California Dreamin'

 August brought a dream I've had for a few years. The Kalani Therapeutic Drum Course in LA. I finally made it there! It was phenomenal!

I have very few photos because we were busy learning so many diverse things from morning to night! This was one of my fave instructors! I want to be like her when I grow up! Abbie Ehorn. She's so much fun! And so mega talented in so many venues!

 Fellow ZIN, Duncan Harte and I got to teach a collage of Zumba, Pound and Interpretive dance to the most fun students a teacher could dream of having!

Then my baby girl and I picked out a Momorial bench that is perfect to honor Mom. The light fixture in front was something Mom always mentioned because when baby girl was two, she'd go visit the garden with her grandma and she'd pretend the light fixture was a phone. The view is gorgeous too!

This guy was waiting for his owner who was busy chewing out a representative at the car rental agency. I couldn't resist the cute and welcoming face!

Now the dream is just a very fond memory. Kalani puts together an excellent and super cool, fun drum therapy course. I lost my mojo for music for over a decade, but this course, the severely talented and friendly teachers and participants all inspired that mojo for music to return! That is the sign of an excellent course!

A Summer Artventure

 This year I decided to make my own mini art retreat. It took about 2 months to get it organized enough to facilitate it. I couldn't have had two better students! They worked hard learning something new every day.

 This was a found object stencil art journal page study...and the found objects were cool and spontaneous!

 Talk about spontaneous stencils...how about a millet stencil? Yum!

 See how the millet stencil turned out? It's the second piece to the left, second row. What inventive students!!!

 Of course, we couldn't ignore the Chicago culture. Recognize this stain glass window style? Who's the architect who used those and worked with nature and was into horizontal planes?

 It was Frank Lloyd Wright and this was a tour of his Robie House. A fascinating tour!

 I want this sculpture for my yard! Michigan Ave. has many similar to this. I had to drive, so I couldn't take pix of the rest.

 And what was going on at the Art Institute?

 The Impressionism Fashion/Painting show! Very entertaining! This was when photos and sewing machines first came out. So to be seen...and having a chic, image of class, whether in portrait with your riches nearby... or with your family surrounding you, was as huge then as it is on TV today.

 The final visit was to the Chicago Botanic Garden. You just can't help but be in a meditative, calm state around all that beauty.

Now this is all a lovely memory that flew by way too fast. 

Nothing can fill the creative soul with inspiration more...whether it's art study, cultural exhibits, or the art of Mother Nature!