TONIGHT is once again 2nd Friday Art Walk at Art Works Downtown in San Rafael, come by and see us there and stop in my studio 20 and say hi!

It is also the second weekend of Marin Open Studios in Ross, Kentfield, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Belvedere, Mill Valley and Sausalito. Check out the beautiful works by Marin artists!

I will be in my studio tonight for 2nd Friday Art Walk, and also Sunday which is a working day - I just came up with ideas for 4 more canvases and am still working on previous ideas that are not finished - so much art waiting to happen!!

http://www.artworksdowntown.org/2ndfridays



(artwork for the Supernova card in the Science Tarot)

Because Life IS Art, may I present to you the new members of our family; Spaceman and Master Wu



Spaceman is the tuxedo kitty, and Master Wu is the lynx point Siamese mix.



I know what you're thinking, "how sweet and innocent and adorable!" Yes, they are all those things. This morning they run in frantic circles chasing each other with puffed out tails, crab walking and side hopping. Cats at play!
Cats and art? Well, that part is coming....

namaste!

One word - AMAZING!!

Not only did we have a terrific turn out, I feel that was especially blessed by so many engaging and interesting people visiting me... I am completely energy filled and inspired. Thank everyone who came out this weekend to see me during Open Studios! So many great conversations, and just a really great time all around.
:)


Colleen made some excellent signage for the artists, and made things even more excellent! Thanks Colleen :)




Stan brought in some better lighting on Sunday, and had many more visitors in my out of the way location than without the light! Thanks Stan :)





Had an EPIC discussion with a patron who visited me here during Open Studio regarding the Science Tarot. Thank you Sir, for visiting and for indulging my lengthy explaination :)


Made a few sales as well!
Many thanks to those who bought paintings and cards, Blessings be yours for helping support the arts and local artists!   :)

Marin Open Studios at AWD

Founders Lounge - Current Exhibit

MOS@AWD

AWD Artists at Marin Open Studios preview exhibit

in the Founders Lounge through May 31

24 artists and jewelers at Art Works Downtown are participating in weekend 1 of Marin Open Studios 2012

See a sneek peak display of all their art during these times:

• Saturday and Sunday  May 5 + 6 • 11am-6pm during Marin Open Studios
• Special Reception during 2nd Fridays Art Walk May 11 • 5-8pm
• and during regular hours Tuesday - Saturday 10am-6pm through May 31

these are some photos from a hike yesterday near Corte Madera in Baltimore Canyon. the woods were filled with wildflowers, so many varieties I could hardly believe it. The air was rich with all their perfumes, it was a beautiful day.

I have been enjoying a wonderful find, one I came across while listening to a Why Shamanism Now? podcast.There was an interview with Annie Spencer of the Hartwell Center in England. I have been enjoying the website, and came across an article there about medicine wheels that I want to share a snippet of with you. You can go to http://www.hartwell.eu.com/ click on "articles" link to the left, and then "Medicine Wheel teachings" to see the full text and explore more. A direct URL does not work.

from the article:

"The term Medicine Wheels describes an ancient system developed in the Americas that encompasses spirituality, philosophy, ecology, social and personal development. The term Medicine refers to a state of being in harmony and balance with ourselves, the world and with spirit. Teachings are given out in Wheels or circles. This is a system that understands the cyclic nature of life and honours diversity and difference; one that values equality over hierarchy."

This is not so different from a mandala, which is an energetic focus in visual form. As you know if you've looked at my previous posts, I have been deeply engaged in mandala work once again, and it fills me with joy. I have been so passionate about the making, that I've been working on them at home in the evening after coming home from my day job, not able to wait till I can get back in my studio.

And more:

"Medicine Wheel teachings start from the present moment and their first task is orientation. They take the four points of the compass which they call the Four Directions and orient us with qualities that relate to the world as we perceive it. For example, the sun rises in the east so the east is the place to remember the sun and all the qualities it holds. Symbolism mixes with material reality. Thus we also learn that the Sun is our Father/Grandfather, the spark of our origins; that the East is the place of spirit which we might experience as disembodied light. It is also true to say that the sun is our source of life in material reality and it is from the sun that the earth came, that we came. The sun is part of the developing universe and itself was manifested out of cosmic dust and gases. So while each teaching may sound esoteric and spiritual, it is also based on what we would call scientific fact. And each teaching is synthetic: the more we learn, the more we discover there is to learn. This Wheel continues around the directions, west, south and north, reminding us of the building blocks of our world as we go."


Namaste.