A claymation movie by Madison Blinn
Based on the book Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Song is Goodnight Moon by Said the Whale

About the book
Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends, but one day they can’t find each other. When they finally do, they give each other such a big hug that they turn green! How they find their true colors again concludes a wonderfully satisfying story told with colorful pieces of torn paper and very few words. Leo Lionni launched his children’s book career in 1959 with Little Blue and Little Yellow, and this 50th-anniversary edition, complete with Lionni’s own explanation of how the book came to be, is sure to resonate with children today.

“Abstract art with heart.” —School Library Journal’s Top 100 Picture Books Poll (voted #66)

More info…

Last week, I was fortunate to present a new project at Towson University in Maryland. The exhibition curated by Prof. Susan Isaacs and entitled Fluid celebrates the 75th anniversary of the American Abstract Artists.  I was in great company with friends and artists, Lynne Harlow and Marthe Keller. The whole experience was simply wonderful — from the train from NYC to Maryland, the university and all the beautiful community who joined us for the opening. Universities have the most amazing energy and are so full of creativity.

I’ll be adding more images and information soon, but for now here is an image of the evening’s performance/collaboration with TU’s Dance department students and Prof. Vincent Thomas (VTDance) …which was absolutely inspiring.

Thank you Susan, Vince and all at TU!

Image:
Rossana Martinez
Wrap Yourself Around Me, 2011
Installation/performance with reused fabrics, artist book and ribbon

–John Lennon

You and Me
By Dave Matthews Band

Want to pack your bags something small
Take what you need and we disappear
Without a trace we’ll be gone, gone
Moon and the stars will follow the car
And then when we get to the ocean
Gonna take a boat to the end of the world
All the way to the end of the world

Oh and when the kids are old enough
we’re gonna teach them to fly

You and me together
We could do anything baby
You and me together yes, yes
You and me together
We could do anything baby
You and me together yes yes

You and I were not tied to the ground
Not falling but rising like rolling around
Eyes closed above the rooftops
Eyes closed we’re gonna spin through the stars
Our arms wide as the sky, we’re gonna ride the blue
All the way to the end of the world
To the end of the world

Oh and when the kids are old enough, we’re gonna teach them to fly

We can always look back at what we did
Always remembering how you and me did
Right now it’s you and me forever girl
And you know, we could do better than
Anything that we did
You know that you and me
We could do anything

You and me together
We could do anything, baby
You and me together yeah, yeah
Two of us together, we could do anything baby
You and me together yeah, yeah
Two of us together yeah, yeah
Two of us together, we could do anything baby

It’s so small
Till we reach the end of the world ]]> http://www.rossanamartinez.com/2011/01/together/feed/ 0 http://www.rossanamartinez.com/2010/11/senses/ http://www.rossanamartinez.com/2010/11/senses/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:08 +0000 Rossana Martinez http://www.rossanamartinez.com/?p=1534

So scary — it’s November already. What happened to 2010?

Hope you all had a great Halloween. Brooklyn looks beautiful in fall colors.

Enjoy!

Finding of the week:

“We always need to remember that behind almost every great moment in history, there are heroic people doing really boring and frustrating things for a prolonged period of time.”

From New York Times, My Favorite August by Gail Collins.

If you want to get a real view of what an artist’s life is all about, check out Julian Dashper (1960-2009): It Is Life at MINUS SPACE. On view from August 7 until September 4, 2010. A must see, read, experience, feel.

In 2007, I wrote the post, Your Heart Makes Me Feel, after I read a wonderful tribute to artist Elizabeth Murray (1940-2007) in The Brooklyn Rail. Since then my feelings about the connection between art & life have only deepened more…

As Robert Gober wrote: “…art comes out of life, and that you had better pay attention.”

Image:
Julian Dashper (1960-2009): It Is Life, MINUS SPACE

Hope you’re all having a great summer. Here are some of my summer thoughts after having a wonderful time with family and at my favorite place: the beach.

It pleases me immensely to see how my boy loves the ocean. He was born in NYC, but his blood is Caribbean…and I truly love that!

Fruit and vegetable stands, surf shops and Rex Cream’s Ice Cream are my kind of places.

<3 running barefoot on the beach. I know I’ll be fine in a couple of days, but it was hard to run this morning and wear running shoes.

