I love horses. They are my passion and my escape. A classic symbol of power and strength, they have served mankind throughout history with fortitude and courage. The feeling of abandonment and freedom I feel as I cantor on the back of a 1000 pound animal who is in total sync with the subtle cues that my body delivers is my greatest pleasure. But more important than any other sensation is the nurturing bond … Read More
During an art class that I took in college, we were taken outside on campus and told to draw a tree. By the end of the class, I had filled the sketch pad with the furrows and shadows of one branch of an enormous oak. For me, the experience presented itself in the details of the image. The instructor was, in fact, pleased with this result as he explained to the class that an object … Read More
I am a product of the 60’s; on campus during the devastating drain of the Vietnam War and all the disillusionment that that decade wrought as it was catapulted from the harmony of the Beatles and the youthful promise of JFK to the depths of alienation and dissent. I understand this generation’s fear and frustration with current events. The impact is everywhere, more poignant for me, perhaps, as I witness the particular angst of my … Read More
I love to read. Many authors are harbored in my home library; but Stephen King was never a resident until several years ago when I saw The Shawshank Redemption on television and learned that he had written the book. I had always assumed that King’s prolific output was anchored completely in the horror genre and that his popularity, certainly well earned, was due to such tomes as The Shining or Carrie. But after I … Read More
As a teenager, I spent time in France with the Experiment in International Living. The objective was a total immersion into the French culture. I learned to speak French, traveled to the Pyrenees Mountains as well as the beaches in Marseilles and visited countless museums. But it was in Paris at The Grand Palais where I saw an exhibit of Matisse’s paper gouache cutouts that I had my first “ah ha” moment. Created during … Read More
This weekend was a transformational time in my life. As the youngest of my 3 children graduated from college and I celebrated my 60th birthday, I feel energized by the possibilities before me. I am excited about the potential challenges and the freedom to try new things. I feel as if I can venture back to the pre-family days and revisit the youthful expectations that defined my aesthetic; but now, I do this with … Read More
I had never seen the Grand Canyon except from the window of an airplane 30, 000 feet in the air. The majesty of this view was so extraordinary that I could only imagine what standing right on the rim would offer. It was a major objective to our Southwest quest. Traveling there was a challenge as we confronted an early spring snowstorm for which we were quite unprepared. Naive New Yorkers that we are, we … Read More