Morning Light Mosaic 40″x30″
Working in shimmery aqua palettes as the cool tones light up the sky.
I am working on a show for June 13th in Silicon Oasis. Not something I could have put together — unless I happened to meet a friend from my Calgary elementary school, Junior High and Sr High… Incredibly enough I did! Playing ultimate at Safa Park with some Canadian friends.
I meet her children, and she invites me to her parties. She has lived in Dubai for four years and has connected with so many people. We laugh at how incredibly bonded you can feel to another Canadian, instantly out here. One of her friends says, “Even Americans! You just want to hug them because they’re North American!”
It is amazing how every day you are exposed to different ideas, people, values, education levels and understandings. I hear people complaining about how things are built and torn down here. But i compare to Vancouver where it takes 4 years to do a study on building a bridge. I’d rather spend the 4 million on building and revising and getting it done, than paying for studies.
I have found a supplier of canvasses and have been painting at the Jam Jar close by in the Al Quoz area. A open studio / warehouse concept where kids and adults can paint. A lady comments on my work in progress and how she loves the thought of cooler weather. How it reminds her of home. I am glad to find my work resonates out here.
I also met a wonderful artist Marina Harris who has been another instant best friend. I will be joining her as an art instructor at DUCTAC. (The arts center in the Mall of Emirates). A talented artist and someone who has been helpful in introducing me to the art scene here in Dubai. I hope she will join me in the exhibit on the 13th. A painting from her boat series.
Greek Artist Marina Harris Boat Collection.
White Sunsets
Monday, May 5th, 2008I’m glad to be here, in the incredible city of Dubai. I’m optimistic, and feel it was the right thing to leave Vancouver — as a family. I’m glad we all came out together.
The boys are tucked in for the night as I’m sipping espresso at a free internet cafe. I feel like I’m in the early formation of a New York. Next to me on Skype, an Egyptian with a German accent has his cigarette burning in the ashtray. People walk by in a cool breezy evening.
We arrived safely at the DXB airport with all our bags intact. Everyone nice and helpful. We couldn’t find the person to meet and greet us, so we took a cab. The 15 minutes it took to find the district of Murraqqabat were doubling quickly, as the driver asked directions in all the back alleys. But we found our wonderful two bedroom apartment in the dark, two hours later. A concrete maze of closed rooms and muffled echoes.
*** ** ** ***
Jumeirah beach is stunning. Clear aqua green water, beautiful sand with nothing to hurt or tickle your feet. The sand is smooth, and in sections like an ashtray of beige cigarette filters. At 8 am, it’s thirty degrees with clear bright sun, the water refreshing and cool by evening. A very busy beach with a neighboring nightlife, but enough room for everyone. The boys in their hats and shorts left their fleece Vancouver pants behind and never looked back.
Children splash in random regular wear led by two women in full black dress — a daycare outing? Bikini’s on every form of European, Indian, Egyptian. A rare glimpse of Asians is the only fleeting familiarity of Vancouver beaches.
Lifeguards in high lookouts with binoculars focus on the beach dwellers, not particularly the swimmers. A big sign says NO CAMERAS. We hear a sharp whistle blow as the binoculars attract someone’s attention.
People smile at the boys and tousle their hair. My surprise at their affection reminds me of Canadian’s sterile culture. It feels simple here in the sand. People swimming in their clothes, men and boys in their white underwear. Among the stretch of sand, only two people sitting in beach chairs.
Everyone should have the pleasure of rolling waves and clear beaches. How many people never see a beach, or go once a year? The sun disappears at 8pm far above the horizon. At sunset, no sun for an hour and the beach is well lit.
What was a warm yellow glow in a hazy sky is suddenly evening, in shades of grey. I point out the bright crescent moon is directly above us.
“Where does the moon go?” my four year old asks.
I reply that it is always there, but we can’t always see it. He remarks, “
I want you and Dad to keep looking for fun things for us to do.”
Some new abstract works as part of the Circle Patterns collection.
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