Life changes in a second or two…we have come to know that. A misstep, a speeding paint truck, a diagnosis, a sloppy politician who has the nuclear codes, a tsunami or earthquake…poof…our beautiful lives are gone or irrevocably changed. While we are in these lives though, it is worthwhile to notice them, to be impressed with a sunny day, a hilarious child, people and places to visit and things to think about, a decent cappuccino.
I’ve won the lottery, I know that. I have a nice house, an interesting, loving and very witty partner, a family and friends so lovable it would take another 10 blog posts to describe. I have the huge luxury of time to make things and look at things. Art work, gardens, beaches, studios, books, meaningful work…these are what my life now is made of. Next week, next year, who knows? Since I know these will be taken from me by accident or design or just time itself, I want to look at one day…today for instance…so here it was…
Leaving home early and picking up Sidney (with new knee patches and sun hat)
We met up with friend Jennifer Viviano, newly minted MFA from the Applied Craft and Design program, a combined effort of PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art) and OCAC (Oregon College of Arts and Craft). Jennifer was a very successful graphic designer of talent, but was wanting more creative time, a shift of scene from the graphic needs of clients to thinking of things in a deeper and more personal way.
Jennifer toured us through the “Otherwise Chaos” Practium Exhibition at the Bison Building (421 NE10th)…
We liked Becca Gore’s ceramic pieces a lot…
and this terrific cafe (didn’t find the artist’s card)…caught Sidney’s eye…
and then Jennifer’s piece…
plaster base, basalt blocks, porcelain “bones”…and as Jennifer explained the thought process and the actual physical activity of combining a plaster base, basalt blocks topped with “bones” made of porcelain wrapped around rolled newspaper and auto glass, she explained the serendipity of what happened with the piece…
when one “bone” fell off revealing the charred paper,
and when people at the opening began scooping up the broken glass and throwing on the pile to hear the lovely tinkling sound as it trickled into the blocks…
Sidney found it irresistible…
and Jennifer showed him Maria Garcia’s light piece…
Aaron’s video construct…
the studios
the metal shop
the air stream…the Air Stream? Time for lunch…
and then a quick stop at Cindy’s studio. R’s begun the research and writing process about the work of painter Lucinda Parker in preparation for a monograph and show of her work at the Hallie Ford Museum in 2019…and he had to make a quick stop to pick up some files so we ran in to check the newest mountain paintings…pretty nice…
She’s certain this one is finished…
then some static electric sliding…
playtime (not sure what game they had going…?)
eventually heading home…
and so this day of interest, privilege, fun, family…a day not unlike so many days…comes to an end….and having written about it here I can revisit this day again…
On The Way 
Yes, a full and beautiful life, and the day you shared is a perfect example. Thanks for the peek.
I know you know Dayna, the little boys and girls, our lucky Salem lives. Going over the BurnsideBridge yesterday SIdney saw a boat and thought it was “Howard and Dayna”…xxoo
I,too, have won the Lottery. Delightful post Bonnie. Lucinda’s work is wonderful ..that white owl in flight is marvelous!!
I know you have won Deb…that’s probably why I like your posts about a life so different from mine and yet not…xxoo
What a lovely way to honor your day to day life, family, and friends! And wonderful to know that Lucinda will be having an exhibit here in Salem!
Boy Cynthia, her studio was fun…maybe I’ll get to go back! See you soon…xxoo
bravo! well written, bonnie, and so very true. “otherwise chaos”, sidney peering into that curious cafe inhabited by a crow customer & a cat waitress, and the pictorial tour of lucinda parker’s studio rounded out another engaging post for your two happy readers at nicholsloy studio.
Maybe we’re always peering into the Cat Cafe San…maybe we are. xxxooo
i’m certain of it, bonnie. it’s the title of the book of life.
I love you like crazy – you are a true wonder.
How, you are so far away on the one hand and always with me on the other…we were “formulating” together…our ideas, our dreams, unarticulated but there they were as we whirled through the ravines in an old Corvair. That too was a lucky time.
I am at close hand, thanks to all of these ways of showing and talking.
That Corvair was our time machine, I think….
Dear dear Bonnie…how beautiful and true an entry. I feel I had been thinking almost those very thoughts that you have given voice to…this morning, in fact. My life has been so remarkably, undeservedly, generously blessed… I need to stop mourning the current distressing large picture and shift focus to my lovely life as I am privileged to live it. Loved your photos..Sidney is wonderful as is his grandfather’s expression during their game. Great news that Roger’s next subject is Lucinda! Thanks!
Oh SDM…thanks for the nice remarks…I’ve been thinking and thinking about this, trying to figure the best frames and then really, it’s a bout one day. One day in your studio, looking oout at your skies, seeing Alexander…I think you are always with me…xo