I'm Back for More Artist Dates

I'm back and ready to go for some more weekly Artist Dates.  I took over three months off, but I still did manage to go on many Artist Dates over the summer, I just did not make it a weekly venture, nor did I blog about it.  I wasn't sure if I was going to continue blogging my Artist Dates this time around.  But then I went and read over all I did and saw from September 2010 to May 2011, and what I wrote, and I actually forgot some of the things I did. I enjoyed reading over my thoughts for each date I went on. I will continue this blog just for myself, like writing in a personal diary all the things I do and see.  It makes a nice remembrance, plus I can add pictures easily.  I had a pretty low key summer, mostly due to my mother-in-law being in the hospital from April 7th thru August 25th.  But I still managed to get out a bit and saw some things. 

I went to a few theatre festivals and a couple of plays:  The Pandora Festival at The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, The Summer Shorts Festival at The Theatre Artists Studio, Hairspray and And Then There Were None at Desert Stages Theatre.



I saw only a couple of the summer films, but these were definitely my type of movies.  I saw Super 8, The Tree of Life, Another Earth, and Life In A Day.

Managed to get to Kierland Commons twice for their summer concert series and saw Apple and Groove Merchants perform.

I attended my monthly UFO, Aliens and ET meet-up group hosted by a local Cherokee Indian.  I attended a MUFON lecture with guest speaker Richard Dolan, author of A.D. After Disclosure. I participated in a four month long workshop with a local shaman on Universal Consciousness.  I also attended a few lectures on astrological predictions for 2011, Comet Elenin and the Mayan Calendar. NO FEAR...the world is NOT ending, so don't invest in an underground bunker.  The only thing changing is the consciousness on this beautiful planet. :-)  This is all just a  BIG WAKE-UP CALL for humanity.

Well that pretty much sums up my summer activities for the most part.  I didn't work on any creative type projects this summer.  The only thing I got a little creative with is all the dust that was dumped on us on July 5th.  When the Universe gives you some dust all you can do is have some fun with it, and always remember to turn your present situation into a creative example of Divine flow.  Life is good even with a little dust. 

Fun is a sacred dimension.

ADRIANA DIAZ

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I'm Taking a Break

I'm taking a break for a little while because I have been focusing on some other interests. I have been taking workshops on Universal Consciousness, and connecting to Mastery Consciousness with a local Shaman.  These workshops continue through July. 

I also joined a Meet-up group with Fellow Galactic Earth Humans that discuss UFO's, Aliens, and Extraterrestrials.  I found my Peeps with this group.  I have always had an interest in this subject, but the History Channel's series called a Ancient Aliens has renewed my interest.

Also, in my free time I have been reading a lot more on subjects that interest me.  I have a stack of books from the library sitting on my desk.  Even though I still plan on going on Artist Dates from time to time, I am not going to make it a weekly thing.  I also want to spend some time writing some new 10-minute plays.

I have written this blog diary of all my Artist Dates just for me.  I have enjoyed it very much, and I will return to it again in the very near future.  But for now I am taking a break...but I will be back.

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.

IRIS MURDOCH

Artist Dates, Week 30 ~ el Pedregal Spring Wine and Jazz Concert

I'm BAD!  I have not been good about blogging my Artist Dates.  Even though I do this just for myself and no one else, I have not kept up with my blogging diary of Artist Dates.  So on Sunday, April 17th, I took advantage of the great spring weather once again for my Arist Date, and went to the el Pedgregal for another one of the their Spring Wine and Jazz concerts.  The band Affinity performed, and once again was a huge crowd pleaser.

Great Day!  Good music, and lovely weather.  Life is Good.  I will never tire of listening to music outdoors.

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Artist Dates, Week 29 ~ Awakening to Potentials & Possibilities

My mother-in-law has been in the hospital for over a week.  She had an accident that required surgery, and she will have to be in a rehab facility for several weeks, if not months.  It's possible she may never walk again.  I've spent a lot of time this past week in hospitals, which isn't the most pleasant environment. So after visiting her one day, I just needed to get out in nature, so I drove to the Desert Botanical Gardens.  I walked around and looked at all the cacti in bloom, and spent some time watching the butterflies in the butterfly pavilion.

I received a last minute e-mail to attend a session with Panache Desai at the New Vision Center for Spiritual Living.  The evening was called A Passion for What's Possible:  An Evening of Unlimited Possibilities. Panache enables you to step into the flow of a life of infinite possibilities, holding the greatest vision and the highest vibration of who you are here to be.  Using energetic sessions, active meditations, conversations and exercises you  become empowered to actively improve the quality and experience of your life. Panache shared that this year, your commitment to yourself is being matched by the energy. Therefore, the degree to which you show up, is the degree to which the energy can support you.





Panache Desai





Panache helped us open up our Higher Heart Chakra.  It is sometimes called the Seat of The Soul. This chakra is located between the Throat and Heart chakras. The Higher Heart Chakra focuses and defines who you are and what you have come to do in this lifetime. 



