Lunchtime with elephants

I had a nice break from my cubicle in the building on the right when I heard of the elephants brunch being served in front of the Civic Center where the circus will perform. I'm not a big fan of circuses, but can't resist seeing the bizarre sight of these very cool animals in the middle of the city. They obviously knew the drill, and ignored all of us as they chose their favorite treats, whole apples eaten like grapes, entire loaves of bread, heads of lettuce eaten in a bite, and for dessert, watermelons which they burst open by stepping on (the kids liked that part).
I did a painting once of the annual elephant parade from the train to the Civic Center...not sure where it is now...

Opening this Saturday - Paintings by Don Primiano

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Click here to see a slideshow of the work, narrated by the artist
Opening this Saturday, April 25, 6 to 10 pm.
The Art of War - WWII Drawings and Paintings by Don Primiano
Works from 1943 to 2008
At the West Side Arts Gallery, 745 Westminster St., Providence
MAP

Open every Saturday, April 25 to May 25 11 am-2 pm. or by appointment: jyllethiermullen@gmail.com.
www.westsideartsgallery.blogspot.com

Dueling Dunes

I lucked out! Someone from the Peaked Hill Trust was nice enough to switch weeks with me and now I'll be able to cash in on the Dune Shack Lottery this summer. Because of the switch, I won't be staying in Margo-Gelb after all (above, with me painting on the porch in 1997), I'll be in Thalassa, which is even smaller. No electricity, no running water, no internet for one full week. Just miles of dunes and shoreline, and a great big sky.

3 weeks after I shake the sand out of my shoes I'm heading off to my artist residency at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. I'm sensing a trend here...

Doors and windows that used to be...

I've been busy these last two weeks with trying to better my 40 hour 9-5 gig. I'd rather spend that time in my studio, but since I can't, maybe I can make the time I spend elsewhere work out better for me. Worth a try anyway...

So not much art has been going on, or blogging for that matter....
I did get out at lunch on this beautiful April day, a day more like spring than Providence usually serves up this time of year. There were no roses to stop and smell, but there was a fabulous wall at the corner of Weybosset and Eddy St.


Unfortunately this photo of a part of it doesn't do it justice, but every time I go by it's like a visit to a museum. It's amazing the history that's written on the surface, uncovered when the building attached to it burned down. They're doing some sort of construction on the building behind it, so I'm sure it will be covered up at some point. I'll miss it when it is.

I just receive an email from the other residency I had applied for this summer, a rejection this time. That's almost good though, I really couldn't have done Great Dunes and San Juan National Forest in the same year. This way I don't have to say no, but I will probably try again, the terrain around the San Juan Mountains is magical.

Up and Down with the Dunes

After my artist residency at Cape Cod National Seashore I became of member of the Peaked Hill Trust, which has worked for many years to save the dune shacks that are nestled in the dunes and have been home to artists and writers since the 1930's. Knowing that the best way to preserve the dune shacks is to keep them lived-in and cared for, they run a lottery each summer for those who support the Trust. I've been throwing my name in every year and was thrilled to find out that not only was I was granted a week in September but it was in my old shack, Margo-Gelb! And it's ironic that this is the same year I was granted a residency at Great Dunes National Park in Colorado, which would happen 2 weeks after the Cape Cod week. It would certainly make for interesting contrasts.

My excitement was short lived though, since when I went into work the next morning, I found that a co-worker had already reserved that week and both of us are not allowed to be out at the same time. That sucks. My co-worker is a great guy and would switch if he could, but he has reservations he can't change so it looks like I'm out of luck. My only hope is if someone with another dune shack week can switch with me, so I haven't quite given up yet. I probably won't be able to get Margo-Gelb though, since most of the time it's reserved for the Artist In Residence. But it might be cool to try another shack, they all have their unique personalities, and they're all good!