I am helping out some dear friends in Corrales/Albuquerque, New Mexico for a while. I will be here for an extended time. I brought my art materials but in light of the seriousness of my stay here, I am not sure how often i will get to them. I have always come here as a way to relax and dream. New Mexico is my happy place. This time is different. As i drive to a hospital or a rehabilitation center, grocery story, etc. i have to remind myself to look at those beautiful skies and mountains you love so much. I realize very clearly that places are important, but it is the people in your life that always take first place in our hearts.

I am late getting this in. I was able to take a week long educational workshop in Atlanta in June. It was at Georgia Tech at the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum complex. http://www.ipst.gatech.edu/amp. If you are interested in paper this is a wonderful museum. The workshop consisted of making a Japanese sugeta (screen for making paper), cooking and beating kozo and gampi fibers and pulling sheets of paper in the non-western tradition. I need a lot more practice. It was a great experience.

Workshop at the Robert C. Williams Paper Musuem

I have neglected my blog for many months, but I am about to go on a journey that will be unlike anything i have ever experienced and I want to document my feelings and the art that hopefully will be a healing experience for the loving friends I want to help. I will be traveling to my favorite place, New Mexico and i will be helping my best friend of 33 years whose husband was diagnosed with brain cancer three weeks ago. My other best friend, my husband is going to stay home and take care of our 3 pugs and our home while i am gone indefinitely. This is going to be a hard time. I want to write about Steve because he is an awesome artist who has taught me a lot over the years. I want to write about my dear friend Mary Ann who has been with me through our first years of teaching art together, the births of my children, divorce and marriage. She is my sister in every sense of the word. She is being so brave right now. We all know people in our lives who have had stage 4 cancer, but when it hits someone so close, it is a very surreal experience. Art is a healer and we will see how it takes care of all of us in the days to come. Pray for Steve and Mary Ann. Pray for your own loved ones. And make some art.