Today I spent a very lazy day doing nothing but reading Shirley MacLaine's new book I'm Over All That.  I loved her interview with Oprah this week.  She taped that show the week before the taping my sister and I attended.  If I had a choice of any of the Oprah tapings...I would have picked the Shirley MacLaine taping...she speaks my language.  I look forward to talking shop with her one day...because I have a passion for what's possible, and I am awakening to infinite potentials. 

Happiness is when what you think,

what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

MAHATMA GANDHI

Artist Dates, Week 28 ~ I AM...The shift is about to hit the fan

On Tuesday afternoon my husband and I went to Tempe Harkins Valley Art Theater to see the new documentary, I AM.  I had received numerous e-mails from different groups I am a member of suggesting seeing this film once it hits my area.  I LOVED this film...it's about the Shift in Consciousness this planet and all of us are going through...regardless if you know it or not. 

On the way home in the car, I told my husband that one sure sign of a shift in consciousness is when Fox News goes off the air because no one is watching them anymore.

Well this morning I see on the internet Fox News is taking off the air the Glenn Beck show because his show is down 35% in viewers this year.  Well that's a start with a shift in consciousness...hopefully the rest of the Fox News Network will follow. 

I would love everyone to go see this documentary I AM...because the sooner The Shift Hits the Fan...the Better.

Success can make you go one of two ways. 

It can make you a prima donna, or it can

smooth the edges, take away the insecurites,

let the nice things come out.

BARBARA WALTERS

Artist's Dates, Week 27 ~ Entertaining My Snowbirds Friends

This past week I spent entertaining five female friends, ages 17 to 54, while on spring break.  They came in from Portland, St. Louis, and Chicago.  Two of them I have known for over 40 years...we grew up across the street from each other.  So I didn't go on any Artist Dates alone this week, but it's always fun to do things you are accustomed doing, yet you see it differently through other's eyes.

My friends all came in last Friday, and all these snowbirds wanted to do first was just be outside.  They really didn't care what...they just wanted to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine after being cooped up all winter long indoors.  So on Saturday, I took them to the Tempe Festival of Arts.  We spent a leisurely afternoon there walking around looking at art and listening to music.  My friends 17-year old daughter bought tons of things there...mostly jewelry...she's a real girly-girl.  After a day of shopping we ended up having dinner at Z' Tejas Grill. 

On Sunday I took them for lunch at Tonto Bar and Grill in Cave Creek.  Once again, they could have eaten anything, and it would have tasted great to them, as long as they were eating outside on the patio and enjoying all the majestic views.

After lunch we headed to the el Pedgregal for their Spring Wine and Jazz concert.  The group performing was Marmalade Skies.  The audience was rocking and grooving to all the Beatle tunes.  Once again, they were just so happy to be sitting outside and enjoying the great weather.

My friends really wanted to go on a rafting trip down the upper Salt River, but since the water levels were low, we decided not to go.  Instead they hiked a lot around the mountain trails by my house, and I introduced them to Pinnacle Peak.  They loved all the great views and got some fabulous pictures.

Since they are all from Chicago originally, they could not come to Arizona in March without going to see a Chicago Cub Spring Training game at Hohokam Park.  I admit I really don't care who wins...Cubs or Diamondbacks.  I happy either way...they are both my teams.

If we were not eating dinner outside at my house, we would always go to a restaurant where you could eat outside.  Once again, it didn't matter what they were eating...the enjoyment was being able to sit outside.  So we took them to one of our favorite places to eat...AZ88 in Old Town Scottsdale.  Of course our 17-year old spent plenty of time shopping and buying herself, her girlfriends and boyfriend souvenirs from the Old Town Shops.

Everything I did this week are things I do frequently.  But it is always fun to do the same old things when you see what you are doing and experiencing through other people's eyes.  It gives it a different perspective...and makes it more fun.  The gang is all gone now, and I am spending Saturday and Sunday this week cleaning up my house and doing laundry.  I have another five friends coming from Chicago to visit us in July for a week.  Not as much going on in July here in Scottsdale, but this group of friends just likes hanging out at the pool drinking margaritas.  That suits me too.  :-)

Friendship is a strong and habitual

inclination in two persons to promote

the good and happiness in one another.

EUSTACE BUDGELL



Artist Dates, Week 27 ~ A Little Music and a Lot of Moon

On Friday, March 18th, and Saturday, March 19th I sat outside in my backyard with a bottle of wine, and camera in hand waiting for the moon to rise.  Sometimes it's just the simpliest things that bring you the most joy.

March 18th Moon

March 19th Supermoon

On Saturday afternoon I went over to the Fine Art & Wine Fest Fest in Fountain Hills and listened for awhile to guitarist Eric Hansen.  A little music and a lot of moon does wonders for your heart and soul.

Only the heart knows how

to find what is precious.

FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY

Artist Dates, Week 27 ~ I Heart Scottsdale

I started out my week of Artist Dates going on Saturday to the Scottsdale Arts Festival.  I got there around 1:00pm and had to park about five blocks away.   Between the Old Town Farmer's Market, the Giant Spring Training game, and the Art Fest...let's just say parking was a BITCH!

I spent the entire day there, so parking a little further away was not going to hinder my day.  I walked the entire Art Fest, then sat and listened to music for awhile...had a little lunch...then went to see the new exhibits at SMoCA...walked around a little more...went to see the Haikou: China Sister Cities art exhibit of painting and sculpture art at the Civic Center Library.

I walked around some more because I love seeing new artists and there were quite a few here at the Scottsdale Art Fest.  Then I went over to the Camera Obscura exhibit. Camera obscura means ‘dark room.’ Functioning much like an early camera, the device projects images of the surrounding Festival into room-sized, darkened chambers.  It was pretty cool.

Then I ended my day by listening to Marmalade Skies playing Beatles tunes.  The most impressive thing was an artist was painting during the concert pictures of the Beatles.  You could not tell what he was painting for about ten minutes, then all of a sudden you could tell the first painting was of John Lennon, and the second painting was George Harrison.  Pretty cool stuff.  Do I date myself with saying "Cool."





My second Artist Date of the week was going to the Scottsdale Desert Stages Theater to see A Raisin in the Sun.   This was one of the most extraordinary performances I have seen in awhile.  The cast was perfect.  I brought a friend from Chicago with me who had seen the original film with Sidney Poitier and was sobbing at the end.  When we walked out of the theater and started talking to the cast, she began to lose it once again...she was that moved by their stellar performances. 

The best career advice to give the young is,

find out what you like doing best and get

someone to pay you for doing it.

KATHERINE WHILEHARN

Artist Dates, Week 26 ~ Spring Events

Well Spring is not officially here yet, but it feels like Spring  with warmer weather, plus the springtime events have started. I love the sights, sounds and colors of Spring.

I went to the el Pedregal last Sunday for their Spring Wine and Jazz concerts.  The group Shining Star performed

It was a perfect day to sit outside and listen to music for three hours.

I also went to The Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Spring Butterfly Exhibit.  They will have eventually about 18 different types of butterflies.  These butterflies, unlike the Monarch butterflies in the Fall, will come and sit on you.  One landed on my shoulder.  I saw many people with butterflies on their arms, hands, shoulders and on their heads.



While at the garden I also saw the John Schaefer Photography Exhibit: A Desert Illuminated.  The exhibit features 30 photographs of cactus flowers of the Sonoran Desert. These stunning macro photographs are wrapped in the visual and contextual embrace of a Renaissance-era illuminated manuscript that connects the human passion for science and art. By placing a sheet of black construction paper behind the cactus, he is able to isolate the subject, intensifying the composition of the richly hued and delicate flower.

I also saw the Ludvic Steel Jam Sculptures in the Garden. Ludvic's junkyard finds are gathered and recycled into lively, impromptu compositions. He reassembles, cuts, reshapes, sandblasts and grinds the materials, claiming to never discard a single piece. The sculptures, titled “Steel Jam Session,” are created as in a jazz jam session —“in the moment,” — with the artist following his intuitive sense. A viewer can see how each sculpture moves to the rhythm of Ludvic’s perpetual jam session.

Only the heart knows how to find what is precious.

FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY

Artist Date, Week 25 ~ The Mystical Arts of Tibet

This was the first week where I came very close to missing an Artist Date.  I have been in the house nursing a cold, and I had been summoned for jury duty in downtown Phoenix.  But since I  did not have to report back to the courts on Friday, I got out of the house and went down to the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts to see the Drepung Loseling monks of Tibet.   These ten monks are in town for the Mystical Arts of Tibet tour, which is co-produced by actor and Buddhist Richard Gere.

I attended their free lecture on Friday afternoon titled, “From Confusion to Enlightenment: Steps in Inner Evolution.”  The audience laughed with their depiction of confussion by showing a picture of George W. Bush. 

Then I spent some time watching four monks work on building a sand mandala which is located in the lobby. Formed of a traditional prescribed iconography that includes geometric shapes and a multitude of ancient spiritual symbols, the sand-painted mandala is used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants.

The monks will painstakingly lay millions of grains of sand into place on a flat platform over the four days here in Scottsdale.

The closing ceremony is on Sunday, and the monks will dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanecne of all that exists.

In the lobby there is also a community manadala which everyone is invited to work on for as long as you like.  There is someone there to teach you how to use the tools to paint the manadala with sand. This practice of mandala painting helps you "live in the now," and get out of your monkey mind that is always thinking and chatting with itself.  I spent a little time coloring in the mandala myself.  It does take concentration and patience, and it does help you drop your monkey mind.

                                                                                                    

We can never obtain peace in the outer

world until we make peace with ourselves.

DALAI LAMA