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LETTING GO AND MOVING ON....
Dear Friends and Family, Old and New, Near and Far:
Once again I write from Puerto Vallarta, and it's taken awhile to get my feet on the ground here after zipping out of Pittsburgh, visiting family in Indianapolis, and spending a week in Houston with my son Brendan and his new wife, Nikki.
Miraculously, everything came together in Pittsburgh for an exhibition of my Jazz Series paintings at the Manchester Craftsman's Guild which will continue until the first week in December. It was facilitated by Marty Ashby, Grammy-Award-winning Director of the Jazz Program, and the opening night featured a sold-out show by jazz singer Patti Austin.
I'm delighted to announce that the now-famous Bill Strickland, CEO of MCG, is going to add one of my paintings to their collection.He's in great demand for consultations around the world, but I caught him here with Rhythm Sweet and Hot. Bill's accomplishments in bringing art to the community and changing lives with MCG's educational programs are awe-inspiring. His book Making the Impossible Possible can be found here.
I'm donating 1/3 of the purchase price of the paintings to MCG Jazz and you can see them all with prices and descripions in this online album. And hey, please forward the link to any potential collectors! I guarantee they will add a splash of pizzazz to any home or office.
Some of you have wondered how I did with my discarding and de-accessing, not to mention the sale of my artwork. The pitching of letters and photos became quite hectic near the end of my stay in Pittsburgh, and I compromised by keeping a 5'x5' storage space. (And yes, the great-grandmother quilt, the clan head from New Guinea, and several art pieces) Still, I lessened my earthly belongings by 2/3's and have only that, plus what's in the trunk of my car. And, OK, my favorite dishes and silverware which I lugged to Puerto Vallarta. I'm not sure what is more traumatic, revisiting one's past by reading old letters and seeing one's former (youthful!) image, or making the myriad decisions to toss most of it into the recycling bin. I was amazed and heartened to discover that the Center for Creative ReUse in Pittsburgh actually accepts old photos and slides. I'd love to see what creative form they turn into. Believe me, I gave them thousands! |
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PRESERVING TRADITION
Shortly after discarding my past, I arrive in a country overlaid with traditions. A country where every year for Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, multi-tiered altars are constructed of mementoes and marigolds, photos and favorite foods, to honor deceased family and friends. Somber it is not, since parades, dancing in the streets, or nocturnal vigils at the cemetery prevail, depending on the region.
This year I was privileged to be invited to an Aztec version of the ceremony in a private home in nearby Ixtapa. Here, during the Velación, or candle-light vigil which lasts till dawn, they meticulously prepare an elaborate design, blessing each flower over the copal smoke before adding it.
 From midnight on, the entire group, still wearing street clothes, is chanting, singing and keeping time with rattles and the drum. Then after a brief rest and coffee flavored with cinnamon, the danzantes adorn their faces with painted designs, assemble their headdresses, pull out their symbolic costumes from cars and trucks, and the dancing and drumming begin.
The dance circle spilled out into the street and a few neighbors came to watch as they danced in the sun until about 12:30, before breaking for a communal lunch.
My mind and heart are filled with color and rhythm, and I am deeply grateful to be continually enriched by these ceremonies.
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Once again, remember to take care of your special selves, follow your dreams, and express your love fully to those around you.
Abrazos y besos,
Elena
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| MUSE BRIEFS
It amazes even me, but I abandoned my tango shoes for a fishing pole and spent a weekend in Matagorda, TX, angling with my son Brendan. The only other time I went fishing was for piranha in the Amazon. That was so small it was hardly worth frying. This time I caught 2 redfish. Note: I'm not showing you Brendan's haul. He caught 4 to my 2, and his were bigger, of course.
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NOTE: I've added you to my mailing list because I met you somewhere along the way and wanted to stay in touch...dancing tango in San Miguel, perhaps? Wandering in Oaxaca, or maybe long ago in France or Bali. You could even be a distant cousin I haven't seen for years. You may have forgotten me, but I have not forgotten you. If the tales of my travels don't spark your interest, just hit unsubscribe. OR, if this has been forwarded to you, please click below to subscribe . Merci mille fois! Y muchas gracias!
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TRADITION CONTINUED
Meanwhile, later on Sunday back in Puerto Vallarta, both tourists and Mexicans took the opportunity to dress up and participate in street dances and concerts.
Here are two young Catrinas, beautiful reminders of the "disembodied ones" who come to visit every year. As my friend Erica explained, Mexicans do not fear death, since they know they will return to be honored in these special ceremonies.
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SAVORING THE MOMENT...
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As Bill Strickland says, "A successful life is not something you simply pursue, it is something that you create, moment by moment."
It has been a great pleasure once again to return to my special apartment above the sea in Puerto Vallarta, where moment by moment, I can hear the waves lash the rocks below, and watch the sky turn crimson with the setting sun. You all know how I love good food, so I pamper myself with a special omelette on the terrace. And now (after staggering through the airport with huge boxes, and paying United Airlines a princely sum) I can savor my repast on my own dishes, handcrafted by Riverside Designs in Pittsburgh, and finally liberated from the dark of the storage unit. It's amazing how living with cherished items collected from other artists now anchors me in my new location.
I hope the joy of sharing food with family and friends nourishes you physically and spiritually not only during the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, but every day as well.
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