Thursday in the stduio...whoopee !

Visitors dropping by...children laughing in the central gallery...people picking up their books they ordered from the exhibit... lunch with Ken... quiet hours alone after hours collaging a discarded Lucite jewelry stand I retrieved from a discard box at a thrift store ...and beginning to collage my antique mannequin form for my jewelry line....Just wait and see. I love being back in my old space ;I am home with dear friends dropping by and sharing their new processes and new exhibits. The LCA has the Dawes exhibit opening this Saturday but simultaneously we have a race car event called Mopar in both Heath and downtown Newark. Traffic will be crazy all over the county because there will be 10.000 visitors to Licking County which is great for our Licking County Convention and Visitors Bureau! The city workers were working late tonight when I left the studio at almost 6 pm...the line of portable potties in front of the beautiful courthouse ...quite a paradox to see in person. I may try to photograph this tomorrow...if I can remember anything in this heat and humidity state of mind. I feel that today was wonderful...I received some income to cover the costs of opening this studio and more important I am back OUT with the art community once again and I am just as passionate if not more having my own responsibilities and freedom of personal choices. Sandy and I discussed the increase in the prices of publications and the extra costs of shipping in these very tight economies. I would like to work on my second book as I create the second chapter in my Women's Work... making the correct match with the publishers is critical for success. Jane came in and shared her fabulous plans to travel to Africa with her wonderful granddaughter Samantha Hookaway who has just completed her MFA in the Art of Glass in Philadelphia. I have been fortunate to follow Samantha's journey from OSU and attended her Senior exhibition a few years ago. I told Jane that Samantha has a circle of illumination surrounding her and her dedication to focus and hard work is so inspirational! I have a few photographs to share ...but I forgot to get some photos in the midst of working. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart