Ballet dancers love soccer in England!

Mathias just called bragging to Steve that he and most of the male dancers from BRB are off to see the Arsenal vs. Aston Villa soccer game. They are all terribly excited, especially as they've had the day off. Why? All but three members of the company had meetings in order to get their work visas for the trip to the Virginia Arts Festivals in May. It is sort of funny to listen to him talk on and on about Premiership soccer. He and his friends are often divided on the teams for which they are rooting. They know all the players by name, and it sounds like a million football conversations I've heard. It is funny to me because I've never really known any of the dancers here in the USA to care very much about sports. In fact, art enthusiasts here seem to take offense to all the attention and money spent on football, basketball, baseball, etc. I've often been the only person in a visual arts group following my university's sporting teams. I do resent the hype sometimes...not that it isn't newsworthy but that the arts aren't considered as important in terms of publicity and exposure. I'm really happy, though, that in England, the dancing guys are so diversified as too appreciate other athletes and have fun at popular sports events.

Gold Rush!

I went to the Sutter Creek Gold Mine and took a tour with two families. I really wasn't that impressed. Maybe this is because I've been through the Salt Mines outside Salzburg, fantastic tour that lasted more than a half hour. The gold mine guide was very knowledgeable and we saw a "safe" chamber, an old drill, rode on an open rover through some tunnels, and took a flight of stairs. Yet, there wasn't much to look at, there wasn't any gold, and it took no time at all. I found the old, rusted machinery outside the Angels Camp Museum much more interesting. In fact, much of the Mother Lode area of California shows the signs of the Gold Rush days. Corroded equipment is visible in every community. All the little museums had their share of mining artifacts. I thought the textures and complicated gauges looked quite artistic. These are a few of the photos I took.

Visiting another Columbia!

I spent a glorious day in another Columbia....Columbia, California! It was a charming place with a downtown area restored to the original 1850s look. At the same time, the bank (which featured a heavy antique safe and other period furnishings) had normal tellers and an ATM machine tucked off in a niche on the side street. Some of the shops were just display areas. There was a view to a dental office, the old Wells Fargo Station, a museum, a fire station, and livery stables. But, there was also a wonder General Store that was fully operational. I even bought sassafras tea there. I bought scented soap and candles from the proprietor who made them. There was a school group panning for gold. The theater was closed but has a regular season and is used by local groups for other productions. There was an ice cream shoppe, a miner's cabin in some interesting rock formations, several historic homes, a tea cafe, and a fabulous bookstore. The owner of the bookstore was Floyd D. P. Oydegaard who was all dressed. (There should be a slash through the capital "O" but I don't know how to import foreign fonts on blogger!) He was wonderful about posing for pictures. His website is: www.columbiagazette.com. In fact, the town has a website of activities and amenities: www.columbiacalifornia.com. I walked up to the hilltop cemetery near the old, two story schoolhouse. It was full of interesting graves, some maintained by the Odd Fellows organization. There were even wooden crosses as markers and sea shells on other graves. The entire town a blend of old and new. One of these pictures is of a broken down, over grown fence. It was on private property that just suited the look of the place.

I love caves!

I love caves! There is something strange, almost eerie, being under the earth's surface and yet feeling one is visiting another planet. There are all sorts of images to be found in the rock formations. There is a sense of geological time, chemistry, and exploratory desire. There are lots of caves and caverns in the foothills of the Sierras, and I was glad for this. The first few days in California were colder and rainy. Under ground, however, the temperature is always the same. I visited three: Moaning Caverns, Mercer Caverns, and California Caverns. I made it to Black Chasm but it was closed....supposedly the road was impassable....I had no problem but the "shop cat" certainly did...no one came to feed him and he was pretty angry behind the double glass doors that I didn't have a key! The images here are mainly from Moaning Caverns. Although I was the only person on my "tour" at all three places, the guide here was huffing and puffing on the stairs. We had to take our time which provided more than enough opportunities to get steady photographs! Moaning Caverns actually offers rappelling. Thank goodness I didn't want the guide to try this! Each of the three was unique. I really loved seeing the stalagmites and stalactites, the rare minerals, the pools of crystal clear water, the places where the cave continued into tiny enclosures, and the stories of the history and tourism.

