January 18
A beautiful sunny Saturday.—the day my daughter caught the Bainbridge Ferry back to Seattle Airport. We stopped at Pegasus Coffee House for my last London Fog and her cappuccino together. It was a bustling place, full of good vibes, visitors just off the ferry and neighbors gathering for cheer. . Bainbridge is a boujee town with its close proximity to Seattle city life.( We drove through the neighborhood, checked out Zillow on a 800 square foot house —1.2M.) As we left the building, I noticed a plaque next to the front door — documenting the removal of Japanese American families from Bainbridge Island during WWII and their subsequent incarceration in concentration camps, the unconstitutional suspension of their civil rights. The building held memories.
Learning this history, I was reminded that an area at Fort Worden is named Chinese Gardens. ( had taken the picture below earlier in the week.) The first Chinese immigrants arrived at Port Townsend in 1870 and many of the immigrants raised vegetables on this land to sell to Port Townsend residents. These gardens also became the main portal for Chinese clandestinely entering the US. (after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882). With the looming discriminatory actions planned in our county, it’s important to remember our history.
Chinese Gardens, Fort Worden.
sketch of large rocks on North Beach - a quiet image to move me back to studio work
I spent the rest of Saturday - through the evening - playing with blocks of wood and color. If there was any kind of “breakthrough,” I moved to creating my first little tabletop piece., a mix of found wood and my painted kindling., standing 2 inches tall. It’s a quirky thing— made up architecture for modern living. And then I kept on going, building more little structures with found wood from the beach, a florist frog and painted kindling.. Ok, call me crazy but I do have fun. The play of odd shapes— teetering —with a flash of color. Sorta how I am feeling right now about the world. We will see what tomorrow brings.
January 19
Down the hill from my cabin stands this splendid Modrona tree. They are known for their bark and their sun searching branches. In many local cultures, such as the Coast Salish tribes, the tree symbolizes resilience and adaptability. It embodies the strength needed to thrive in challenging environments. This particular Sunday morning, it is magical.
Today is my sixth day here at Centrum. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when I became “here not there.” Maybe looking for quarters to wash your clothes or stirring honey in your tea –all of a sudden—you are not a visitor. You start feeling the “history” in the land around you. You start feeling a part of it.
And those sketches start searching to be paintings, like branches searching for the sun.
I have worked on a few paintings (below), trying to push them a little further. I can honestly say, both of these have taken on a life of their own..I don’t recognize them and I am happy about that. I know I am learning something new from the landscape whether these end up “resolved” or not.
. And, look what I found at Safeway. (below) A pure bundle of kindling! (no soaked chemicals) I bought one just to have it in my studio to keep me company. I am also happy to report that I found a great Eddie Bauer flannel shirt at Goodwill (7 bucks!) which will become my new work shirt under my painting apron. And I splurged on this UK used work shirt Ainslie saw hanging in a store window. (more than 7 bucks!)
