Dear Friends, Acquaintances and Fellow Travelers:
Whoosh!!! Those holidays came and went like a speeding bullet! And I am still bewilderingly trying to label things with 2008. Before the rollercoaster of time whips me into another year, I want to wrap up some of those "Who will buy?" moments for my memory box.
One of the highlights of my year was my visit to Houston where I savored the fall sunshine and was nourished by exotic appetizers like grilled jalapenos stuffed with venison and cream cheese or duck baked with apricots on a bed of carmellized onions for the entree. These came from the kitchen of my son Brendan and his girlfriend Lisa, who could start a restaurant if they had any spare time.
But on the cultural side, the stimulation came from both ancient history and contemporary art. It was a thrill to go to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and finally see the bones of Lucy, the most complete skeleton of australopithecus discovered in Ethiopia by Donald Johanson in 1976. This is the first time the remains have been outside Ethiopia and viewed by the general public, and the exhibit will tour for 6 years. If you are traveling to Houston, the exhibition will be on until April 27, 2008. To read more about Johanson's work go to The Institute of Human Origins.
 Imagine a house turned into a work of art. In fact, imagine 2 or even 3. In contrast to those impersonal modernist (or is it Post-Modern?) towers of glass and steel, several unique folk art houses nestle in Houston's older neighborhoods. Labors of love and obsessive vision, each house reveals the talents and quirks of its owner. The Orange Show, created by Jeff D. McKissack (1902-1980), who was a postman, and who revered oranges as the source of health and energy, is a world of airy circles of steel, passages and nooks, all inspired by the orange. Tours are $1.00. Though it was officially closed the day we visited, Wendy, a board member, gave us her key, and we toured and photographed gleefully.
At the second house, almost carnival-like in its profusion of toys mounted on fences and piled in corners, we were privileged to meet Cleveland Turner, the artist himself, who was sitting on a crate eating his lunch of beans and greens.
A true example of one who lives an "Unrealistic Life", Cleveland has dedicated himself to creating art and beauty since he was discovered half dead from alcohol poisoning in 1982. His original Flower House was burned by arsonists 3 years ago, and yet he started again at a new location. He regaled us with stories as he gave us a tour, pointing out his peanut crop, his banana and papaya trees, his flower-adorned bike almost submerged by greenery, and his unique "cotton plant," an agave decorated with foam packing bits .
A plastic bull, minus one horn, glared from a forest of leaves and colorful toys. About half life-sized, it used to be perched on his roof, but blew off during Hurricane Katrina as Cleveland was hiding in the crawl space under his house. At 74, this ebullient man lives on almost nothing, yet occasionally collectors come from as far away as London to buy his creations.
There is something about Cleveland's spirit, his ingenuity, and the reverence he has for ordinary materials that makes my heart sing. His current assemblages might look like junk to some, but having seen the original Flower House, I know that it will only be a matter of time before he has his "stuff" organized into flamboyantly coherent works covering his entire house.
As I mentioned in the premier issue, this newsletter will share the stories of people who are doing what they love without getting a real job, as well as vignettes celebrating art, life and Slow Food as I continue my journey to finish my book.
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CURRENT READING:
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Since my book, An Unrealistic Life, is non-fiction I somewhat jealously read the work of other writers, hoping to absorb some of their brilliance of expression. This fall, a banquet of essays arrived: The Best Creative Non-Fiction, Vol. 1, edited by Lee Gutkind, the Godfather of Creative Non-Fiction as proclaimed by Vanity Fair. From the hilarious adventures of writers on the Poetry Bus to the grisly realities of exotic food in China or the sobering effects of water deprivation in Italy, this book energized me as a writer and enlightened me as a reader. Buy a copy at Amazon or order the magazine at Creative NonFiction. |
PAEAN TO PITTSBURGH
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In Pittsburgh, we have our own creators of folk art, (Biko, for example) and their work is showcased along with nationally known artists like Harold Finster at Brigadoon, a gallery in Regent Square owned by Pat McArdle. Pat recently designed a line of t-shirts with Finster's sayings like, "I was called from another world to work with people." Hours at Brigadoon are 12-5 Wed-Sun, or call 412 334 8467 for an appointment.
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On a final note: I'm still looking for a few people to profile for my book. If you know of someone who fits the criteria (following their dream without getting a real job) especially in a foreign country, please email me: elena@thewanderingmuse.com.
And, pretty please forward this newsletter to anyone who might be interested, and encourage your friends, remote acquaintances, and distant relatives to sign up. My brash and ulterior motive is to build up my database for when An Unrealistic Life hits the stands. I'll keep you posted. Until then, keep savoring life, support your local artists, and have an artful day!
Elena Hiatt Houlihan
Moving Images
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MUSE BRIEFS:
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We are excited to announce that the Holocaust Sculpture at Community Day school in Pittsburgh has been green lighted by the board. As the Visiting Artist there from 2002- 2005, I worked with the students to design a sculpture incorporating the 6 million pop tabs they had collected to symbolize the Jews lost in the Holocaust. For a history and photos of the sculptural process up to this point, go to www.elenasmovingimages.com. Fundraising details will be included in future newsletters.
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NOTE: You may be a close friend or relative, someone who's genuinely interested in the continuing saga of my book, a teacher or student I've worked with, a perfect stranger I met briefly at an opening or had an intense conversation with in the Paris market or a Bangkok cafe. (Perhaps you've forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you!) Since I'm NOT making any promises to make you RICH, BRILLIANT or FAMOUS in 5 easy steps, if my stories and observations don't enliven your day, then hit UNSUBSCRIBE. We have a strict anti-spam policy here at The Wandering Muse, though we acknowledge that some friends in Hawaii actually consider spam quite nourishing.
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MEMORABLE EVENTS:
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In October, I was the Visiting Artist at Park Elementary School in Pittsburgh, working with art teacher, Roslyn Stulga, and 40 lively 5th graders. Pretending they were architects, the kids analyzed spaces within the school and decided that the gym lobby and the top of the stairs were ideal places for the banners they were going to create. Their colorful designs reflect the theme of China, chosen to honor the site of next year's Olympics. Working carefully with textile pigments, they painted the 3' x 5' banners which were "unveiled" at a program on November 15. This residency was funded by the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in partnership with the Pennsylvania Arts Council and the Grable Foundation. To book a residency for your school or organization, go to
www.pittsburgharts.org.
And these kids are only 10!
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TALENTED TEACHERS!
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Another highlight was being invited back to lead an In- Service for the Art Department of Gateway School District on November 2nd. Continuing the theme of Art and the Curriculum, the art teachers designed and painted 2 banners for the high school library. Their creativity and cooperation was amazing, and it was fascinating to see how much could be accomplished in one day's time. (and I thought a two-week residency was short!)
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One of the most enriching parts of my year has been the opportunity to tutor English as a Second Language to executives and their families who have been transferred here to work in the United States. Besides teaching them phrasal verbs and pronoun usage, I have learned a bit about Bulgarian history, Czechoslovakian holiday customs, and Puerto Rican slang as well as tasting fabulous new foods at our international party: Nixa's flan, Eva's smoked salmon appetizers, Rada's bannitza, and Jana's goulash. Thank goodness they didn't leave their recipes at home!
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