A bikini never goes out of fashion.

My nieces and nephews are awesome! When I grow up, I want to be just like them.

Photo:
7am swim with mama.

“The critic has to educate the public; the artist has to educate the critic.”

-Oscar Wilde

“Yoga is about the union and integration of breath, movement and body, both on and off the mat. Our practice on the mat should hopefully guide us towards actions in the outside world: if we observe our actions on the mat, perhaps we can all try to apply them to the outside world, and together, in a united way, we can make a difference.”

Green Goa: Green Yoga, Karma Yoga and the Art of Transforming Practice to Life by Inna Costantini. UK Yoga Magazine, July 2010.

Happy summer!

Here I am, thinking of tomorrow’s NYRR New York Mini 10K. My first “big” race after baby. Feeling excited. I ran this race in 2008 and the experience was awesome. This is a women only race and it is truly amazing to see a sea of women running in Central Park.

My main goal tomorrow is to apply what I’ve learned from my active 15-month old boy and that we as adults forget to do often — run, run, run and just have fun!

A friend sent me this quote a couple of weeks ago — and it is so true:

“You should study not only that you become a mother when your child is born, but also that you become a child.”

-Dogen Zenji (1200 – 1253)

I’m happy to write that the site-specific installation, Crash into Me will be on view this summer at el Museo de Arte de Caguas (MUAC), Puerto Rico.

There is lots to see in Caguas. The city is called the heart of Puerto Rico. The community is so friendly — including my amazing sisters who live there. It’s truly an honor.

I thank artist and curator Elsa Melendez for inviting me to participate in the exhibition. And as always, it’s a pleasure to be in the company of great artists.

Gracias Elsa!

Image:
Rossana Martinez
Crash into Me, 2007-2010
Site-specific installation
Fluorescent orange and hot pink ribbons

Part of group exhibition, No fue un mal entendido, on view at MUAC from June 4-September 30, 2010.

Artists: Claudio Chea, Ricardo Hernández, Rossana Martínez, Néstor Millán, Omar Obdulio Peña, Brian Rivera, Miguel Angel Torres, Cristina Tufiño, Rafael Vargas Bernard y el grupo de teatro, Papel Machete.

I dedicate my miles to the memory of a wonderful person — a great friend, brother, father, husband, son, and so much more. My dear brother-in-law, Victor González Nieves (1963-2010). We miss you so much!!

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

***************

For Barbara Rose, who loved this beautiful poem. Thanks Janet for sharing it with me!

Everything feels so new in the spring. My curious boy has been showing me the world from a new perspective. This weekend, we spent long hours with friends, playing in the park, and looking at fresh bits of color — trees, magnolias, daffodils. Very refreshing!

The beautiful sun has inspired me to introduce him to the magic of running. So I’m looking for a running stroller and would love to hear about your experiences. Here are some of the qualities I’m looking for:

*lightweight (mama is petite and our charming neighborhood is old — streets have different levels)
*easy storage (we live in Brooklyn = small apartment)
*reasonable price

I really appreciate any suggestions and/or recommendations.

Thanks and happy spring to all!

The last couple of weeks have been full of creativity. I found some time to draw, run outside and explore for titles. I like titles especially for abstract work. To me, titles are the little things that tell our story. They help us share ideas with others, and begin a dialogue…

Finding of the week:

“What is often overlooked in this modern world is that everything and everybody has value, that each atom in the universe does indeed have a place…”

-Aadil Palkhivala

Welcome to my new website/blog. There are so many positive things happening this year, I hope to find more time to write. As you probably know, 2009 was an amazing year for me because I had an incredible baby boy. But as many artists who are also parents know, it is extremely challenging to balance a family, a job, to stay healthy and making art. I’m breathless!

I am grateful to have the opportunity to live and enjoy this whole experience. There are not words to really describe it…but my heart has grown so much since I became a mama. And I am thankful to have such wonderful community: my family, friends, neighbors and readers.

As I mentioned on my last post, this web project is a work in progress…My goal is to create a place where we connect, share and have a dialogue. I want it to have the quality of a studio visit, a great run or a yoga class.

