Mindfulness in the Midst

Last week the monkeys took over the zoo! How else can I put it? Mekenzie (the other teacher) and I were trying to keep control of art camp (Week 8) but as I told my Mom, it was less like teaching art and more like herding squirrels. (4 were not yet in kindergarden and it's a 3 hour class)

It is difficult to find peace in the present moment when there is very little peace offered. I did notice in the moments I was able to focus in on just the child I was working with and really be there in the moment and present with him or her, everything else disappeared.

Of course, I was only able to get there about 3 times the whole week, for about 2 minutes each but alas, something to strive for!! :)

Breathing in,

I calm body and mind.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present

I know this is the only moment.

~Thich Nhat Hahn

Iris for Dawn

Oil and metal leafing on canvas board

2008

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,

as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves -

slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

~Thich Nhat Hahn

When we are mindful,

deeply in touch with the present moment,

our understanding of what is going on deepens,

and we begin to be filled with acceptance,

joy,

peace

and

Love.

~Thich Nhat Hahn

The past is gone,

the future is not yet here,

and if we do not go back to ourselves

in the present moment,

we cannot be in touch with life.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

I have read so many books and listened to so many lectures over the years about being in the present moment but the book, The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Naht Hanh, is the one that truly made me understand the connection between mindfulness and living in the present moment. One story he tells is about eating a tangerine and having a conversation at the same time. If you are chatting while eating the tangerine ... you are not eating the tangerine. You aren't really experiencing the tangerine. You aren't in the present moment. Well, I am paraphrasing and he is much more eloquent! See? You should read the book! ;)

Another wonderful work of his, is an audio CD that my sister had me listen to during the most challenging time of my life. It's called The Art of Power and it helped me beyond words. The title makes it sound different than what it is or what I expected it to be but it's amazing.

Each moment is a chance for us to make peace with the world,

to make peace possible for the world,

to make happiness possible for the world.

~Thich Nhat Hahn

Many blessings and much mindfulness to all of you this week!

Bread and Tulips

Whatever you can do, or dream you can,

Begin it.

Boldness has genius,

power and magic in it.

Begin it now.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Hello my friends! If you are looking for a sweet summer movie rental that happens to take place in Venice, Italy, I thought Bread and Tulips was a lovely little film. It reminded me quite a lot of Shirley Valentine from 1989, which I liked as well ... but the Italian version! (Which, of course, I love!) The lead actress, Licia Maglietta, is so likable you can't help but root for her.

Please keep in mind the movie is better than the trailer!

Oh, and if you have any other suggestions for Italian comedies, I would love to hear them!

Tulips for Erin 2008

Oil and metal leafing on canvas board

You are never too old to set another goal

or to dream a new dream.

~C.S. Lewis

Hope you are all having a lovely week!

Summer Camp L.A.

A work of art is above all

an adventure of the mind.

~Eugene Ionesco

My 17 year old niece Rachel came to stay with me, two weeks ago today. She was attending a 2 week art camp for high school students at U.C.L.A. Her focus was photography. She had some very long days there, including field trips and the daily roundtrip drive to the campus in Westwood.

One of her field trips was to The Getty Center. I had always wanted to take her to The Getty, so I went ahead and met up with her there. She spent most of the time with her class and taking photos for an assignment but we still managed to walk around for a bit together in the main garden designed by Robert Erwin. It was a gorgeous day! (I also made it to the cafeteria for my favorite taco salad!)

We strolled around some of my favorite little shopping and restaurant areas like Larchmont Village and walked through my neighborhood to get coffees and dessert. We also watched movies. I brought out two movies I love that she'd never seen, Cinema Paradiso and Three Kings and she had me watch Up, (which was great!)

A fun little excursion was our photo expedition on Melrose Ave. Rachel took the photo below (you can see her reflection!) and it became part of her series for the final gallery show the last day of her camp. The title of her series became Too Much Rock for One Tanning Salon. She cracks me up.

