Wow! The last couple of months have been wild!
First, the biggest news: I am delighted and honored to have been accepted as a member of the Artists Gallery in Racine. The gallery represents a vibrant and diverse group of artists. The theme for the current exhibit is The Power of Love and Kindness, something we all can use a bit more of right now. The gallery is downtown on Main Street, stop by when you can. Wednesday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.
A little closer to home, some of my work is on display, and for sale, at Story Keepers Books, a new used bookstore in West Allis. The shop has a great selection of books for you as well as Makers Nights, a book club and author events. Check out their Facebook page to find out more about it.
In 2020, just as the pandemic started, my Mom went into hospice and I became very sick with Influenza A. After several days, when I was able to sit up and take notice of the world around me, this thought came to me from somewhere outside of me:
When we stop teaching women to doubt themselves, the earth will soar and then settle.
For the last dozen years I have been soaring. I wanted to try and do everything. I made several solo cross country road trips, explored different spiritual traditions, took flying lessons, even got a cat. (I’m a plant person, the cat was not too happy to be in my custody.) I started painting in 2016 and explored all kinds of media for making two dimensional art. It was like being in my teens while I was in my 60’s: mostly fun, often intense, and sometimes just plain confusing for me and the people in my life.
Now it is time to settle.
I am selling my condominium and have moved into a 55+ community so I can simplify my life, focus my time and energy on community and art making. I have to tell you though, simplifying your life is a lot of work. Sorting through my things, deciding what I wanted to keep, selling or giving away the rest, then packing and unpacking has been physically and mentally challenging. There were days when I thought I would never get to the end of the work so I could begin to live that simplified life.
Today I emptied the last box. There is still some work to do to get my new apartment in shape but the beginning is in sight.
Be well everyone.