Lastly, I want to thank and highly recommend Brad Stephenson who helped me with the new website. Brad is an actor, amazing father, technology developer, and huge Steelers fan — Go Steelers! — maybe next year. Brad was fantastic to work with and so patient with my slow pace. His website is www.bradpstephenson.com. Muchas gracias Brad!

I was sleepy too and left my sleepiness guide me through the streets of Brooklyn. I set my iPod to shuffle songs. The cool air woke me up when I found myself in DUMBO right in front of the water. I stopped for a couple of minutes to look at the view. It felt as if I was right in the center between the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. I’m petite, but at that moment I felt so small. What an amazing place, I thought.

Bruce Springsteen’s song, Working on a Dream started playing. The song’s lyrics are beautiful and I love his voice when he sings: “I’m working on a dream, though trouble can feel like it’s here to stay…” The song reminded me of yesterday’s yoga class when the instructor asked us to find intention before we began the class. The purpose of my practice was to have strength and patience when life seems tough.

So here I am today, ready to do all I can to help a friend. I invite you to join Art Movement on Sunday, September 13, for the 19th annual 5K run/walk — Komen New York City Race for the Cure.

To join us or to make a gift, please visit Art Movement’s Race for the Cure. If you can’t be with us on that morning, please consider making a donation.

Every dollar counts! The money will help local organizations provide breast health education, screening and treatment.

Let’s be active, be part of the change, and help make the dream of a world without breast cancer true.

THANK YOU!

The collection has four tiny books perfect for little hands: Alligators All Around (an alphabet book), Chicken Soup with Rice (book of months), One Was Johnny (a counting book), and Pierre (a cautionary tale). The simplicity of the stories and illustrations make them enjoyable for both kids and adults alike.

A couple of weekends ago, we went to an art opening in Staten Island. It was rainy and cold — June has been very wet in New York. As we were traveling back home in the S.I. ferry, I couldn’t stop thinking about Chicken Soup with Rice. When we got home, I went straight to the kitchen and cooked a warm and delicious chicken soup with rice…still laughing!

I love books and these days I’m enjoying reading with Mateo. I take him to our local bookstore where I found another great book called Open House for Butterflies by Ruth Krauss. The book, also illustrated by Maurice Sendak has simple thoughts and illustrations like the books in the Nutshell Library. Some of my favorite thoughts are:

Look! I’m running away with my imagination.

There should be a parade when a baby is born.

Suppose old people grew down as young people grew up.

Easter eggs are all different outside but they’re alike inside.

A baby makes the mother and father — otherwise they’re just plain people.

Yesterday shows another day is here.

Everybody should be quiet near a little stream and listen.

A baby dances with its feet in the air.

I think a race looks prettier when everybody comes in even.

So always take some time to look, enjoy and imagine!

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand”. — Albert Einstein

On Wednesday, I had a pleasant experience while in yoga class. The group waited for about fifteen minutes (our instructor was running late) when one person suggested that we begin the class. Some people in the group left, but those of us who stayed began a sun salutation. The room filled with an immense sense of community.

When the instructor arrived, I think he was pleasantly surprised to see not only that we waited for him, but that we already started the class. He explained why his commute took so long. It didn’t really matter, nobody was angry and we were happy to see him. We all smiled and thanked our friend who had the initiative of guiding the class. She did so well! It felt so good to be part of a community.

I left the class with a bigger heart. I suddenly felt an urge to get home and be grateful for everything I have. When I got home, Mateo and I exchanged smiles, blablas and held hands. I thought of Gandhi’s words: “Be the change you want to see in the world”. And just like that, I realized the value of the wellness plan I started years ago. It was on display at yoga and gave me the best energy for the rest of the day.

Better late than never. It’s never too late to bring all the good people and things you want into your life.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

To honor Earth Day (April 22), I thought of sharing and recommending the children’s book, On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier. The story is marvelous and the illustrations are just beautiful.

On the Day You Were Born

by Debra Frasier

On the eve of your birth

word of your coming

passed from animal to animal.

The reindeer told the Artic terns,

who told the humpback whales,

who told the Pacific salmon,

who told the monarch butterflies,

who told the green turtles,

who told the European eel,

who told the busy garden warblers,

and the marvelous news migrated worldwide.

