” Talismans Four” Detail

After a year of creating and printing , painting and collecting sculpture pieces, the first exhibit of “Talismans-Visionary Allegories” was shown at Lagerquist Gallery in Buckhead, Atlanta , Georgia this month. It was a proud moment, seeing this collection hanging in a beautiful room, relating the stories of my art voyage. Even with a rainy and cold night to contend with ,the attendance was decent and culminated with two new collectors purchasing significant works.

Talismans Four SOLD

Hanging the Show and Building the Scupture

“Hildegard” the Storyteller

Hildie and the Paintings

” The Vessel” Allegory One

“The Pouch” Allegory Four

“Talismans Two” with Crow Sculpture

” Talismans Three”

“Talismans Three Detail

Meeting new Collectors

Talking about the work

Ceramic mask for Hildegarde Sculpture

Preparing for my exhibit Talismans and Visionary Allegories at Lagerquist Gallery in Atlanta has been exciting, intriguing  and challenging! Mostly because I am creating my first found object figurative sculpture “Hildegarde”.

She will represent the story teller in the exhibit and encompasses all of the symbolism represented in each of the allegories. As I searched for the elements of this sculpture I found that each time I found that special recycled piece of wood, metal , paper or ceramic I could feel the essence  and the  spirit of this art piece coming together.  I will continue to add the photos of her creation as I complete this new idea of expression of my work in the study of the journey of iconography.

AND THE JOURNEY BEGINS!!

So I  forgot my computer cord in Orlando… but I didn’t forget my beautiful silk blouse!!

No problem, I ordered a French cord for my Mac here in Avignon, it took a week to get but Voila!

here I am, back online and a lot to show you!!

Our First Few Days were spent getting our bearings, checking out our village Gaujac

and grounding ourselves…

that took several bottles of amazing French wine and some sleep  :)

ANGIE MY TRAVELING BUDDY

VIEW OF THE VINEYARDS

STREET VIEW IN GAUJAC

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL HOME IN GAUJAC

WINE TASTING

A TYPICAL LUNCH

AVIGNON PASSION

The Palace des Papes

Our First stop was beautiful Avignon, only a 30 minute drive through the countryside of vineyards

and we were in a thriving ancient city! With lots of fabulous stores to shop in

and

a palace built by the  Popes in the 14th Century!

I was inspired by the patterns, images and colors of  the frescos, tiles and wallpapers found in the

Papal Palace  and I could only imagine  how opulent  these Roman Catholic Popes lived in those days.

REECECLUSE COTTAGE AT RHONE RETREAT ~Gaujac ,France

As this year ( a very tough year) comes to a close, my 60+ Birthday arrives with mixed  emotions!

Although I am happy to be healthy and blessed with much abundance, I feel that  the sand  is running faster and faster through the hourglass of life. Unable to slow it down, I’ve decided to speed things up a tad  ALOT! And gift myself with things that make me feel alive.

and so~   LOIN je VAIS  once again to  My Belle France to celebrate this new year of  my life.

I have chosen the South of France to explore for several reasons.

First, it’s a bit warmer in December and although I am a December Child and love to bundle up in sweaters, boots and barets, I have very thin blood after living in Florida for most of my adult life.

 Secondly, I want to walk in the footsteps of some of my influences from my young artist days. Cézanne, Van Gogh, Matisse just to name a few. I plan to visit the small cafe’s where my mentors hung out and drink to their memories and art.

My Third reason is this amazing place to stay, owned by my friend Ken Jourdan, Rhone Retreat and the ReeceCluse Cottage where I will stay for 3  glorious  weeks, just drew me in, as if it was waiting for me to arrive.

http://www.rhoneretreat.com/index.html

As I am also looking for a village  to return to and settle into in the future, a home away from home.

Gaujac, France looks like it might just fit  the  bill and Ken’s motto is  

“If you come to Gaujac (pronounced GOJACK) you will alway come back”

I have a good friend who is an artist, Angie, joining me for a couple  of weeks and we will let the adventure  unfold as we travel Provence  and see where we end up  and what fun we can have

during this France Hoilday Season.

I will keep  you posted  on our travels.

Until we meet again,

au revoir, au revoir pour le moment

Marti

The First Step, transfer of image and carving the block!

I have once again opened my studio to fellow artists who would like specialized instruction in printmaking.
Hanna Joensuu  joined me in early July to hone her skills in linoleum block printing. We had a great time and her final prints were really good.
I have posted a few of the photos recording the process here.
If you are interested in private classes, contact me personally.
If you are interested in attending one of my workshops, the link on the website will give you complete information.

Hanna Joensuu

Hanna preparing her ink for printing

Inking the background woodblock.

Hanna printing

Printing the final image

Dancing Bugs by Hanna Joensuu

Hanna’s bug with background.

