Wednesday, August 31, 2011

End of Summer



September 1st is coming up soon. It’s hard to believe that the summer is practically over. Time is going much too fast. I remember when I was young and mature adults said the older you get, the faster time passes. Now I understand what they were talking about. Still, even when I was a kid and time took forever, I hated to see the end of the summer. This summer was wonderful. I took it easy, had time to travel, cut back on the writing, and painted at my leisure. I dread the fall and the even faster pace in the winter once “Season” is in full force.

I was away for the past five days at Wright by the Sea in Delray Beach where I gratefully enjoyed the beach, sun, and pool. We were so lucky that Hurricane Irene missed us. But I returned this morning to find a zillion emails on my computer with news about upcoming exhibitions. September already sounds like a busy month. Press releases are out for shows at the Lighthouse Art Center, Palm Beach State College, FAU, and several of the galleries. Talking about FAU, I’m attending an opening reception tomorrow August 31, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. for John Rachell’s “Garden Portraits” a one-man show on the Jupiter campus in the atrium of the Student Resources Building.

I recently wrote an article for the Examiner, “Artists triumph over disabilities” in which I talked about John. He’s a fellow artist at A Unique Art Gallery whom I met nearly two years ago when he had work in a show at 1608, a gallery on S. Dixie Hwy in West Palm Beach. I loved his work, wrote about him in the Examiner, and was pleased when he joined the Artists Association of Jupiter. I’m hoping that his opening tomorrow is a huge success. The work will be on display through September 30, 2011.

FAU’s Kathyrn Yates, who organized the exhibition, invited me to do a father/daughter show there this winter. I’m already trying to decide which pieces to put into the exhibit, and think I might include “The Journey” pictured above, a collage painting of my experience in Australia. It’s practically done, but I have to work on the finishing touches. I just finished “The Taos Pueblo” which is only 9” x 12” (also pictured above) much too small for the FAU atrium, but perfect for the Manalapan Library. I’m planning a father/daughter show there at the end of November until mid February. Indeed, the upcoming months will be busy and exciting, if they don’t become overwhelming. I’m trying to psych myself into remaining cool, calm, and relaxed.

That reminds me. I am also planning an Unleashing Creativity Workshop at A Unique Art Gallery in Jupiter on September 24, 2011 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. I gave myself the summer off and haven’t done a workshop since last May, but Susan Lorenti, gallery director, encouraged me to start up again. Using relaxation techniques, participants access the unconscious to release creative juices. Most artists don’t need help to free their creativity, but lots of other people do and even artists have periods of blocking. The workshops can prove to be helpful and inspiring. Now I just need to practice what I preach. Stay calm and relaxed in spite of the summer ending.