While you waited in darkness,

tiny knees curled to chin,

the Earth and her creatures

with the Sun and the Moon

all moved in their places,

each ready to greet you

the very first moment

of the very first day you arrived.

On the day you were born

the round planet Earth

turned toward your morning sky,

whirling paste darkness,

spinning the night into light.

On the day you were born

gravity’s strong pull

held you to the Earth

with a promise that you

would never float again…

…while deep in space

the burning Sun

sent up towering flames,

lighting your sky

from dawn until dusk.

On the day you were born

the quiet Moon glowed

and offered to bring

a full, bright face,

each month, to your windowsill…

…while high above the North Pole,

Polaris, the glittering North Star,

stood still, shining silver light

into your night sky.

On the day you were born

the Moon pulled on the ocean below,

and, wave by wave,

a rising tide washed the beaches

clean for your footprints…

…while far out at sea

clouds swelled with water drops,

sailed to shore on a wind,

and rained you a welcome

across the Earth’s green lands.

On the day you were born

a forest of tall trees

collected the Sun’s light

in their leaves,

where, in silent mystery,

they made oxygen

for you to breathe…

…while close to your skin

and as high as the sky,

air rushed in and blew about,

invisibly protecting you

and all living things on Earth.

On the day you were born

the Earth turned, the Moon pulled,

the Sun flared, and, then, with a push,

you slipped out of the dark quiet

where suddenly you could hear…

…a circle of people singing

with voices familiar and clear.

“Welcome to the spinning world,” the people sang,

as they washed your new, tiny hands.

“Welcome to the green Earth,” the people sang,

as they wrapped your wet, slippery body.

And as they held you close

they whispered into your open, curving ear,

“We are so glad you’ve come!”

Enjoy…and best wishes to all the Boston Marathon runners!

Also, my friend Lynne, who knows how much I like birds, introduced me to the album, You Are My Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell. Although the album is for children, I think adults can enjoy it as well. It has really wonderful interpretations of songs by Bob Marley, Velvet Underground and many others. My favorite song so far is: If You Listen. The album explains that the song was “originally recorded by French singer Francoise Hardy, and is all about how listening can be a magical experience”.

I agree…and hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Chinese Art and Greek Art

by Rumi translated by Coleman Barks

The Prophet said, “There are some who see me

by the same light in which I am seeing them.

Our natures are one.

Without reference to any strands

of lineage, without reference to texts or traditions,

we drink the life-water together.”

Here’s a story

about that hidden mystery:

The Chinese and the Greeks

were arguing as to who were the better artists.

The king said,

“We’ll settle this matter with a debate.”

The Chinese began talking,

but the Greeks wouldn’t say anything.

They left.

The Chinese suggested then

that they each be given a room to work on

with their artistry, two rooms facing each other

and divided by a curtain.

The Chinese asked the king

for a hundred colors, all the variations,

and each morning they came to where

the dyes were kept and took them all.

The Greeks took no colors.

“They’re not part of our work.”

They went to their room

and began cleaning and polishing the walls. All day

every day they made those walls as pure and clear

as an open sky.

There is a way that leads from all-colors

to colorlessness. Know that the magnificent variety

of the clouds and the weather comes from

the total simplicity of the sun and the moon.

The Chinese finished, and they were so happy.

They beat the drums in the joy of completion.

The king entered their room,

astonished by the gorgeous color and detail.

The Greeks then pulled the curtain dividing the rooms.

The Chinese figures and images shimmeringly reflected

on the clear Greek walls. They lived there,

even more beautifully, and always

changing in the light.

The Greek art is the Sufi way.

They don’t study books of philosophical thought.

They make their loving clearer and clearer.

No wantings, no anger. In that purity

they receive and reflect the images of every moment,

from here, from the stars, from the void.

They take them in

as though they were seeing

with the lighted clarity

that sees them.

______________________

If You Listen

By Francoise Hardy

If you listen you can hear

birds sing and flowers grow

If you listen you can hear

my love for you just grow

In the silence that’s around

deep peace and love are found

In the days that will be here

my love will call you loud and clear

And in the silent place

where loneliness is found

I’ll wander through the open door

to look for you

There in that magic land

that lies beyond the clouds

floating on the sea of dreams

I’ll sing to you

Image: One of my favorite birds, the bowerbird, working on his blue monochrome nest.

