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.

The taste of summer is…

fresh
I’ve been giving life to those whispery notes/sketches I often add to my Eco Ciak. I love that little recycled paper sketchbook. It’s always a fun process to go back to the notes/sketches and try to understand the where/what/how/why.

warm
To me there is nothing like a simple and open conversation about interests, ideas and life as artists. I had the opportunity to moderate the virtual panel Resource: Where Abstract Art is (From) with a great group of artists: Glen Cunningham, Mark Dagley, Laura Fayer, Molly Herman, Lori Kirkbride, Ben LaRocco and Rachael Wren. All artists were part of Source, an exhibition curated by Susan Ross and Melissa Staiger. Both, exhibition and virtual panel, were presented and sponsored by PowerHouse Projects. Source was on view at The Halls at Bowling Green from April 22nd through May 28th. Check out the virtual panel and take a look at their websites. It’s all good!

sweet
I finally signed up my family to a CSA. The fruit begins to arrive next week. I’m excited and so looking forward to it…

The upcoming weeks and months look exciting and enriching as well. This fall, I’ll be taking a course on advocacy for children at Citizens Committee for Children of New York. This is such a great organization and resource in the city.

More soon and I wish you all a great rest of the summer.

My mind and body were ready for a little stir up so last week I found myself running at lunch time in Central Park. I usually run early in the morning around my neighborhood, but I’ve been wanting to run in the park since I started to work near it.

Although it’s been a challenge to keep up with all, it’s also been great to dedicate those beautiful green miles in the park — there’s nothing like running through nature — to think about my new little family, how to train for a race, yoga inversions I would like to explore, and just getting excited about new projects…

Getting excited about new projects reminds me to mention two wonderful exhibitions I recently saw even though they closed already. I wish there were more exhibitions like the Tangled Alphabets: León Ferrari and Mira Schendel at MoMA. Wow! I’m still digesting Schendel’s amazing works and ideas. And Ernesto Neto’s anthropodino at the Armory which was a fun experience.

Enjoy!

Image:

Yoko Ono, Wish Piece, 1996

Make a wish

Write it down on a piece of paper

Fold it and tie it around a branch of a Wish Tree

Ask your friends to do the same

Keep wishing

Until the branches are covered with wishes

It was during one of those tough runs when my attitude changed. I decided to give myself the chance to enjoy the process of slowly reaching my usual pace. Since then, I’ve been enjoying every single movement I make: running around the neighborhood, the treadmill and even cross training in the rowing machine — which I admit isn’t my favorite.

I keep telling myself something I think we all probably know, but surely always forget: patience is our best friend. When we feel different or everything is too new — a new business, moving to a new place or city, committing to a wellness plan — the word is patience, patience, patience…

Keep moving!

I went to Sahadi’s to get the nuts and dried fruit. Most of you probably know about Sahadi’s, but if not, this is a special store to visit. It has been in the neighborhood since 1948. I got dates, figs and almonds to mix with the rest of the ingredients I had at home (oats, cranberries, raisins, cinnamon, honey and sea salt).

It only took me about an hour to make the granola bars, but the funniest thing happened right after. I was thinking/hoping the bars tasted good when I heard Matthew call my name multiple times from the living room. His voice sounded like there was trouble…and there was. Well, we live on the fourth floor and a bold squirrel entered our apartment through the fire escape window. The squirrel was determined to find the roasted nuts and oats.

Matthew managed to get the squirrel out of the apartment immediately through the same window with the help of an Eames chair — like a lion tamer. Hilarious!

I never saw our little visitor, but that is the best review for my first experiment with granola bars. I’m now excited to experiment more…

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!

Here are some of the benefits of triangle pose:

*Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles

*Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine

*Stimulates the abdominal organs

*Helps relieve stress

*Improves digestion

*Relieves backache

*Therapeutic for anxiety, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica

For more information check Yoga Journal and Active.

