Eli - 1-6-2005 at 06:52 PM
YEP, Right out of Mexico City, with a wide brimed straw hat and all.
I was painting my little mural on the wall, my back to the door, when who should walk in but the new habitant to the room, Diego.
With little more than few words of conversation, I knew with out a shade of doubt that I was talking to an artist, he didn't really have to say
anything, the light shinning in his eyes told me so.
He had come to create a studio, with a sleeping loft above out of the room that I had rented for a few days and rejected, begging to be moved to one
with better light, where the sun shines on the door first thing in the morning.
So, even though Lalo, my landlord had conseeded, and I had moved the day before; I had started this tiny mural in my old room, and of course I had to
finish it and Lalo had assured me that I had until Monday before the new teneat would occupy the space.
But Diego came early to begin his remodel, he will be gutting out old flaking plaster and repainting and building a sleeping platform out of plywood
and beams, and wanted to get a head start.
I asked him if he planned to paint white over my mural, or should I finish the project. No leave it he assured me, that wall would stay the original
washed blue, he would not disturb my work as he found charm and humor in it and would be most happy to live with it.
So you see, my good fortune be, the artist colony grows at the posada where I now live, art flowers all around me every day. Two blocks away is El
Jardin where artist who have befriended me display. I even have a gallery 50 feet from my front door, where I can display my work. And I begin
classes there at the gallery in clay on Monday. Truly I am in awe of the good fortune of the day that I decided to return to be among the folks that
make me feel I belong with them. Maybe yet, I have finally found my own? Now, wouldn't that be something?
[Edited on 1-7-2005 by Eli]
[Edited on 1-7-2005 by Eli]
Annie T. - 1-6-2005 at 07:57 PM
Sara, I have never met you, but, I think I know you. You lie somewhere in my heart and in my dreams and those of my three daughters. We have all
had to struggle to be who and where we want to be. You put into words the hopes and dawnings in our minds. We have had failures, successes and
many flat plains. It feels so good to read the words of our souls from one who also knows and can express it. Thank you, my daughter, if I may..
[Edited on 1-7-2005 by Annie T.]
Sara....
Debra - 1-6-2005 at 08:15 PM
Any chance you can post some of your art work here, I (and I'm sure I'm not alone) would love to see.
And I'm enjoying your posts very much, keep sharing please.
Mike Humfreville - 1-6-2005 at 09:02 PM
When I read your recent posts I'm swept out of Baja and into old Mexico. I'm sure I've suggested this to you previously, but just in case, get a copy
of "On Mexican Time" by Tony Cohan. You're living in Oaxaca the life he lived in San Miguel de Allende.
I hope you save your stories in a safe place.
[Edited on 1-7-2005 by Mike Humfreville]
Sara
Baja Bernie - 1-6-2005 at 09:26 PM
First you might wish to share your pictures of Oaxaco with the board--I have never felt at liberty to to post them.
Annie T has really hit the nail on the head.
You have the courage to express the thoughts that so many of us have but fear to convey to others, I wonder if the conveying is what makes one whole
or at least more in control of oneself.
The art that you have shared with me will just blow them away. And now I understand you have gone much further in your quest for---------what? I am
sure that you know and that you will share this with us at the proper time.
Remember what Miguel said about a safe place.
Painting a picture in ones soul. How is that done?
Ah! Yes. Watch the hummingbirds that maintain a vigil over you.
Paz
Natalie Ann - 1-6-2005 at 10:50 PM
Eli -
I, too, so enjoy your posts. They touch my heart, my soul, my imagination. Each time I see a new post from you, a smile begins to rise from that
small still part inside me.... "oh good, another gem from Eli".
It's a great gift, the sharing of your thoughts and experiences and growth - your "becoming", if you will. And with each reading, I'm reminded of the
gifts life has to offer when we participate from that place of trust inside ourselves. So I add my thanks and heap my praises upon you.
You go girl!
Eli
Baja Bernie - 1-6-2005 at 11:04 PM
Most of us have no idea of the miles of hurts, misery and failures that you have wandered through to reach your 'beginning'.
If I remember correctly your real beginnings began many years ago in New York when a Texas Cowboy came to rescue you and bring you back to the real
life of a backwater campo in Baja.
Don Jimmy spoke often of you and with such deep love and caring that you can never know.
