A year ago, more than that, when my host invited me to stay with her and referred to her home as being outside of London I imagined a two bedroom flat, possibly one bedroom and I would sleep on the couch, in Twickenham or Croyden or perhaps Chelmsford. There would be easy access by rail […]
The Beauty of a Bounded Life Read More »
We have one day left in Iceland. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking while we drove the ring road about what I want the shape of my life to be. Ever since walking out from under the shadow of grief I’ve been in flux, knowing I want -something- but not knowing exactly what. Being
Thoughts from Reykjavik Read More »
My time in Longyearbyen is a little more than half over, and a month now seems way too short a time to stay here. I should have opted for two months, but I did not. In two weeks I have watched the change from 24 hours of daylight to 13 hours of daylight – 11
As a reward for finishing my first painting in Longyearbyen I gave myself a day off and took a tour of Pyramiden, an abandoned Soviet-era mining town. It also included a brief stop by a glacier, and a trip into a small bay. We started out from Longyearbyen, then traveled out of Advenfjorden into Isfjorden
If Stones Could Speak Read More »
Today, thanks to a question from a friend, I did the research to discover that I am in fact drinking glacial meltwater when I drink from the tap. That’s… amazing. Astonishing. It means ice for drinks – 10,000 year old glacial meltwater. When I wash my face, 10,000 year old glacial meltwater. When I flush
A Place of Greater Happiness Read More »
My life is made of impossible things. I left Seattle on Tuesday, August 28. Today is September 2. In that time, so much has happened. I’ve been in two countries, three if you count Svalbard as a separate country, and Norway does even though it owns it. I’ve been asked out on a date by
Made of Impossible Things Read More »
Months ago when I was accepted to these residencies and set up my initial travel plans I arranged to spend a full day in Oslo to do some sightseeing. Of course, I completely forgot about this, leading to a very tired me arguing with the check-in clerk that I wasn’t staying two nights, just one.
Eight Hours in Oslo Read More »
Today I did one of the most important things I wanted to do before leaving Seattle. I visited the Tsubaki Grand Shrine to ask for courage, focus, and creative inspiration at the shrine of Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto. I feel a special closeness to the Fearless One, patron of the arts, among many other things. I love the
Even an Ant’s Prayer Reaches Heaven Read More »
I’ve now done the last major thing on my slate – being with my friend while she had surgery. I’m a strong believer that no one should be alone in the hospital, and I was glad to stay with her. But now that’s over, now it’s less than a week to my departure, a flock
Five Days and 16 Hours Read More »
Today I made the first steps toward closing my studio. I signed the lease for my space in October of last year. I was full of anxiety. It was so expensive. Could I really do the work I had in mind? It was a big decision, and I was full of doubts. Kij looked at
Closing Down the Studio Read More »