Trip to LA and such

well, I was in LA last week. I had a really wonderful trip. I did a visiting artist gig at California state university long beach which included 2 lectures on my work, critiquing 2 printmaking classes and talking with some graduate students about their work. I enjoyed the interactions with the students there a great deal. I really wish I was able to work with graduate students at my school. We need to get a graduate program!

it was so beautiful out there, it didn't even seem real, really. So nice, the temperature was like 80 degrees, super sunny. One of the things I could not get over was how there were so many house plants that were growing in nature and they were growing like crazy!! I found it amazing. i kept wanting to take cuttings to bring home and try and grown them but would then remember that I had to fly back.

My friend Kimiko and I went to a bunch of galleries and a few museums. I saw the Louise Bourgeois exhibition. I was super excited to get to see it. I had missed it while it was in NYC so It was great to get a second chance to view it. Take a look at the link and get an overview of the show. She took me to the Getty Villa, here is a little video about it   I was much more impressed with this than I thought I would be. There were amazing gardens and ponds all over, very beautiful.

We also went to the Santa Monica beach so I could wonder around and collect some rocks. I am a sucker for collecting things on the beach. I know it is kinda cliche to collect sea shells or whatever, but I will admit I enjoy finding stuff along the shore. Mainly rocks.

The ocean is such a peaceful place. Walking along the shore, hearing the water, the birds, the wind, feeling the cool, wet sand between your toes, the breeze hitting your skin, the water running over your feet, ankles, calves is such a special feeling. Looking for unique objects that have been washed a shore by the waves is quite fascinating to me. I suppose if I would of grown up around the ocean I may have a different view of all of this, but, I have spent such a small amount of my time at the ocean that it is extremely exciting to me. Id like to make some art related to the ocean but think it would probably be difficult to do something original.

well, i could go on and on about this trip, but will stop here. I have the trip to Washington DC on Friday. It is only 1 night in the city. Hopefully it will be a fun trip. I have not been there for years.