4 Heads Are Better Than 1
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
The entrance to J Woeste in Los Olivos – a truly magical place!
Some days they would be anyway…

The entrance to J Woeste in Los Olivos – a truly magical place!
Some days they would be anyway…

Although purely utilitarian in nature, the initial impact of this image was a bit startling. From the vantage point of my lens capturing the shackles around these beautiful bronze bubble toes, I felt a twinge of sadness until I followed the path of the metal upwards.
Delightful isn’t she? Completely appropriate word for her I think. Light, fun, goofy – just like the rest of her friends in the garden. Just look at them.
For more images of Phillip Glashoff’s sculptural whimsy and other wonderous works at the Judith Hale Gallery in Los Olivos – click here.
But back for a moment to the emotions stirred from the original image – such a perfect metaphor really, for how the human spirit is able to overcome adversity. When we are “held captive” or “stuck” by either external sources or our own fears, what is it that gives some individuals the strength to persevere, to keep trying to move forward, the personal power to overthrow their adversaries, the desire to continue to survive and prevail? Is it just undying faith? The unwavering belief that this is not their destiny and the best will surely come sometime soon? Do they maintain their fortitude on behalf of another? Do they just shut themselves off from the reality of the earthly situation and venture off to another more loving, peaceful place in their own minds? How is it that some people have endured a life time of repeated loss, tragedy and hardship and still their soul has the capacity to soar? I have met people like this as you may have too – circumstances that would break a good share of us seem to make these people shine even brighter. Is it a profound sense of gratitude that they maintain for what they DO have? Do they just continue to count their blessings? Do they see the gift in the experience no matter how potentially crushing and catastrophic it is?
This act of seeing the gift in every situation is not a new idea, but if we could master just this one practice, just think about how the course of our lives could be altered for the better. Sometimes it is very difficult to find the gift in a situation, but if you write down every bit of your past baggage, every occurrence that repeatedly flies back into your life to reek havoc, every devastating tragedy that you have withstood, and partner it with a gift you received from it – I bet you would be surprised how you can turn your focus around and these past happenings will be empowering rather than sabotaging. You will be able to move on. You don’t have to forget, but your focus will be different and it will open you to inspiration and the strong urge to create once again.
Give it a go and let me know how it works out for you. Those silver linings – we just have to keep searching them out.

One of our favorite things to watch though is the Glass Blowing Demonstration
Such an amazing art to observe, and a fascinating process to behold.
The results are just stunning and it is interesting to see the unique style of handling and working with the glass that each individual artist imparts.
Clients have also stated that since receiving Reflexology, they have:
Improved stamina and endurance during sporting events
Diminished anxiety and depression * Better coping skills
Increased mobility and flexibility * Decreased chronic pain
and they have remembered to stop holding their breath!
Come join me and see how Reflexology can enhance your well being and bring you to deeper levels of relaxation than you have ever reached before!
I look forward to seeing you – Donna
Classes are held through South Bay Adult School and begin:
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
For 4 meetings – 3/24, 3/31, 4/14 and 4/21/09
From 7:00pm to 8:30pm
In the Cafeteria at Mira Costa High School
701 South Peck Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 372 – 5456
For E-Z Online Registration go to:
www.southbayadult.org
And while your at it, check out all of the other fine classes South Bay Adult School has to offer like Orly’s:
South Bay Adult School has been offering a fine assortment of reasonably priced classes to enrich the beach cities community for many many years. Whether it be English As A Second Language, Swimming, Conversational French, Belly Dancing, Wine Tasting, Classical Guitar, Tango, Photography, Parenting or Memory Enhancement (just to name a few) you can be sure that you will receive great value for your money and a fun and informative time should be had by all!
So with my fear at bay I ventured forth into the night, pen in hand and just began…
Thank you Orly for helping me begin again!
Stay tuned here in the near future for next years schedule of Orly’s Art Journaling classes – sure to be a fun and illuminating time at her “… jaunty journey journal jams!”



