Book Talk Tonight at LBIF in Loveladies, NJ

Off today to the Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore. Summertime. and LBI is beast (as my 9 year old would say!) I spent my summer there between freshman and sophmore years at Pratt, waitressing, partying and decompressing from the rigors of Foundation year at Pratt and dealing with a then, very ungentrified Brooklyn.

Now I will be back to the island for just one night to do a book talk and signing for our book-
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings: when someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids. www.butterflykissesbook.com at The Long Beach Island Foundation for Arts & Sciences in Loveladies. The Foundation is a gem in South Jersey! Great workshops and classes, studios and visiting artist programs- check it out! http://www.lbifoundation.org/

Last time I was on the island I saw a seal on the beach enjoying the winter morning sun!

Best Made Plans... artist moms and summer!

School officially ended for my boys over a week ago, but last week they were busy with friends visiting for the week, and all four going to Lacrosse camp. The week was filled with camp, Disc Gold (totally cool and a whole sub culture I had NO IDEA about- we went to a fun course at Anson Nixon Park in Kennett Square), fishing, swimming, and lots of soccer. Yesterday was their first weekend that was NOT planned. At least for them.

I got up early, meditated and did my yoga by the pond. Then sat down at my trusty Powerbook and went to work on my calendar planning my day, blocking out studio time, appointments and other commitments. Wouldn't you know it- as we are making crepes for breakfast (ooh la la, Nate has a kids cooking book and they both were into it) One of our smoke detectors go off which of course means they ALL go off- and we can't get them to stop! Needless to say this went on for an hour, drove us all crazy and finally an officer from New Garden came out- we need new ones, thank you very much (rather find out this way, don't ya think!?) Now of course, it is WAY past my 9 am goal of getting to work in my studio... Which by the way.... I inherited a solid door and horses from neighbors moving out this weekend and decided to move my painting upstairs. The light is better and open. I will still work downstairs for printmaking and papermaking but I like being UP. I can also move the easel and big canvas I am working on OUTside to the deck to work from life and for better light. and yes we even had some sun yesterday!

Anyway, I would love to hear from other artists (of all kinds!) that also have young children and how they make their time to work....what do you do?

Which Wolf are you Feeding?

I have a new favorite parable that I got from Bonnie St. John's book- Live Your Joy. It's a story about an Cherokee Grandfather (and forgive me if I get the details wrong, it's the lesson that counts!) Anyway, a grandfather is teaching his grandson that there are two wolves that are at battle within each of us. The Evil wolf is anger, hatred, intolerance, evil, judgement (a.k.a. - yucky stuff) The Good wolf is love, kindness, compassion, humility, joy... After a moment the grandson asks"which wolf wins." Which ever one you feed, replies the grandfather. SO that is the question I ask myself on a daily basis- Which Wolf are You Feeding- whether it is about someone else (don't say it if it is not kind, true or helpful) or myself- and that is MY challenge. Especially in my studio the other day I was working on some new koi pond images and working with reflective light and getting frustrated.

The first quote from DaVinci came to mind (again a little paraphrasing) The supreme misfortune is when theory outstrips performance...or when the idea is better that than ability to convey it.
ug. sigh. bad wolf...

But then Van Gogh's quote came to me (yes, good wolf) When that voice inside me says- you are no artist, I quiet the voice by painting. So work, and that will feed the good wolf and put the evil wolf in its place. where ever that is. NOT IN MY HOUSE!

Last night participated in a art exhibition/ book signing at Kimmel Cancer Center in Philly-
as always met warm, wonderful, courageous people. It is heart warming to share our book
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes and Wings: When someone you love has cancer... a hopeful, helpful book for kids. There were two sisters- one, an oncology nurse and her sister, who told me how they wished that they had had our book when they lost their father to cancer.

That is our intention, to get the book to those who need it. Our Gift- it- Forward program encourages people to buy our book and donate it to a local library, hospital, place of worship or school- Wherever there may be a child or family who would benefit from the message of our book.

NOW tonight is 9th Annual Riddle Memorial Hospital Cancer Survivors Day. www.riddlehospital.org I am presenting at the ever. doing my speach/art talk/ slide presentation. I will try and post that once I put it in a format that I can use here. They are all on my website- www.nancihersh.com

Breathe deep- Spring is here, within and without

I really do thrive on the sunshine, the greenery and the re-birth and new birth that comes with spring. I am also working on my power point slide show for Riddle Hospital in Media, PA www.riddlehospital.org The Cancer Experience through an Artist's Eye on Thursday June 4. Going through images over the past 7 years and revisiting my journey from the cancer diagnosis to the work that came forth has been interesting. Much of that work lives on my walls here at the Okie Gallery but putting into chronological order and giving thought to the linear and non linear way the work evolved helps give insight and perspective on the experience.

