Becoming California

Dear Friends,

I’ve been here almost three years, and at last I’m becoming California. When I got here I thought all the fruit was delicious. Now I sniff at so-so farmers market cherries bubbling with lemon and sugar on my stove to bring out what small flavor they have. I know better ones are coming. When I got here I still thought the ocean was on the east, like in Florida. Now I am planning to take I-80 West to hit 101 and drive along my new watery edge of America. And three years ago I was overwhelmed by wineries, embarrassed  because I loved the bottles at the grocery store. But this morning I went with other artists to draw at a lovely winery in Yolo County and deemed it perhaps still developing — too raw, too new. 

It took a while, but I’m becoming California  — our cherries, wine, and even our ocean make me happy.

This morning (May 25) I drove to Great Bear Vineyards in Davis. They welcomed artists to come in and draw. That is the generous, large spirit of California.

Love,

k

Great Bear Vineyards

Inspired by California missions

(I did not stay for wine tasting at 11!)

The big old barn smelled sweet

They dry lavender here

There was a field of lavender nearby, not quite in bloom

Lavender from another season

still attached to drying post

I tapped these barrels in the barn and thought they were full

my friend Leigh said they sound empty

They grow grapes and lavender … and apples

Be careful what you draw

Dear Friends, 
I’ve been drawing flowers for a month, and last week I also got a balcony full of real ones.  Be careful what you draw ... it may come to you! I’d already bought some ferns and pink flowers. And then my neighbor Ellen, who is moving to Arizona as soon as her husband retires in June, brought me red geraniums and schefflera and deep pink bougainvillea.  Now they all line the balcony. Best of all, Ellen tied a bell from Thailand onto a bougainvillea branch. She remembered that I told her I love the sound.
Love,k

Here’s the vine that I hope will attract hummingbirds.

Flower season

Dear Friends,
Flowers abound here and I'm aiming to draw one a day.

Love,
k

Dogwood on 7th Street

America's Breadbasket: Midwest? California?

Dear Friends, 

You know how great it is to be back, doing normal things after a little trip. That’s how I felt today. But Tuesday and Wednesday were also special to me, not only because of the way we three high school friends just sat down at a restaurant in Monterey and carried on conversations begun in the Bishop Hartley High School cafeteria, but also because I am finally feeling “normal” driving around California. Until now, I was afraid to drive freely across mountains and along the coast. It doesn’t make sense, but that’s the way I was. So it was a relief to feel comfortable driving through the Delta region to Monterey this week.

I loved seeing the aqueduct that carries water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Rivers to the farms and also to LA. Water is such a powerful issue here. And there it was, just a straight, flat stream. I also loved seeing the fields where all the fruits and vegetables come from. As an Ohioan, I always considered the Midwest America’s breadbasket, but now I know it’s really California’s Central Valley. I loved driving through Watsonville and Gilroy. I took the truck route so as not to miss them. They are small towns with a heavily Spanish/Mexican flavor.

And then I bought some jam at this stand.

Love,

k

Hills across CA 152 from the farm stand

 

California 152 farm stand

Alex Styrsky: art hot and cool

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I took the train to San Francisco for the opening of an exhibit of mixed-media art by Bay Area artist Alex Styrsky, son of my good friends Pam and Joe. (Pam and I started teaching at Carrollton in Miami  on the same day and have been friends, along with Clark and Joe, ever since.) 

In his artist statement Alex says he is influenced by the Miami colors of his youth and the messy virtuosity of Bay Area Abstraction. I like that his work is large and mostly bright. Using paint, found papers and other materials, Alex coolly works outside the lines.

To see the art in person, go to the First Unitarian Universalist Society, 1187 Franklin St., San Francisco.

Love,

k

Madrigal
52" x 58"

Hodos
(I had to look it up!)
44" x 45"

Blue Medicine
42" x 60"

Leda
40" x 60"

Sunspots
44" x 50"

The Veil
66" x 48"
diptych

Eleuthra
48" x 48"

Alex Styrsky

Love is ...

Dear Friends,
Last weekend I was in Columbus, Ohio, for a bridal shower for Casey, the fiancé of my nephew Nick.  

I wrote this poem for Casey and made it into an accordion book.  Welcome into our family, Casey!

Love is a kite

that flies the wild wind

with a string you can barely hold onto

Love is a seed

that grows silent and slow

then suddenly bursts into blossom

Love is a look

that nobody sees

except the one it was meant for

Love is a night

when you cry in your sleep

then you turn and his arms gently hold you

Love is two hearts

tangled aloft

claiming a piece of the sky

Love,

k

Must Valentines be red?

Written last night:
Dear Friends,

I’m sitting in the easy chair in the kitchen — one of my favorite spaces. It’s cold (51°) and slightly windy here, but probably colder and windier where you are.  Siri says Columbus, Ohio, will get a high of 53° on Tuesday, dipping soon after to a low of 19°. 

It was a peaceful day — All I did (mostly) was make hearts — not exactly Valentines, but kind of. I painted gold and turquoise and even black, and I love them all, but it made me realize that Valentines are red and white, just like Christmas is red and green. Can’t mess with it, but I tried. Here are some. They are postcard size, 4” x 6”.

Love,

k