A California Interlude

As I try and shake off winter, a quick trip to California was just the thing. On Saturday, March 8th, a show opening at the Partners’ Gallery in Mendocino featured my work and the work of Sacramento collage artist Lisa Culjis.

Lisa (on the left) was invited by Partners member Miriam Davis, while I was there invited by my oldest friend Carolyn Schneider. Everyone wanted a photo of Carolyn and me standing in front of Carolyn’s painting because my shirt was yellow, so we obliged and then were sent some remarkable views of ourselves…

(apparently I was singing…)

I was hosted with great kindness and fun by artist Karen Fenley and her husband Bill, whose lovely house and garden were alight with sunshine all weekend…

and the garden surrounds Karen’s nice studio where the three of us (Carolyn, Karen and I) basked and worked.

Of course we went out for lunch and drawing,

and a view of Pomo Bluffs…

back to the studio for an afternoon of collage and talk…

An aperitif on Carolyn’s sunny deck…and a peek at her quilts…

and a dinner at Mayan Fusion…which alone is worth a stop in Fort Bragg.

Carolyn and I met in 7th grade art class and for the last 25 years have tried to spend a week every year in her studio or mine. This year has been especially nice as she was in Salem last summer and we’ll be spending a week together at Playa in April sharing a studio. And that meant when it was time to head off to the airport we were all smiles…knowing we’d meet again soon.

So back through the redwoods we went, and I was off home…

Favorite detail of the weekend: