Henry's Spring Break

Henry comes home

As usual, Henry's recent two-week spring break reminded me of Hemingway's words: The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places.  Sometimes while I am squaring up to a six-foot-five 250-pound young man in a rage, I get a sudden objective flash of vision of myself doing this, and I am momentarily shocked at how strong I have learned to be. (Not always though. Sometimes I turn weakly away.)


All in all, this was a nice sojourn with Henry. Overall, his aggressive behaviors seem to be diminishing. What is increasing is his deficit in finding ways to entertain himself. So, there was more driving Mr Henry around than ever before (one activity that soothes and pleases him seemingly endlessly is being driven around. A shame that the gas prices are going up! ;-)


Here are some random photos from his break. We had many happy times:

We also had some dark times:

But we got through these rough patches. What helped was the love and support of friends and family. In no particular order here is a gallery of Henry Helpers and Friends:

Henry's favorite person on earth: Miss Janice!

Wonderful Ynnon brightened our days

Peter was a huge help with his twin brother. Here we are delivering some of my work to the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Peter drove, parked and Henry tended with grace.

Taz and Zai: but Henry is not at all  interested in new babies

Shaking hands with his emergency care coordinator Joel (the guy whose number to call if there is a huge emergency involving hospitals and/or police)

Hen and his neurologist, Dr. McHarg

It's hard to take Henry clothes shopping without help. Thank you Janice!

 One thing people don't hear much about is the occasional intense loneliness of being a special needs parent. You are often cut off from a lot of normal interaction others probably take for granted. So it was a special blessing to have several visits from friends and family over this vacation:

Our dear friends Andy and Diane Strauss

The Downs brothers  Tony and Paul measure up to each other

Friends we rarely get a chance to see Paul and Rose-Helene Spreiregan

My girlfriends were the best support imaginable. Bouquets to all of them:

We visited Sarah on her birthday

There was a lot of driving involved! Mary accompanied me on the night shift

Alex

Theresa

Carol heroically did day AND night shifts

Eliza

Sarah and her delightful, intrepid children came with us for a long nature walk

We had mixed feelings when it was time to say Goodbye:

Collapse!

A big friend friday!

Things are heating up all over except for the weather! There's a lot going on. I'll start off by beating a soft tattoo on my own drum:

Small African Drum, o/c, 12 x 9 inches

This piece and the work of many friends and colleagues can be seen in a wonderful group exhibit opening this weekend:
Celebration of Music
March 30-May 1, 2011

Artists House Gallery

57 N. 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA USA  19096

Receptions:

First Friday, April 1, 5-8:30pm

and

Sunday, April 3, 1-4pm

Click Here for more information

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Friend David Shevlino's work is featured in the current issue of The Artist's Magazine. The article extensively discusses David's lush and juicy oil painting technique.

 For a full scale version of the entire article click here 

BTW David also recently produced a DVD on his painting philosophy and technique called In The Studio. Highly recommended!

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Friend Alexandra Tyng was recently the subject of a write-up in Poets Artists, an online magazine devoted to poetry and the visual arts. 

I was especially thrilled that they used a photograph I myself took of Alex last year while we were painting together on Mount Desert Island in Maine. That was such a fruitful painting trip! The article about Alex is excellent: click here for a full sized (readable) version.

Dark Spring

this long cold dark spring-
small flowers thrust and parry
with the wet grayness

Sugar Moon

Sugar moon rising
gently tugging the sweet sap-
the trees sigh softly

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Happy Spring!

Happy Saint Cupcake's Day!

Can you tell which one is mine? ;-)
On a hunt for a particular kind of cupcake (for painting purposes) I went cupcake shopping four frustrating times before striking it lucky on the fifth attempt. My friend Mary W finally clued me in as to where to go! Being shopping-avoidant myself it is great to have friends who know what's out there!

Desert Island Books

My friends know I was very consumed with this writing project a short while ago. I'd gotten the idea to poll artists on what their favorite art books were, and what an enormous outpouring of ideas I received! I ended up limiting the field to thirty people, and even then, it was a huge effort to be brief despite the fact that my editor gave me four pages! This turned out to be a topic that really started people thinking. The piece is just out, in the most current issue of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, April 2011. Thanks to all the artists who participated! If you're interested in reading the piece, here it is (click on images to enlarge:)

Friendly Flower

friend's late winter gift-
big iris bursting, leaping,
from a small white vase

Hard-boiled Fun

The latest batch of hard-boiled egg faces.

Snow Buddha

small snowbound Buddha
his hand raised to dispel fear
greets me on my walk

Friend Friday!

Yeah, I sure WISH Oprah was my friend. She seems really fun, intelligent and nice. But to be honest, I must be the only woman in America who has never even once watched her TV show (it's nothing personal, I just never watch TV.) However this current issue of O Magazine features my friend, painter Abbey Ryan in the Women who Create Beautiful Things section! What a thrill...way to go Abbey! Get hold of the magazine and it is on p. 38, February 2011 issue.

click to enlarge and read the great article on Abbey and her work!

Dick Ranck giving his packed-house gallery talk at Rosemont last night

Dick Ranck is having a show of his work exploring religion and mythology at Rosemont College in Rosemont, PA. It is entitled The Company I Keep (when i am alone)  The work looks great in the space, glowing with color and vigorous iconic form, both 2D and 3D. It runs through March 25, so you'll have a chance to catch it. For more info on the show click here.

One of my favorite pieces in the exhibit.

Pink, Egg, Cream, photograph, 20 x 16 inches, Sarah Barr

Friend Sarah Barr has a show opening this week at the Cosmopolotan Club in Center City, Philadelphia, PA:
New Work
The Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia
1616 Latimer Street
Philadelphia, Pa.
February 25 - March 25
Opening Reception: Friday, February 25, 5 pm