Portal (48″W x 60″H, Acrylic on Canvas, 2019)
Am I awash in a crashing sea, or drifting in limitless space? I’m rarely certain.
And this is an excellent thing. It’s just that, like everyone else I know, I find my own life filled with at least as much busyness and foolishness not genuinely germane to any practical reality that I can go for months—no, years—between times of what seem fully meaningful and joyful purpose. Still.
Once more, I’m on a giddy slide from the apex of the last big adventure, hurtling onward toward the next. Breathless, dizzy, overwhelmed, and kind of thrilled. I say kind of, because after all, it’s my nature to get a bit caught up in the usual doubt-a-palooza that grips my always tenuous sanity and gripes my innards. When I finally capitulate and admit that either I’ll be killed outright by my own overdoing or, surviving, will realize that all of my deeply-felt imperfections won’t keep the earth from rotating or my path from going forward, I’ll likely get back to my more standard style of laissez-faire living.
The new push is, thankfully, all toward good and desirable things. The obstacles, mostly of my own manufacture and therefore not terribly significant in the long run. Goals: wrap up a wildly busy decade of living in North Texas with my beloved and jamming our time with good friends, great students and colleagues, and lots of marvelous gigs, classes, rehearsals, conferences, concerts, and the making of many meals, messes, and artworks.
My partner managed to get enough help and encouragement from his publisher and editors and supporters to push through and see his new book come to print. I, while I’ve been less of a scribbler lately, am still closing in on the print version of a catalogue of the artworks from my November 2017 Dallas exhibition and the one straight ahead, the 23rd of this March, in Denton. And I still have about 40 other books in various states of undress in the cupboards and files of my mind and media. All but the catalogue will have to wait, however, as I have 2 scant weeks of actual work time left before installation of the next exhibition.
Richard’s second book is born!! (And I got to have the fun of doing the cover art!) Thanks, GIA Publishing (https://www.giamusic.com/store/search?elSearchTerm=Richard+Sparks).
So I’m plunging ahead, keeping both of us tripping through the apartment over heaps-in-progress of painting, sculpture, framing, and assorted other pretty disasters related to the life of an artist. I hope those of you within shouting distance will show up to help me enjoy my gasps for air post-production when the real party happens.
Which party, as it does happen, will be a true farewell-to-Texas gathering since my spouse is preparing to return, at the end of this year’s university contract, to a freelance life as well. Let’s get this show on the road!
With a great venue in a soon-to-open shop adjacent to the Denton courthouse square (La Rose Maison—art gallery, gifts, teas, candles, etc—owned by Lara Heber) and the requisite friends, food, wine, and frivolity, we should have a pretty stellar sendoff shindig.
Art-Colored Glasses 
Wow…what all lovely surprise to see you hear and to know that your life is brimming with creative fulness. Congrats to your husband on his new book….looks very interesting and always congrats to you for being you and your work. I love the image. Janet xxx
And what a delight to hear from you, Beautiful! I’ve continued to love watching your posts, both blogging and on FB, and always admire the depth and richness you achieve, whatever your medium or topic. Thank you for all of it!
xoxoxo!
Kathryn
Have a wonderful weekend. – Janet xxx
Congratulations to Richard, and what an exciting time for you both! I now understand why you’ve been absent for so long. I loved, “Am I awash in a crashing sea, or drifting in limitless space?” , because that perfectly describes any of us at given times in life. Wherever the “freelance” life takes you both, it will be an amazing adventure.
Thank you, sweet friend! We’ll be based back ‘home’ in WA (state) near much of our family, but given the freedom of escaping the academic calendar, we should be able to follow our hearts and travel more. Back to Texas, etc, regularly to see friends here, of course, among many other things. 😀 We DO expect this all to be quite a big adventure. And yes, I’d agree that my phrase is virtually universally applicable. Both intimidating and reassuring to me! Big hugs to you!!!
❤
Kathryn
Howdy stranger!
Hey, Fabulous! Delighted to see you here! You continue to amaze me with your travels, photography, and insights. And I love your more recent headshot!! I’m quite sure I’m due for an update myself…maybe after the craziness of the spring/summer schedule ahead of us, I’ll pester Richard to give me a new image. I just gave him a set for *his* new blog (richardsparksconductor.com), so he’ll owe me, right? 😉
xoxo,
Kath
Yep! He owes you 🙂
I should also say that the evening before the show (Friday night) my Collegium Singers perform the great Buxtehude masterwork, Jesu Membra Nostri. A fantastic piece . . . and if you’re not from Denton, you can still watch online, since it’ll be live-streamed: https://recording.music.unt.edu/live
so you can watch a high-def broadcast on your own computer.
Howzabout *I* say it, then!! 😀
Love you muchly.