Paz
Natalie Ann - 1-7-2005 at 12:11 AM
While you're right, Bernie, that I've no inkling of the specific hurts and miseries and difficult times in Eli's earlier years. But I would not
expect her to have lived a life without such times. But she's a person who has lived through those times and probably learned from them. Thus we
have a story-teller, artist, and virtual friend who's pursuing each new day and inspiring many of us.
Hope we get to see the art!
Mike Humfreville - 1-7-2005 at 12:54 AM
The heart of an artist is to expose their creations.
Natalie
Baja Bernie - 1-7-2005 at 05:05 PM
You are so very right on. Told you once before but will do it again--You are the only person who (perhaps) reads Rumi that I have been exposed to.
(guess that should be--to whom I have been exposed--but somehow that does not seem to fit)
Mike, I believe that the heart of an artist is to savor their creations and if when exposed they bring applause then so much the better.
Eli - 1-7-2005 at 05:52 PM
I read all of your comments when I came in for a break from painting this morning. I left overwhelmed with the kindness and gentle thoughts that have
been given back to me by all of you for the few simple thoughts I have put out to you.
Anne, of course you can think of me like a daughter, if we are not closer in age than you imagine, I will be 54 the end of this month.
Nataile Ann, it is mutual, I always feel a smile creeping up from inside when I see you name attached, I know something sweet is to be read there. I
truly hope someday to meet you. Please the next time you are in the East Cape area stop by "Galeria Los Angeles", I do believe the place bespeaks of
me. It is a magical place, kind of like falling down the rabbit hole into Alice's Wonderland. Well, you will know it when you enter, whiter I am there
are not, my presence is always apparent. It is a unique one and only collection of what represents years of gathering the art that reflects my vision.
Also, there is usually a couple of my own works there.
You too, Debra, I cannot believe that our paths have never crossed when you have been down in the neighborhood, hopefully next time. Meanwhile, I
never did get along with how to down size and down load pictures to Nomad. I recall last Spring that I started a collection of icons that others
contributed wonderful pictures also. Alas, I abandoned the project when I discovered I was overloading the system and that is that for now, I don't
even have the time in the moment to figure it out.
Bernie, your the man you know, always in my heart where ever I go, your words always make me look in and bring me out.
If there was one picture that I have sent you that we could get on the board it would be of Pop's alter, several requested it, again, I am at a lost
as to how to do that.
My too MANY photo albums are public, on Yahoo. I don't know if one can easy access them by going to yahoo photos saravos2003, or if I have to
individualy send an album to who ever wants one and than from there you would have access to the 60 plus albums that tell the story about what I have
been up to this past year or so, much better than my words, I assure you.
Anyway, there are pictures of my art work from last summer and fall in there. I still need to get the winter album of my art down and saved. man, my
photo archives in my computer are such a mess right now. That is where I need to get focused and do some serious house cleaning before the old three
legged goat of a computer finally crashes once and for all on me. As it is, it has barely tottering along for the last six months.
Along with down loading my stories from here on the board and that ol computer, you are right Benie and Mike, I need to download on to a back up c.d.
what I have written over the this last year. It is totaly unfair of me to assume that Doug be responsible to keep all these archives. Ah Dios, what a
mess of work I have when it comes to filing, ay, yi, yi, ah well, not to day, anyway.
And yes Mike, I have a copy of Cohan's "On Mexican Time" at home, you are correct, it is some fun reading. He and his wife did an outstanding picture
book also, I think is is called "Mexican Color"?, or something like that, I have it at home in the VOS archives. I highly recommend it to anyone who
might think of building, or decorating.
And Bernie, the hard times never ended, they are always there for me, I get my rear in kicked on a regular basis, life's hard lessons are part of it
till we die I expect, good times, bad times, you don't get one with out the other. I am just getting a momentary repreive, a chance to catch my
breath before I step into yet another one, an assuradly I will, that is what being human is about, you know.
Mike, I have chewed on it all day, and it sure is tasty that last comment of your's, "The heart of an Artist is to expose their Creation", yum, yum,
that one is like a fine wine, that I just keep rolling around on my tounge, yes, yes, mighty tasty indeed.
O.K, I am out of here while I still have enough change in my pocket por mi chocolate y pan, y watch the show of humanity as it parades before me at
the Zocolo.