A while ago, my friend Margie, an awesome athlete, cook, and nutrition expert, recommended me to read the book Real Food by Nina Planck. One of my favorite things to do is to cook simple and fresh food, and I find so many similarities between cooking and working out an idea in the studio.

I’m currently hooked on the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. I think these books are great tools to open our eyes and remind us that we have the power to change things — even if it’s a small change. Since I’m not into junk food (had enough in art school!) or diets, eating healthier feels natural to me.

As Michael Pollan says in his introduction to The Omnivore’s Dilemma:

“Eating is an agricultural act, as Wendell Berry famously said. It is also an ecological act, and a political act, too. Though much has been done to obscure this simple fact, how and what we eat determines to a great extent the use we make of the world—and what is to become of it. To eat with a fuller consciousness of all that is at stake might sound like a burden, but in practice few things in life afford quite as much satisfaction. By comparison, the pleasures of eating industrially, which is to say eating in ignorance, are fleeting. Many people today seem perfectly content eating at the end of an industrial food chain, without a thought in the world: this book is probably not for them; there are things in it that will ruin their appetite. But in the end this is a book about the pleasures of eating, the kind of pleasures that are only deepened by knowing”.

So thanks Margie! And here is my list of recommended books for those interested in food, nutrition, wellness, and social responsibility:

The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waters.

Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating by Mark Bittman.

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan.

Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck.

This weekend I had a chance to participate in the Making Art In The World panel during Pratt Institute’s Reignite weekend. It was great to be back at Pratt, but as it often happens with panels, we didn’t have enough time to discuss everything. I admit, I left Pratt with a lot on my mind and feeling that, unfortunately, the lack of time didn’t let us have a real dialogue.

So I decided to write about some of the points discussed during the panel with the hope that I would hear your comments and experiences as artists “making art in the world”.

One of the points discussed during the panel was the importance of the viewer. In my work, I want viewers to be active participants rather than inactive spectators. And I wonder if it’s even possible to say that we don’t take the viewer into consideration when we exhibit our work in a public space? Why bother taking the work outside of our studios if we don’t want people to see it or respond to it?

Professional development for artists was also briefly mentioned. When I graduated from Pratt, professional development wasn’t part of the curriculum. I always think I acquired my professional development through the process of learning how to balance a full-time job and creative time. I learned how to interact with people with different interests and backgrounds, stay abreast of technology, and consequently apply all of the above to the business of art. But as mentioned at the panel, I agree that the current situation for an MFA candidate or a recent graduate is very different. MFA candidates now have an overwhelming amount of information, but a lot of pressure as well.

As I mentioned on a previous post, I think the key is to understand that a creative career is a life commitment — a marathon not a sprint. Having a clear idea of our priorities (in both art & life) is a good way of staying grounded while feeling pressure at any stage of our careers. Here are some of mine, and I look forward to hearing about yours…

A healthy lifestyle and my family are definitely number one to me. Appreciate the opportunities and people around me — my community. Have a positive and realistic view of where I am and where I want to be next. Follow my own path and welcome change to my creative process. And to absolutely never lack ideas or the curiosity that keeps me going and active.

During yoga class, the instructor tells us to make each pose our own ⎯ and I like to apply this to art as well. As artists, we are part of a community. We constantly share ideas and look at each other’s work, but when we create, we make it ours.

Last month, I met with video artist and friend Christa Blatchford at her solo exhibition, See Around, at Artists Space. The original idea was for me to write a review. But then I realized that what I love most about art is when there is dialogue so we decided to have a conversation.

We began to talk about our projects early this year. We are both currently working with the idea of being in nature especially the ocean. Every time we saw each other around the neighborhood (we are almost neighbors and go to the same gym), we briefly exchanged thoughts and updates. I know she worked endless hours for this project and I was excited to see the exhibition.

When I met Christa at Artists Space, I experienced that magical feeling of seeing how an artist transforms a thought, an idea into something visual and concrete. I was fascinated to hear Christa talk about her ocean’s perspective as a video artist. And how she thought of every single detail to give viewers a glimpse of what she experienced during her various visits to Block Island ⎯ where she escaped from the city every time she could and videotaped for months.

