Category Archives: Art

California Dreaming

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Is there really anything like an opening night? Whether for a drama or an opera or an art gallery, there is always fabulous energy and excitement. I am delighted to be part of California Dreaming, featuring sculpture and drawings and paintings, at Dorado 806, once again this year. Being around artists, who support and encourage each other, and seeing your art in the myriad of expressions, just feels like the family you always wanted.

Founded in 2021 on the California coast, Dorado 806 Projects is an artist-funded, arts and culture platform with a fluid, place-responsive practice. While rooted in Southern California, our practice remains nomadic—drifting toward new voices, places, and possibilities. Our studio gallery serves as both a creative hub and launch point for exhibits, performances, installations, and workshops. We focus on themes of introspection, human relationships with the natural world, transcendentalism, inclusion, listening, and self-actualization through humor and play (Dorado 806 Projects).

Wall to wall people all here for the purpose of celebrating art, make for a difficult selfie plus painting, but we managed. How much fun to capture this moment!

Painting is a passion that brings me much joy. Getting to share that with others, another perk that makes me feel fabulous. Joining an artistic community feels like heaven.

I am so pleased that, “This year’s exhibition is presented in partnership with NOURISH LA, a grassroots organization working to fight hunger and reduce food waste across Los Angeles. By rescuing wholesome food that might otherwise be discarded, they help ensure it reaches Angelenos who need it most—because good food should never go to waste.

As part of Dorado 806 Projects’ ongoing commitment to community engagement, a portion of the gallery’s proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to support NOURISH LA’s work addressing food insecurity across Los Angeles.” Grateful that this show helps those who are experiencing food insecurity.

Congrats to the many dozens of artists who dared to share their vision in this show, and in the numerous shows across our globe, and not just that, but a huge thank you to those who are challenged by their own situations but bring forth their visions regardless.

More than escape is needed

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Recently I had the pleasure of watching Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in the movie theater. It was an absolute gift to visually stroll about upstairs and down along side those wonderful characters who have grown so dear to us the past 15 years. “Lest we worry about too many changes, Julian Fellowes’s script is stuffed with comforting constants: Lady Mary will be indiscreet, Carson the butler will be scandalized, Lord Grantham will find something to be huffy about and the family will face financial ruin” (New York Times). I can’t think of a better week than this one to escape from headlines and our diminishing democracy, even though I must admit more than an escape is needed. It isn’t even shocking to see such stalwart allegiance to the 2nd Amendment in contrast to the broad dismissal of the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution as we become a country that fears a jester’s words more than a lunatic’s firearm. There is no push by this administration to reduce gun violence, only the swift sword curtailing free speech. LBJ was a different guardian of the White House when he shared, “It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists. You have given the gift of laughter to our people. May we never grow too somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives.” Our would-be-king-president reacts differently, by silencing all who don’t echo his mountain of lies. Perhaps, just for today, for your mental health or for a little chuckle, treat yourself to Downton Abbey’s “yummy photography, stunning set pieces and Lady Mary trying on as many fabulous frocks as possible“(New York Times). Of course I hope you read my decade old post first.

Escaping into Downton Abbey

Album Covers through the Decades

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I see my life flipping back through the album bin. Where did I really start? Probably when my parents met, when for a fleeting second they played with cousins and friends on a beach that eventually became home to all of us once we too arrived on the scene. But back then it was just theirs to run on. So perhaps, this album would be called “Run On Babe.” Their’s was an epic run as was most pictured here along side the colored cabanas resting on that rocky Long Island northern shore. Perhaps you can hear strands of Sinatra and Fitzgerald crooning while surrounded by a big band filling the sultry heat of a beachy summer night?

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