Buenos Noches, Ya'ALL
[Edited on 1-8-2005 by Eli]
Sallysouth - 1-7-2005 at 07:45 PM
Eli, as always your words warm my heart and touch my soul.Hope we get to see your artwork! Been busy with a VERY sick G-daughter but will U2U soon.
Bessos.....
Neal Johns - 1-7-2005 at 11:40 PM
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/saravos2003/my_photos
Patron of the Arts
Annie T. - 1-8-2005 at 08:47 AM
Sally, We hope your granddaughter is doing better, that is a hard thing.
Neal, thank you for the link. A gentleman and a scholar and now a patron of the arts, too. Some girl is gonna be lucky.
Sarah, Your work is amazing (at least from the small photos, it seems so). You keep it up. ( I have a daughter 50, so maybe).
And lastly, tomorrow we leave for the mainland and Baja for a month--what heaven. Annie T.
Eli - 1-8-2005 at 11:38 AM
Neal Johns - boy howdy, talk about a "ask and you shall receive" moment, I have been tring to figure out how to forward that link since forever, some
of the simplest things really are way beyond my capacity to figure out, THANKS HUGELY!!!
Annie T. Sorry I won't see you IN Baja this trip.
The gallery is in Los Barriles, if you pass that way stop on by.
Don't supose you will make it down as far as Oaxaca this trip, but if you do, u.2 me, I would Love to meet you in person.
Anyway, where ever you wander, I am sure you will have an adventure, your heart is open for it.
By the way that invite is open to any Nomad. I had an outstanding time "from home" when Georock was in town, it was a real heart warmer of an
experinse to get to hang out with her and Dylan for a bit.
Sally, sorry to hear the news that you are dealing with a sick baby, that is about harder than anything, it is so much easiere to be sick one's self.
[Edited on 1-8-2005 by Eli]
Annie T
Baja Bernie - 1-8-2005 at 12:05 PM
If you get to Eli's gallery would you please post on how you found it and the feeling I know it will invoke in you.
No, I have not been there buy Sara has shared it with me in bits and pieces.
Isn't it wondedrful the feeling she is able to place right next to your heart when she reaches out.
Could she be the Baja Angel?
Thanks Annie and Sara
Sallysouth - 1-8-2005 at 12:05 PM
For the kind words. After a late nite visit to ER, she was put on a breathing apparatus and is doing much better today! Of course now I have it
.Have a great journey
Annie and try to post along the way so we can hear about your trip. Lucky you!! I'll be going down to B.C.S. late next month for a month or so. This
time I plan on hooking up with Sara!! Can't wait to see her work.
Annie T. - 1-8-2005 at 04:27 PM
Just going as far south as Mazatlan and then over to the La Paz area, so we'll make it a point to get down to Los Barriles to the gallery....We were
in L.B. last year the day after Don Jimmie began his next great adventure, although we didn't know it til later. So we will be back this year, if
possible to just be. Maybe we can meet one day on another trip. . Annie T.
[Edited on 1-8-2005 by Annie T.]
Los Angeles
Eli - 1-9-2005 at 09:55 AM
Anne T - Happy Trails, hope truly that the next time around I will be at "Galeria Los Angeles" personally to greet you, in the meanwhile as I said
before, there is a part of my spirit always there.
By the way, so you don't get lost as it is a little off the beaten track, going back up to the highway from Tio Pablo's resturant it is about 500
meters up the road on the (South) left hand side, just before you get to an Evanglist church on the Right hand side and if you make it to the post
office and Delegacion, you have gone to far. Hours are 10 am until 3 pm., Monday thru Friday.
Just tell Carmen that you are my Mother, and want to sit there a bit and visit with my being, she will think you are nuts, but as she is use to my
ways, it will not seem all that far out of line to her, jeje, Carmen is kind of conservative and I just love to mess with that side of her.
Again, have a wonderful adventure, ah well, I already know you will.
Bernie, I am not an angel, but I do hang with them a bit, you know they are everywhere, look on your left shoulder, do you see her?
Oh Que, it is market day and I am off to Tlacolula for a little T.L.C. and to deliver the gift of a decortated comal to the fine and sweet ladies that
make the clay griddles that I love to play on, and the Sanitista for some miricles.
Tuddles, Sara