Although our projects part from the same source ⎯ nature ⎯ they are very different. Christa’s four-channel video installation is about carefully seeing ⎯ noticing the small details often ignored while sitting, watching, videotaping, and then editing. In my performance/drawings, I visually translate how it feels while actively moving through nature.

After seeing her exhibition, we had a chance to talk about everything else. What defines us as artists, people and individuals. And there was magic again…learning who the artist really is and how who we are defines what we create.

Image:

Christa Blatchford

See Around, 2008

Four-channel video installation

Thank you all so much for your nice emails and updates. I’m happy to learn some of you began to run (awesome!), that bambinos will fill your homes this year (double awesome!), and news about your projects and exhibitions. Congratulations! What a great way to start the new year.

One of my new year’s resolutions is to immerse myself in all things healthy and creative. Here are my first two creative curiosities. Enjoy!

New Perspectives in Latin American Art, 1930–2006: Selections from a Decade of Acquisitions.
On view at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) thru February 25, 2008.

This exhibition is a must-see. The artists on view are some of my favorites, like Felix González-Torres, Ana Mendieta, Gabriel Orozco, Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Clark, Lygia Pape, Gego, and Mira Schendel. The works that spoke to me most were Mira Schendel’s works on paper. The works – monotypes on rice paper – felt free and powerful. Schendel used modest traces of lines and words to investigate the visualization of language. My favorite work was a delicate circle with the words Si al mundo (yes to the world) inside.

I’m also currently reading the book Like the Flowing River by the Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo. I found The Story of the Pencil beautiful, poetic, and just brilliant. Perfect for artists.

The Story of the Pencil

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point, he asked: are you writing a story about what we’ve done? Is it a story about me? His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson: I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I’m using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn’t seem very special.

But it’s just like any other pencil I’ve ever seen!

That depends on how you look at things. The pencil has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.

First quality: You are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps.

Second quality: Now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, it’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

Third quality: The pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.

Fourth quality: What really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

Fifth quality: The pencil always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.

past, present, future…

This time of the year is so great, but overwhelming at the same time. There is so much to do before we take a break to recharge our batteries (I have about one bar left!) and celebrate the holidays. It’s the time when we look at the past, present and future all at once – accomplishments, where we are now, goals.

This week has been busy with meetings, reports and everything else. Staying in the present during yoga class was a challenge. My mind and heart are already close to family, friends, beautiful sunsets, stars and warm weather!

But before we all go and run – at a slow pace – to the future so we can enjoy the holidays, I want to thank you for being part of the art & life dialogue.

I wish you have a wonderful holiday season filled with tons of love and sweet moments. See you in 2008!

I recently read the Brooklyn Rail’s Tribute to Elizabeth Murray (1940–2007). It was so nice to learn that Elizabeth Murray was not only a great (and famous) artist but an amazing person. My favorite part was written by artist Robert Gober:

“Elizabeth meant the world to me. My father worked in a factory and I grew up in front of the television. I had no idea what being an artist was about. I met Elizabeth because I had a terrible job demolishing her sheet rock walls and putting them in a dumpster—the lowest rung on the construction ladder. We got to talking and liked each other, and she told me that she needed someone to make her stretchers. She was making flat irregularly shaped paintings and I helped her transition to the overlapping and interweaving works. I spent five formative years in her home and studio while she unselfconsciously showed me what an artist’s life can be. On a normal day, I had a baby in one arm and a hammer in the other. That wouldn’t be my path, but made abundantly clear to me the fact of how art comes out of life, and that you had better pay attention.”

“Art comes out of life” – simple and beautiful words. I see an artist’s life like a circle – everything is part of it. In my experience – family, friends, nature, running, yoga are all part of my life and subsequently my art. I am very lucky to have a lot of wonderful friends. But there are two great artists that are my New York sisters: Bibi Calderaro and Lynne Harlow. We all grew up in different places in the world, but we have so much in common. As Robert Gober wrote about Elizabeth Murray, they “constantly show me what an artist’s life is about”. I admire how they balance their lives to be wonderful artists, mothers and people. They just amaze me!

Rossana Martinez, Art is Great! Life is Greater!, 2007
Letter for Escape from New York exhibition, SNO, Sydney, Australia; Curated by Matthew Deleget.