Vegetation and Poetry

While in California, I read a number of poems by Dr. Ed Madden, an English professor at the University of South Carolina and an accomplished, well published poet. We are collaborating on an artistic platter for the Dining With Friends Dessert Party fund raiser: his poetry and my artwork. It occurred to me that I could never be a poet simply because I know next to nothing about botany. I frame antique botanical prints all the time. I've even learned a few of the names but, by and large, one is just a "blue flower" and the other is simply "yellow", etc. Yet, lack of scientific knowledge couldn't prevent me from marveling at the array of vegetation in California. I took dozens of shots while walking on trails near the caves and caverns in Calaveras County. These were, in one sense, just ordinary places....at least when compared to Yosemite National Park. With each step, I saw wondrous growth, rain drops dripping from leaves, colorful berries, delicate blossoms, lush moss, crusty lichen, palettes of colorful plant life. Here are just a few of the images. By the way, Ed's poems are great. We will be making a decision sometime this coming week as to which of his works to use.

Elements of Architecture XXXV

Pictured here is Elements of Architecture XXV along with its corresponding collage. I have one more finished from my time in California but I haven't mounted it or taken an image. Instead, today I sent hours color and contrast correcting other photos from my trip and also re-learning some of the PhotoShop skills with my fantastic tutor Jessica Coppin. I had forgotten some very basic things but now feel ready to take on all sorts of experiments. This comes at a good time. This afternoon I created images for the dance series. I've transferred them onto the pages of an old ballet book. This is the start to the "Ballet Series" which will be created using the same approach and techniques as my "Life Everlasting Series".

Elements of Architecture XXXIV

Pictured here is Elements of Architecture XXXIV. It is shown with the corresponding collage.

Elements of Architecture XXXIII

In California I stitched every night and watched re-runs of Law and Order. I've learned many "geek" skills, like changing images on the Gallery 80808/Vista Studios website, all sorts of PhotoShop functions, and how to send a "newsletter" to lots of emails without all the addresses showing. Yet, I haven't figured out how to channel surf. I guess living in a house with males means I never the remote control.

Anyway, pictured here is Elements of Architecture XXXIII and the corresponding collage I made using the heat transfer painting. I finished the hand stitching on four pieces during my stay out West.

Mathias is second-cast in a leading role!

Mathias called with excellent news. He has been cast in Kit Holder's new choreography, Small Worlds, for the upcoming Dynamic Dance: New Choreography from BRB Dancers. The music is to be Stravinsky's Concerto in D. Mathias is part of the second cast; but he is the LEAD! He said there's only about six people in the work.

Evidently, six pieces will be created by BRB dancers for performances in Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. The other five pieces haven't been cast yet. They also don't have names on the company's website. They also aren't listed for presentation past the Dynamic Dance weekend. Kit Holder's piece, however, is slated to be on June's North-East tour later in the month along with The Four Seasons: Summer and Autumn and Nine Sinatra Songs.

Steve and I aren't sure what all this means except that it is an "opportunity". We are thrilled for Mathias and he sounds thrilled too! The BRB website page for the Dynamic Dance program is: http://www.brb.org.uk/masque/bin/masqueweb2.dll?act=WhatsOn&urn=8857&tsk=show

Charity events: Sandhills School and Trustus

Before going to the ballet on Friday night, Steve and I went to the Sandhills School annual art sale and silent auction fund-raiser. I had several pieces from my Life Everlasting series available and one sold. The event was quite nice, well attended, and very organized. Unlike many other school auctions, this one was held in the school itself which lent to the ambiance. The school is a private one for K-8 students with dyslexia and other learning differences. It feels comfortable, positive, and completely worthwhile. In fact, I wish I could have attended such a place as a child. There is no telling how such an environment would have shaped my personality, especially feelings of inadequacy and stupidity. I was never diagnosed, but I look back and know that I, too, suffered from such learning differences.

On Saturday night Steve and I went to the Trustus art sale in the home of our former neighbors Ray Cobb and David Williams. We all used to live on Confederate Avenue. Now, however, their home is on Heathwood Circle. Many people came just to see the house; they weren't disappointed! I was thrilled to be one of the artists just for this same opportunity; I wasn't disappointed either. I had my fiber vessels in the show and sold three. The event was obviously a major success, very, very well attended. I am especially thrilled as the cause, Trustus theater, is such a worthwhile one. In fact, earlier in the day Alex attended the Trustus apprentice workshop and reported that he learned more in those three hours than the past two years in public school drama!

Ballet: Charlotte's "Natural Beauty" and Columbia's "Swan Lake"

I'm far behind in blogging. This week has been crammed with framing work, events, and other responsibilities. I will continue to post images and recollections from California but will mingle these with current impressions, including the ballet performances we saw over the busy weekend.