Over 200 works of art displayed in the unique environment of the dormant AES Power Plant.
The Power of Art will include poetry reading, creative writing workshop, figure drawing workshop, Hands on Art workshops, Sea Lab workshop, story time, film, curator talk, Theatre, music and dance. Brought to you by the Redondo Beach Art Group. All events are FREE to the public.
7 – 10pm—ARTISTS’ RECEPTION – Hosted by Spectrum Catering.
FABULOUS SILENT AUCTION
Chuito Valdes—music
Redondo Beach Art Group All Media
Exhibit “SWITCHED ON” — Curator Scott Canty
Portrait Gallery—Curator Mary Oliver
Gift Gallery—Art Crafts by RBAG artists
Dialogue Project—Mike Garibaldi Frick
Sponsored by Redondo Beach Art Group
and Crowne Plaza Hotel and Marina
“Whirlwind 2008”—Cathie Goldberg
10:30am—Dance Forever Studio
11am—Creative Writing Workshop Judith
Prager/Harry Youtt UCLA EXT. Writers
Program
11am—Freeman Valley Quintet (classical)
Noon – 1pm—Hands on Art workshop:
“Warhol Pop Art Portraits”
1:30pm—South Bay Little Angels
1:30pm—Entourage (folk)
3 – 4pm—Hands on Art Workshop:
“Abstract Monoprints”
4:30pm—Curator Talk – Scott Canty
Meet the Artists
5:30pm—“Power of Words” Poetry Reading
7 – 8pm—Fashion Show – “Tactile Textiles”
– Juried by Georgette Gantner
8pm—Redondo Union High School Salsa
Dance Team
8:45pm—Free To Be Me Drum Circle
10:00 – 11:00am—A is for Artist, B is for
Brush: A Family Storytime – Kimberly
Bishop, Librarian,
Redondo Beach Public Library
11 – Noon—“Gyotaku: The Art of Fish
Rubbing” – Kris Perez, SeaLab Public
Programs Supervisor. All Ages
Workshop
Noon—Fusion Dance Studio – Hip Hop
12:30pm—Classique (Avant Garde Jazz)
1 – 3pm—Figure Drawing with Richard
Stevens. Sponsored by Cannery Row
Studios
2pm—Join Miriam and dance NIA
3 – 4:30pm—Film Screenings.
“Alta Vista Power of Art” By Tomas
Klouda
“Dialogue Project” By Mike Garibaldi
Frick
Meet the Directors
4:30pm—LA Metro Brass Band
5:30 – 7pm—POWER OF ART DINNER
THEATRE.
7 – 8pm—Margate (contemporary rock)
* program is subject to change
See website for a complete updated schedule www.redondobeachartgroup.org
What a great time Silvia and I had at the Life Drawing Marathon yesterday held at El Camino College.
I haven’t drawn in so long it just felt really wonderful to get my hands dirty with charcoal and start sketching. With a very skilled live model who repeatedly put herself into very elegant and challenging poses, it was quite a feeling of accomplishment to reap a result with anything remotely close to what I was seeing, having had no previous live instruction with live models. I used to work with books many moons ago – Anatomy for the Artist was a favorite one from my teens, but I have since forgotten anything I may have picked up there.
In any case, I certainly look forward to next month when it will be offered on:
Sunday, July 27, 2008 from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and the last one for the summer on
Sunday, August 31 from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
The cost is $23.00 for the whole day less an hour break for lunch, and they have two rooms available.
The room we were in that we chose to stay in for the entire afternoon, had one model that broke up the time into a few warm up sessions of 5 minutes, then a few of 15 minutes and then a couple half hours, then a break and then we came back and she started the same way again. The other room had one model who sat in the same position throughout the entire day.
People used charcoal, pastels, pencils and paints and the pieces that were created were all really unique and beautiful. A nice mixture of people all at different ages and stages of experience, and some great tunes to work to. Just an inspiring day all the way around!
For more information, check out this link for the El Camino Community Education brochure, and we will look forward to seeing you there!