I am also fully engaged in my Koi series which comes from a different experience which may be an obvious statement but again, not really. Working intuitively the koi in the water are about color, movement and what lies below the surface. Maybe not so different than the cancer work. My body was the vehicle to explore what lies below the surface as well.

It Takes a Village

Last Sunday was the Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure. I ventured up to NJ from my PA hideaway with our new 3rd Edition (!) books in tow. Set up was on Saturday - beautiful sunny day, the park a buzz with anticipation for their 2nd Annual Race. That evening, I stayed with my dear friend Nadira Husain- poet, photographer and fabulous cook. Dinner that evening was actually prepared by her mom- be still my heart- all my favorite Pakistani flavors lovingly prepared. Following dinner, the whole Husain-Ali Kan clan went to work cutting out butterflies for the following day.

The event itself was a huge success. Not only did thousands participate for the Race- the weather was perfect, stories exchanged, inspiration abounded and money was raised. Nadira and I could not help but muse on this incredible foundation that grew from the relationship between two sisters- Nancy Brinker and Susan G. Komen. Nadira and I got to spend quality time together, Gloria Gaynor performed her signature "I will Survive," Mr. Ray performed in the kids tent, I reunited with a high school friend, Stacy Weisman, met new friends and celebrated all that is good.


Bonnie St. John was at the event signing her new book Live Your Joy. www.liveyourjoy.com
We exchanged copies of our books with each other. Her book is worth the read- inspiring, noteworthy and memorable.

Below are shots from the event and the night before- thanks to Nadira!

Dazzled and Inspired!

YANJ did put on a great party... Kevin Spacey was inspiring. He spoke on the value and role of the arts in his life growing up in New Jersey- how he met and was mentored by Jack Lemmon who encouraged him (and now us) to "Send the Elevator Down" help others get a leg up - teach, inspire and expose students, children, and adults who are in a different place than you are, lend a helping hand... or like the title of one of my favorite movies, that Kevin happened to star in with Helen Hunt- PAY IT FORWARD. His speech and photos from the evening are on the YANJ website below.

Ball in the House ROCKED THE HOUSE- Those GUYS are amazing- all vocal 5 -Mouth band.. it took me a while the first time I saw them that I realized that their voices were all making all the background bass and instrumental sounds.

And of course there is Susan Boyle, the woman who left us all speechless and teary eyed...

Two other things to note... I was gifted a ticket to see Hair on Broadway with my friend Janice Marsili. Not only was it as wonderful as she promised- flashbacks to my fifth grade dance routine to "Aquarius" -midriff gauge top and bell bottoms and all... Janice and I sang on Broadway!!! When the lights come up the cast invites everyone to dance - in the aisles, on stage...Janice promised her husband David that she would dance and dance we did front and center stage with the cast, belting out "Let the Sun Shine In...."

and... Stephen Fredericks of The Growing Stage a theatre company in NJ is doing a fabulous residency with the students of Red Bank Charter School. I spent an afternoon with him and the school last week as well. Watching 3rd, 4th, & 5th graders perform Shakespeare- many of them ESL was fun and fabulous for all.

Oh, one more went down to VA and DC to visit family and had a fabulous 8 course Morroccan meal at Marakesh.... belly dancing and all.

DAZZLE! Party with Young Audiences of NJ

I am beginning to truly see signs of spring... and since this is our first spring in our new house I am excited to see what perennials are coming up in our gardens. I am also on the look out for a compost bin for the vegetable herb garden I am planning for this spring and summer.

I am also really excited about attending Young Audience of New Jersey's big gala event tomorrow evening. They are calling it "2009 A Night at Sea" and are going to have 3 exciting nightclubs with music and dance (of course!) and a fabulous art auction (natch!) My mixed media print, The Om that Got Away" is one of the items offered. You can check it out online... even if you can't make the event. http://www.yanj.org/dazzle/

I am ready for a great party after a cold grey winter!

This is a shot of the painting I did for Scott last year of the Navesink River. I found a new photographer down here- Dain Simons- good guy and did a great job. More images to come.

http://www.yanj.org/dazzle/