Photo by Rachel Herring

Another night we drove up and down Hollywood Blvd. so she could take pictures. I don't think I have ever seen so many tourists on the Walk of Fame in my life. I took the photo below out the window, while parked in a loading zone, as Rachel was running around trying to photograph "Michael Jackson" in front of the Chinese Theater. Darth Vadar and Charlie Chaplin were there as well!

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, by the way, is where the first Academy Awards was held in 1929 and is said to be haunted by deceased movie stars Marilyn Monroe (who lived there for two years) and Montgomery Clift who stayed during the filming of From Here to Eternity.

She ran out of film and I handed her my "point and shoot!"

Every production of an artist should be the expression

of an adventure of his soul.

~W. Somerset Maugham

We laughed at the two signs juxtaposed ...

"Final Destination ... Crazy Girls"

We also had fun cooking dinner together. This was one of our Italian nights ...

Our pasta dinner, complete with Italian music ...

Another dinner included sauteed zucchini flowers ..

Our bok choy with garlic and fresh ginger stir fry night!

(so good with a bit of sesame oil, onions and soy sauce!)

And then last Friday, after two weeks of photographing and printing, the kids all had a show of their work. It was in a large space on the U.C.L.A. campus and included the painting, drawing, sculpture and photography camps.

Of course, there was one person's work who really stood out and I am not just saying that because she's my niece! Her teachers even said what a great eye she has and how great her work is. Anyway, you can take a look for yourselves. These were taken with a film camera and her prints were then photographed with a digital camera. I wish you could see her beautiful prints in person!

Feel free to double click on the photos to get a better view!

"Too Much Rock for One Tanning Salon"

Photos by Rachel Herring

(Yes, the guy in the photo below is actually reading Catcher in the Rye at the Getty. Too perfect.)

From the Getty ...

Photo by Rachel Herring

Melrose graffiti

by Rachel Herring

Hollywood Blvd ...

by Rachel Herring

Photo by Rachel Herring

And my favorite ...

(can you see "Michael Jackson's" glittery socks?!)

Photo by Rachel Herring

I am so proud of her! It was so much fun. We are already making plans and trying to figure out when she can come back!

And yes, she has a blog. ;)

Art flourishes where there is a sense of adventure.

~Alfred North Whitehead

Hope you all had a bit of adventure in the last two weeks!

Blessings and light!

Summer Camp at the Wizard of Art

Creativity is

inventing,

experimenting,

growing,

taking risks,

breaking rules,

making mistakes,

and

having fun.

~Mary Lou Cook

Monday will begin week 7 of teaching art camp at The Wizard of Art this summer. As usual, it's been a bit of a wild ride. Some weeks are pretty calm and others have had a bit of a circus vibe. My favorite thing about it by far, is seeing the pride that the kids have in there work - especially when they exceed their their own expectations and surprise themselves.

Here is a sampling of some of the kids this summer.

Kittens by Sadie

Mixed Media on Paper

Sadie - Mixed Media Artist

Age 5

Oyster and Pearl by Kate

Paint on Sculpey

Kate - Sculptor

Age 8

E.T. by Gabe

Acrylic on Canvas

Gabe - Painter

Age 8

Pink and Purple Fairy by Morgan

Watercolor and pastel on paper

Morgan - Watercolorist

Age 7

Puffin on Blue Background by Owen

Pastel on paper

Owen -Pastel Artist

Age 8

Tee-pee by Gavin

Watercolor and sharpie on paper

Gavin - Artist

Age 6

Mr. Crabs by Cor

Mixed Media on Duralar and Paper

Cor - Animator

Age 8

Cat by Josephine

Ink on paper

Josephine - Printer

Age 5

Aren't they inspiring??

Well ... 4 weeks to go!

If you want to see more amazing kids click here.

If you are in L.A. and are interested, their website is www.thewizardofart.com

Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination,

your creativity, or your curiosity.

It is your place in the world;

it's your life.

Go on and do all you can with it,

and make it the life you want to live.

~Mae Jemison

Please send love and prayers to our beautiful friends in Norway.

Blessings and light to them and to you always.