Compass

Kathryn and I spent two days and a night in North Carolina last Thursday. We were headed to High Point University for the opening reception of an exhibition she has been coordinating for months and months. It was a pleasant trip full of good conversation in her deluxe set of wheels.
We caught up with each other's lives, the real dirt on this or that and as always, wind up talking about the possibilities life can offer us if we want it.

We spent the evening with my relatives in Wilkes County and it was very pleasant with the exception of a potientially toxic spill in our bedroom that evening. (long story involving varnish and my severe reaction to solvents) It turned out ok although its a good thing I can function with little sleep.

My cousin has beautiful boys who are growing up into updated versions of their parents. One is quiet, creative and bookish like his mom was at that age and the younger one is demanding (for attention) and opinionated (about music) and oriented much like his dad. It was a delightful evening with wine and a delicious sit-down dinner. My cousin's 80ish mom was also present. She never ceases to amaze me with her youthful vigor and curiosity about everything.

Our reception at the gallery was low key and pleasant with good food and lunch afterwards with one of the gallery coordinators. Its a beautiful space and I must say I think the show came together sucessfully with a broad range of style and approach yet a consistent confidence in the work. There are dark, dreamlike representational works, expressively colored and patterned scenarios, formal abstractions with emphasis on color and pattern and darker, more iconic work with a classical edge. If I teaching painting at HPU I would be pleased to have this show om view for my students to learn from.

CACV

My husband and I had a short rendevous to Virginia Beach on the 15th. A new show was opening at the CACV (linked above) and since my exhibition was been extended until October 2 we decided to enjoy this reception and the beach without the pressure of doing a talk, etc. It was fun. I met Monee's parents and fiancee and that was a blast. We went to the Beach Bully and Bad Ass Coffee for the best ribs and coffee I've had in years. There is nothing here that comes close!

It doesn't seem like a beach that I would get excited about since I would prefer to walk along the rocky shore of the North Sea but when one is standing at water's edge and admiring the waves rolling in from Ophelia Virginia Beach disappears and it is only sand and water. The roar of the ocean completely erases everything. The hotels, the cars, the tourons vanish.

Clinton is on the tube. I miss his leadership and intellect. As flawed as his presidency was it was better than anything in recent memory. Maybe he can be the real leader he is capable of being now without the weight of the other party on his back. He is talking about the wrath of Katrina and how we might go about solving the problems that rose to the surface with this hurricane. Some of these problems have been around for hundreds of years - others are the result of the current leadership. He makes a lot of sense to me and it shocks me to think that half the people that are watching this are probably throwing things at their television. I feel like a stranger in my own time these days.