Jazz Fest and Pre-Release

Hello Sunshine!

It is Tuesday before Jazz Fest and all-the-way Springtime in New Orleans. I write to you now from the coffeeshop as usual, on a brief break from the studio where I have been steadily making paintings for my new body of work called "Make-Believe". I will once again (Thank God) have the pleasure of setting up a booth at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this year - Contemporary Crafts - Second Weekend (May 5-8). Yay! Bring on the sun!

Jazz Fest 2009

Jazz Fest 2010

I invite you festival-goers to come find me in Tent H on second weekend, where I will be beaming in the glow of another blessed year earmarked by a booth at the fest. Paintings in this collection contain bits of magic and make-believe in my style of whimsy and trees. I hope they will lift you up like a cockatoo in cumulonimbus and remind you of the transporting power of playing pretend. As I have done in the past, I will post a preview on my blog before I pack the paintings up for the fairgrounds. AND for eager loyal locals, I will host a super-casual open-studio pre-release on the Tuesday between festival weekends. If you want first pick or will not be attending the fest, I invite you to come by my studio at 1121 Antonine on Tuesday, May 3, 6:00-7:00pm. I will try to set the blog post to release at the same time, so if you will be attending virtually and happen to fall in love with a piece, just give me a ring: 504-669-8667.

"Make-Believe"
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
Contemporary Crafts, Tent H (Near Gospel and the Blues)
Second Weekend Only, May 5-8, 2011


Open-Studio Pre-Release
1121 Antonine, Uptown New Orleans
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
6:00-7:00pm

(This is the same as my newsletter from today that was sent to my mailing list. Sorry if you got it twice. I'm not so sophisticated as to eliminate duplicate blog and newsletter subscribers. Forgive me and smile!) Merci. :)

I'm diggin...

Photos by Tim Walker

This dress at Anthropologie

Art by Walter Anderson

This photo of Gregory Peck

The work of Walton Ford

This song: Duke Ellington, Pie Eye's Blues

This film: Water for Elephants



This link: Old and Magnificent

Many of these inspirations were shared with me directly by people in my life who thought I would like them. You know who you are, so thank you. :) Clearly, you were right on target.

I want...

Water Elephant, a photo by icomedia on Flickr.

a duck, a sweater and a song

The magic hour

I stopped time today on the steps of Latter Library reading this book by the wife of artist Walter Anderson whose work I adore. 
It was not long ago I posted to Facebook a status post declaring my love for the hours of the day from 3pm-7pm for their velocity and immediacy... The feeling that there is yet time to make the day worthwhile, the slanting light reminds us that another day will end and everything looks more beautiful when you become aware that it will not last forever. 
And then today, my first reading of a quote from Walter Anderson, "It is approaching the magic hour before sunset when all things are related..." 
Perhaps his reasons were different, but the appreciation of the magic hour is the same. I glow somewhere inside, as I read, sitting on the cool marble spot by the front door, bare feet, shorts, summer approaching and the comforting smell of rain. 
I read on to find a growing connection to the journey of Agnes Anderson as she recounts their life together. A tender spot softens in me as I read her words, "I was puzzled over this incident for a long time. When I think back on it now, it seems to be a metaphor of our lifelong relationship: Bob wanting desperately to give me his sense of wholeness in the universe, to strip away my fears and make me see with my whole being, to give me inner light."

Indeed inner light does not always come so painlessly, and yet it's worth cannot be measured. 

One of my many lists

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We need an expedition!

Join me on my journey.
Spring 2011 Collection is in production and I'm bringing you on the journey in bits and pieces here on my blog.
This is a new painting from the series that is full of questions and reflections.
Working title: Make/Believe
You can view more pieces in the series-so-far on my website.
As in the past, the complete release will coincide with my showing at Jazz Fest, second weekend. A super casual pre-release will take place on the blog and at my studio just before I pack them up for the fairgrounds.

"Lemon and Hot Air Balloon"
2011
16" x 20"
acrylic on hand-stretched canvas
$350

Fishing