Islands: San Juan, Orcas, Lopez

On San Juan Island we attempted a whale watch with Captain Spencer at Sweetwater Wildlife Charters. Sadly, we only saw a couple of duck butts and had to turn around because of bad weather. Instead we hiked around, watched birds, went to the aquarium and had a filling dinner. We also went to Orcas and Lopez. There was hiking to be had all around.

(The American Camp on the south end of San Juan Island)

(View from mid-way up Mount Constitution–the top was fogged in–on to the San Juan Islands.)

(Three Bald Eagles on Lopez Island. Later, in an unrelated incident we saw a few seals.)

(I Couldn't Help Myself)

Vacation: Seattle Art and the San Juan Islands

Yesterday Kristina and I drove up from Portland to Seattle. We visited the Asian Art Museum to see Garden and Cosmos, which was a delicious exhibition of gouache pictures from Jodhpur. Our visit to the Seattle Art Museum paled in comparison. Then we drove up Anacortes, had an excellent Thai dinner and caught the last ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island via Lopez Island, Shaw Island and Orcas Island. We are staying at a nice hotel with big bathrobes.

(What we were thinking: There could be scary monsters outside of the ferry, or in the ferry.)

(What we were thinking: This is a great image. And: Can I try on one of these suits?)

Argentine Tango

I went out last night with my housemates, Kristina and MJ, to an Argentine tango lesson followed by dancing. Kristina is an active tango dancer and is always inviting me along. After focusing on it all week, I was mentally prepared to go, FINALLY. It was so much fun and so much like walking. And, like the other dance forms I have indulged in, it clears my head of the constant chatter. Instead I focus on not falling over, and stepping. There were quite a few people, of all ages (teens to grandpas) and tango experience. I got to practice after the lesson by dancing among and with much more experienced dancers. I even learned some extra moves.

Travel Without Record: The Opening

(My housemates, Myungjin and Kristina, and me.)

In Response to the Entry of Febrary 23, 2008 · Mucho Gusto

(It was a good idea to send that print to Fernando)

Travel Without Record

As if I were not busy enough--rather if I did not have enough on my mind--I brought my work down to Raw Oyster Project for an exhibition this month: Travel Without Record. The "kids" at Raw Oyster Project are so very sweet (read easy and awesome) to work with. I am excited to show some works I have shown before, a suite of prints from 2007 that I have never shown, and some newer pieces (also yet to be shown). Below are three photos I took during installation.

(Ann Coombs with her tiny hammer. Here she fakes an action shot, but she really did use that tiny hammer to drive the nails!)

(Ann Coombs and Nick Musso in action at Raw Oyster Project)

(Two "Untitled" pieces in the window: Blue Pyramid and Las Escaleras de Valparaiso. Please note how lovingly those pedestals were made for my work. I 'heart' Raw Oyster Project.)