Happy spring to all! It’s so nice to finally see the blossoms in the trees.

Video: Created by Dave Allen, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Web Manager, from over 3,000 digital photos, one taken every 3 minutes from April 18 to April 26, 2008, of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s famed Cherry Walk.

While I walked the bridge, I saw lots of runners, tourists and smiles. We’ve had a tough winter this year and yesterday was a nice break from the snow and the cold. I thought of how much I miss running the bridge in the morning, but I also thought about the happy time I’m in.

It’s funny how a big belly ⎯ the sign of a new life ⎯ brings so many good wishes and happiness. Strangers approached me to simply wish me the best and tell me a bit about their experiences. My due date is approaching, but at this time I’m (sort of) mentally prepared that baby boy may want to see the real world anytime now.

Some of you have asked me to write about my pregnancy experience as an artist, runner and yogi. I’ll be posting more soon, but to begin, I highly recommend to stay active during your pregnancy. Of course, you should consult your doctor. For me, being active, eating well and continue doing my normal activities (with modifications), has made my experience a very positive one. It’s quite amazing how our bodies are built to adjust to all these changes.

As an artist, I’ve had different reactions about my pregnancy. The’ve been mostly positive, but I’ve also had the strange looks and comments. Motherhood is just not for everyone ⎯ artist or not. As my mother taught me: be yourself no matter what others think. So if you’re an artist thinking about starting a family, I suggest to respect all opinions, but embrace what works for you and totally ignore the rest.

Here is an interesting study from the National Endowment for the Arts Issues Research Note on Women Artists: 1990 to 2005:

Women artists are as likely to be married as female workers in general, but they are less likely to have children. In 2003-2005, more than half of all women artists and all women workers were married. Yet only 29 percent of women artists had children under 18, almost six percentage points lower than for women workers in general.

To read the complete study, go to NEA research note Women Artists: 1990-2005.

Image:

Georgia O’Keeffe

Brooklyn Bridge, 1949

Oil on masonite

Brooklyn Museum

This year, Art Movement is participating in a Virtual Food Drive for the Food Bank’s annual campaign. I understand it’s hard to give when we don’t have much, but any amount — small or large — will help Food Bank provide free meals to New Yorkers in need. $1 provides 5 meals, a $20 donation can feed 100 people. Food Bank’s mission is “to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs”.

I didn’t want to set a specific goal amount. Art Movement’s goal is simply to give and help others.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit Art Movement’s Virtual Food Drive.

THANK YOU and Happy Holidays to all!

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.

I’m currently writing about how important it was for me to create and stick to a wellness plan. I must say, it was a challenge as an artist because we tend to think about our work more than our health. While doing a bit of research, I came across this article in the New York Times Fitness and Nutrition section: Learning How to Walk (Chewing Gum Not Included).

In yoga class, my instructor mentions body awareness very often especially when we are in Tree and Mountain pose. This sounded kind of silly when I began practicing. But now, after years of running and practicing yoga, I totally agree that being aware of our bodies can prevent us from having problems later. I think prevention is the best health plan we can have. Especially for those of us that spend most of our days in front of a computer or working at a studio table.

A wellness plan is a commitment. And as with any commitment, it’s a lot easier to get to where we want to be at our own pace rather than to rush and get burned out in a second.

As artists, I hope that these difficult financial times make us approach our work differently. That our studio time becomes full of fresh ideas and endless experimentation without feeling the pressure of sales.

But most importantly, I hope that we as people understand the need around us and dedicate some time to help others in need, volunteer, invest in our community and environment. There is so much we can give.

To find volunteer opportunities in New York City, check the Mayor’s Volunteer Center. For those interested in healthy living and a healthy environment, check Time Out New York’s wonderful lists of what is in season by Daniel Gritzer.

April-June

July-September

October-December

I keep these posted on the fridge and check them every time I go to the Greenmarket. To find farmers’ markets near you, visit Local Harvest.

Enjoy!