Steve and I went to Charlotte on Thursday night for North Carolina's Dance Theatre's opening of "Natural Beauty". The program consisted of three works: Balanchine's "Rubies"; Nacho Duato's "Na Floresta", and the world premier of NCDT's resident choreographer Dwight Rhoden's "Set Rise Fall". The attendance was dismal.

The opening number was quite nice and we were pleased to watch Seia Rassenti perform beautifully in one of the supportive roles. (Seia graduated with Mathias from the Kirov.) Although I haven't ever warmed to Balanchine, such a piece might convert me if I ever see it "properly". It had "fire", precision, and lovely sequences of dance. It was, however, marred with a lack-luster leading male. He just didn't seem the "Balanchine" type...whatever that is....I've heard the phrase so often that it just seems to fit here even though I really don't know what a "Balanchine" dancer is....I'm just fairly sure this guy isn't one! Though a nice ballet; it seemed spoiled.

The second work was easily my favorite of the evening. Perhaps it was the music by Heitor Villa-Lobos or the lighting. Perhaps I just like some sort of scenery...this was minimal but effective. Perhaps I just liked the quality of the dance. I've always liked watching Rebecca Carmazzi but Nicholle Rochelle was quite captivating. In fact, all the ladies were excellent and the men seemed equally strong.

Neither Steve nor I liked the final piece at all. It seemed to be trying too hard to impress. It was nearly frantic with activity and never balanced with any moment of calm. The music was the main distraction. The drum beats were monotonous and too loud. It went on and on and on. I also disliked the props and costumes. Unfortunately, because this dance ended the program, we left on a sour note, disappointed.

Amazingly, however, "Swan Lake" saved the weekend in the category of dance! Steve, Alex, and I all went and none of us expected to be impressed. Columbia City Ballet has rarely performed classical work that we've really enjoyed. Of course, the task is a difficult one. There's never live music and there's generally too many little kids cast. In a small town with two professional companies to support, there's not much chance to remedy the first problem. Yet, happily the second one was not an issue. As a result, it was far easier to see the corps de ballet. They were really worth seeing. In fact, they were undoubtedly the best part of the production. They seemed well rehearsed and very together, working in unison and with the music.

We were happy to see Willie Moore dancing very well. He stays nicely in character at all times, pointing his feet to exit...not just walk off the stage like some of the other men. The swans were all very good and convincing. Kerrie Anne Dunn, however, stood out as one of the lead swans, and the "little swans" or cygnets were down right terrific.

As far as the leads go, I'm just not sure what to think of Victoria Cholkas' performance. I know it should have been better but I also know it isn't fair to compare it to the dancers I've seen from larger, world-class companies. Basically, she turned in a nice evening in the demanding dual role of Odette/Odile. Sara Mearns, soloist at NYCB who got her "big break" as a corps member plucked to perform this part, was in the audience.

Peter Kozak danced as Prince Siegfried. I do know what to think about his performance. It was terrible, pure and simple. One does not have to have seen an international caliber dancer in this role for comparison. I've seen plenty of students turn in better variations. Although Peter looks every inch the part, he didn't dance like it. He was sloppy. His partnering was thankfully adequate but otherwise he wasn't dancing like a principal. Jose Serrano, the other male principal, was injured but I don't think he was suppose to dance anyway.

Fortunately, the productions was still more wonderful than poor. In fact, I recommended Saturday's matinee and evening performance to others. Hopefully, some went as the attendance was sadly low.

A tour of Ironstone Vineyard

I cannot say enough about Ironstone Vineyard. It is a fabulous place, great in beauty and hospitality. Steve and I were treated to a private tour of the grounds and winery. The images here include meticulous landscaping. All the water for irrigation is recycled from their pond. Lovely creeks collect the run-off.
Annually, Ironstone Vineyard hosts its "Spring Obsession" event. They introduce the year's new "Obsession" wine, a crisp fruity white in which even I could distinguish the hints of apricot. I instantly thought how much my mom would like it. To celebrate the new wine, over 600,000 daffodils bloom all over the grounds and there is an annual, national juried art show. I started entering this five years ago and it led to the opportunity to have my solo show.




Ironstone Vineyard also hosts an annual summer concert series that has featured such talent as Willie Nelson and the Doobey Brothers. Their amphitheater seats about 2,000 people. Up-front there are posh tables that include menu service. Behind are comfortable chairs in reserved rows. Further behind are the open lawn seating. Basically, there's a seat in everyone's price zone! There are shuttle buses to bring visitors from the parking lots...even for the art receptions!


Chris Gomez took Steve and I into the underground caves where barrels of wine ferment. There is a natural spring and fountain inside.