Although I'm landlocked this summer I have been thinking of the bigger world. I've been lucky to work with a wonderful woman from Italy (she works at the Castello di Rivoli normally but is here for love.) She practiced speaking by helping 4 year olds with their hands in clay, coming in to art classes everyday with a glowing smile on her face, and making sure kids and teachers enjoyed themselves. It was a pure joy to have her here. I wish I remembered all of the Italian I studied but then I'm a forgetful kid and can be lazy when free translation sites are around. Forgive me if the Italian is muddy but tomorrow the big thanks I give Manuela will communicate more than silly words.

Allora...

Sebbene sono senza sbocco sul mare quest'estate che penso del mondo più grande. Sono stato fortunato lavorare con una donna meravigliosa da Italia (lavora al Rivoli di di di Castello ma è normalmente qui per l'amore. Ha praticato per parlare aiutando 4 anno vecchio con le loro mani nell'argilla, entrando alle classi di arte di tutti i giorni con un sorriso ardente sulla sua faccia, e si assicurando i bambini e gli insegnanti loro stessi sono piaciuti. Era una gioia pura averla qui. Desidero che abbia ricordato tutto l'italiano ho studiato ma poi sono un bambino di forgetful e posso essere pigro quando i luoghi di traduzione liberi sono intorno. Perdonarme se l'italiano è fangoso ma domani i ringraziamenti grandi do a Manuela comunicherà più di le parole sciocche.

c'e veddiamo,
Rachael

The niece went back home but not before I caught a picture of her painting like her dad does and her aunt does and her mom used to. This kid has a natural talent for drawing and an ability to lose herself in her imagination. We miss her already.



We've been cleaning up and hunting down houses and working more than our little non-profit-do-it-because-you-love-it-not-for-a-paycheck-jobby jobs pay us to work and all the while I've been wanting to simply stop and hole up in a quiet studio setting and make quiet little things. I've been dreaming of a studio again. A quiet place I can make art and trouble and mess and connections between disparate things. I've been closing my eyes and pretending I am in a plain white room.

But you know that would be dull. So it's a busy room with a few minutes and a couple of vacation days looming on the horizon. My ticket to nowhere is a chance to paint in the same intense way a seven year old can. Anywhere, anytime. Who needs a studio?

take care,
Rachael

We are hosting our neice this week. She's a rambunctious, delightful, cheerful, creative, happy to talk, art-making, smarty-pants, silly goof of a wonderful seven year old. She was a big part of the reason we moved back up north and we are simply having too much fun for me to slow down and sit at a computer to blog.

That said I will tell you that Sorry is a good game, crayola magic markers are fun to draw with (fine tips are fine tips), and elbow tag is excercise.

Have fun!
Rachael

Oh and to make this even more fun: we're getting close in the househunt, dear Deb and Julius and baby Sophia were recently in the neighborhood, and it is fruit salad season.

Hope Hilton has a lovely cooperative project she's just placed online. Look a lot, think a little, look a little and think a lot. She comes up with some dang good ideas and I'm too sleepy to share more but I do share this link to salvation.

If I get saved while I'm sleeping, will I have to go to work tomorrow? Can I get a longer lunch break? Will my salvation center my pots if my fingers can't?

Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense. Goodnight!

Rachael

We worked all day, we sniffed out a house that wasn't right, and while I want to call old friends I simply don't have the energy.When it rains I will pull out my paints and paint the spilling water from the sky in the true colors I see. Deep blues and cold greys and greens. everything is moving slightly; branches, bunches of green, and shadows.

There is a part of making art which is (and this was sung like a mantra when I was in art school, mind you) trusting the process. Simply accepting that the end result is sometimes unknowable, that there is a reason for every set back and a point at which sometimes the motion of making is more meaningful that the carefully planned result. It's a lesson I am still learning and getting wet is not a bad thing to help teach.

Damn cat is eating my zinnia though so time to teach her a lesson...

Deb's lead to Kumi Korf's lovely book is a true treat.

take good care kids,
Rachael