A Trip To Explore My Country, My family, And My Story

What the what!?! I haven’t posted since before I left for my April trip to Venezuela! I have a lot to catch up on.

It was transformative. I came back with lessons that I have always known in my mind driven into my heart and into practice. The trip had many planned purposes – for my partner to experience my wonderful and extensive extended family; for my immediate family to get the chance to travel together as adults and share with each other in completely new ways; to have one last chance to share with the beloved matriarch of our family, my Abuela Teresita; and to rediscover a country that inspired the dreams and creativity of my youth. We accomplished it all and so much more in the span of just a few weeks. A few lessons learned:

• There is never enough time. Everyone feels this way when the end gets near. Everyone close to someone approaching the end of their life feels this way. Sharing openly, freely, and often with the family and friends in my life is a priority that cannot ever be pushed aside.
• If I cannot be utterly myself with the people that are genetically obligated to love me then who can I be myself with? Life is too short to be anything else.
• Hammocks make everything better.
• Most of my personality is genetic, if you have a problem with it take it up with the loudly laughing, enthusiastic, wildly gesturing army of Muller-Kargers that have preceded me.
• All Venezuelans, male and female alike, apparently think that Caley is best thing to happen to their country since arepas were first made out of cornmeal. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put him on their currency with “El Guapo” printed under his visage.
• Art gives culture identity. It is important. It will always be important. It is important that I feed into that with all of the ability I have.
• Emotion and thought are communicated in far more ways than speech. It is always possible to communicate despite any barrier.
• As Americans we are profoundly lucky, I must respect the gifts that come with that luxury and remember they are not birthrights but things that must be protected and refined all the time.
• Our planet is spectacular. Everywhere we turn there is wonder to be had. From Tepuis in the Venezuelan rain forest to Washington’s Olympic mountains. I will not just seek out that wonder while abroad. I will seek it out in my everyday life and live in awe of my home. I will protect it, learn from it, and inspire others to see it.
• I heart papaya…and I think it hearts me too.

By far, the highlight of this trip was working in my grandmother’s glass enameling studio once again. She taught me so much and is with me in spirit as I work everyday. Here are some of the images from the studio that sparked so much of my desire to do what I do:

For the rest of the photos from our trip to Venezuela please follow the three links below:

• Grandpa’s Finca and The Enchanted Mangrove Forest By The Sea

• Tepui, Rainforest & the Gran Sabana

• El Teleferico y Guaraira

I am an inconvenient person.

Despite being raised on catholic guilt, a year of all girls episcopal school, and four years at the straightest job known to man I have managed to tenaciously cling to my authenticity. There will always be people pushing you to be what is most convenient for their needs and goals. It’s one of the greatest challenges to know yourself and to stay on the path to what you want even if it means being an inconvenience to others. As it turns out, I’m exceptionally good at being inconvenient.

MaybeEmily

I stopped by maybemily’s studio last night even though my brain was fried from staying up until 5 am drawing & reading the night before. Surprisingly, I was awake but useless for making conversation so we enjoyed working congenially side by side & listened to a thrilling discovery channel special about the earth’s core. Very Dramitic! Seriously, they somehow made the earth’s core into a minidrama including semi-horror-flick-esque music & sound effects. She was making a dress from scratch for an upcoming wedding whilst I sketched her & somehow managed to rub two brain cells together long enough to learn something about sewing & patterns. Always an enjoyable night when it’s spent with Em.

Close At Hand

Caley is usually pretty close by, so this week when I have nothing better to do with my hands he gets a quick sketch done of him. They usually look more like whatever else is on my mind than his face. Piles of Caley drawings are emerging and I can’t tell if this is a good or a bad habit yet. I had a friend that once told me that he drew his father every single night before moving away to go to school… probably at least ten years worth of drawings. Isn’t that just the sort of thing reaffirms your faith in humanity?

the islands are calling me back

Margaret In The Mail

Going through some old sketchbooks I came across a page that had a drawing of Caley’s Mom that I started one afternoon a few years ago when we were visiting Indiana. Deciding to finish it was easy. Margaret Lents is a gem of a lady & who wouldn’t love to unexpectedly get their portrait sent to them in the mail? I know I’d freak out, in the good way, if it ever happened to me. Ah vanity, where would we be without it? My friend Rachel sometimes sends me whole boxes of art in the mail, unannounced, and it’s always the best thing ever. The practice of random gifts of art comes with my highest recommendation. It goes in the mail today & I hope it makes her smile.

Another “Shock & Awe” Monday

Sometimes the workweek jumps out and smacks you silly, you know? Well, when I get home from “shock & awe” Monday I usually need some good old fashioned sketch therapy so that I can sink back into my own skin.

Figure sketches from Mars