Hanna with her final print, great job Hanna!

On the beach in Essaouira , Morroco

It’s been 2 months now since I returned from my month long travel to Europe, visiting places I LOVE and finding new territories to explore. When I got home I was so happy to see my family and friends. Content sleeping in my own bed, and painting in the studio again. BUT…as I look through the photos one more time, my itch to go again starts up and I find myself looking forward to my next travel adventure. Where and When, I am not sure, but I do know I feel the slightest pulse of the beat of the wanderlust drum deep down inside and I realize it is still alive and well. I expect it to grow louder and louder until I once again feed the lust, pack my bags and and head out to visit someplace interesting, meet new people, share ideas and culture and share all this with you. Until then, I have posted pictures of some of the wonderful people I met along the way…who knows we may spend time together again someday.

Sultan of Morocco, (1845) Eugene Delacroix

When I was 8 years old I played the part of Scheherazade, a legendary Persian Queen and storyteller of One Thousand and One Nights in a school play. Since that time I have been fascinated with the exotic images and stories of that part of the world. With Sultans, and deserts and camels and such.

Scheherazade

Then 6 years later in 1962( I was 14) along came the movie ” Lawrence of Arabia” with Peter O’ Toole and Omar Sharif, handsome men riding through the desert with white turbans flying…I was hooked!

I really love the art and textiles that represent that part of the world, Eugene Delacroix a french painter spent time there and his paintings from that period are rich in color and details.

The Streets are packed in the medina where we stayed. Cars, bicycles, motor bikes, donkeys with carts and horse drawn carriages…and of course, people! People walking, people talking, people selling and buying vegetables, meats, clothing, and home products. Along our path to the souks, we passed many small ateliers , where crafts people of all ages were making their wears. Beautiful rugs hung high on the terrace above me drying in the sun.

Enjoy these images of Marrakech

As I marcher les rues ( walked the streets ) of Paris in the last days, I am taken with the sites, the smells, and overall ambiance of this amazing city. My camera flashing as I peered into windows and enjoyed each speciality shop. I was fortunate to meet and make new friends like Susie Holland of Vingt Paris Magazine, an art lover who has lived and worked here for many years, helping connect all mediums of the art world together.

 and then on to “The Soul Kitchen Dinner Club” with owners Christian and Alexa, who made me feel so welcome as they cooked and served a traditional french dinner of Cassoulet, French baguette, and poire tart and coffee, and of course great french wine!in their beautiful apartment. It was a rare opportunity to really meet and talk with artisans like myself, about life as an artist and how that is really the same all over the world.

http://soulkitchensupperclub.com/

One of the highlights of my stay in Paris was going to the Musée d’Orsay and viewing some of my favs , like Gauguin, Matisse, Modigliani, Rodin, and more. It was so thrilling to actually see the energy in the brush strokes, and know that they were authentic. Paris is the best for me in this way! I loved strolling along the Seine, to see the artists, painting as they sit with their work exposed, hoping for a sale. I felt their excitement when a passer by would stopped to discuss a painting, and the disappointment when they continued on with out it! Visiting the bookstore Shakespeare and Company and purchasing a novel by George Sands a female french writer who I admire so much.

 

http://shakespeareandcompany.com/

 

I hope you are able to view the photos I am attaching, images that will always remind me of this week in Paris and the things that inspired me.

 

    

   

   

   

Welcome to my Paris apartment located at 12 Rue de Germain Pilon in Montmartre. An authentic Parisian apartment with parquet wood floors, fireplaces in each room and comfortable beds, it was a fantastic choice. Not far from the Metro Abbesses, which provided fast and convenient access to all of Paris, it was all I needed and was a wonderful home away from home. With 2 bedrooms , a full salon (living room) full kitchen and bath, Beth and I felt comfortable and safe. At the end of the day, we would come back to relaxed atmosphere and catch up on that day’s adventure. The small terrace was a nice nook to have a moment to rest outside and watch the people pass on the street below. As I soaked away in the tub each evening, I could listen as the concert pianist played classical music in the apartment below me.

 My bedroom looked out over the garden, with big french windows, with a beautiful view of a chestnut tree and rooftops. Quiet and secluded I enjoyed the privacy it provided after a long day on the streets of Paris. I loved the old art deco armoire that was my closet in my bedroom.

au revoir pour le moment

Marti

LE BON SOIR DE MON PARIS DE BEAUTE!!! You can see by the smile on my face that I am one happy girl!! It’s midnight with a full moon on my first evening in Paris and the weather is amazing. Je suis désolé if I am but another francophile cliché. J’aime juste cette ville( I just love this city). I will post mostly images as I go along, not too much text, this will give all of you the opportunity to enjoy Paris in your own way. Feed back would be great, and I will try to respond to questions if you have any.