature do not alter its course.
I also sent them some of my favorite "Abstracted figurative" pieces
This piece measurees 2 x 3 feet (or larger)
These were pieces about love and desire. About broken pieces of humanity coming together to form an "us"
When I painted them, I was going through relationships in the style of the Surrealists: "serial dating"....
I was very interested in the concept of 'soulmates' and unions... sex was for the first time "in mind" and enjoyable (my first marriage is one I was forced into by my mother, it was love-less and sex was a chore).
I discovered so much about myself... a time of shedding and great personal growth.
See the wings? :
God has given you a spirit with wings on which to soar into the spacious firmament of Love and Freedom. Is it not pitiful than that you cut your wings with your own hands and suffer your soul to crawl like an insect upon the earth?
This piece measures about 2 x 3 feet.
I could go on and on... and in the past I have... before Sergio accidentally crashed my website two years ago, I had documented all my contacts with Mexican and USA authorities to try to get my work back. There, I had letters from Mexico lying about the fact that they had my work... a letter from the Mexican cultural attache, washing his hands off of the whole "affair" (as he put it)- admitting, yet back pedaling re: his knowledge of the theft.... etc. etc.
BUT, I don't want to focus on all the negativity... I am excited to know where these pieces are, and will hopefully someday be able to better document them via good photos or scans.
Spiritual awakening is the most essential thing in man's life, and it is the sole purpose of being. Is not civilization, in all its tragic forms, a supreme motive for spiritual awakening?
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