Wellesley Open Studio Tour!

This week my Art Group  is also holding a Studio Tour. It's the 3rd time here in Wellesley and it's growing bigger every year. On
**Saturday Evening** will be a reception at Laurel Lander's Studio on 161 Oakland Street where we show all our work gallery style. 
Grab your friends and join us from 5:30- 8pm. We'll serve wine and nibbles, too!

On **Sunday** several artists open their studios for you to visit from 12-5pm!
You'll get a chance to see where we work, hang out with us and support local artists.
I will be at Laura Fragrasso's house on 166 Oakland Street with my book and   other paintings and illustrations. And Laura will show her amazing artwork!
We'll be making art there, so bring kids and family to join in.

At 2pm we'll host a story time and signing of my book
"The Moonvies". I hope you'll join us!

->This is Laura's fabulous work. She rescues old books from the Recycling Center and gives them a new life in form of mosaics. Aren't they so cool?<-
Come check them out on Sunday!

The MOONVIES are published!

I have great news to share! After years of writing, editing, painting and illustrating my book is finally done and available to be purchased at Amazon.

As happy as I am about publishing my book,  the release of it couldn't be more poignant and sad.   The book is inspired by my friend Joe Wheelwright, a master sculptor from Boston, who told me his childhood memory. It was him, who thought that his parents went out to the moonvies, when in fact they went to the movies. The first time, he told me about it I knew I had to write and illustrate this story. Over the last years, I worked on many version, but they never felt they represented what I wanted to show.

This summer though I hid myself in my studio and used every minute while my boys were in day camp and I worked on the book. Amd I did, I finished the book. Then I learned all the stuff I never thought I needed to learn about the self publishing world...  Who knew you needed a LCCN? And what even is that? 

Last week I received the proof of the book and couldn't have been happier. Until I opened my Inbox. Joe's daughter had sent me an email about about his passing. I honestly did not see that coming and it is hard to describe the heartbreak. I had been so excited about finishing the book and I really wanted to show him this last version. Somehow it feels like our conversation has been left unnfinished and I have not been able to deliver my part of the "deal". In other words, I feel like I have failed him.  And that feeling is not easy to shake. And it is on top of the sadness of having lost a family friend.

I still cannot wrap my head about the timing but I am slowly able to change the narrative in my head, thanks to long walk, talks with good friends and lots and lots of yoga. Instead of beating myself up, I am thankful to have gotten to know Joe over the years, that I have finished the book and therefore have created a tribute to Joe's life and work.

"sleeping moon" in peabody square, boston

Would I be much rather driving over to his studio and show him the finished thing? There is no question about it! My whole family is feeling the loss. 

I do hope that the book will bring some joy to your family, that you learn about the amazing sculptor Joe Wheelwright and how he has changed the Boston art scene. I also hope that you go out and watch your own moonvies with your friends, kids or maybe by yourself.

My book will also tag along an exhibt at the Peabody Essex Museum called "Lunar Attractions". The big opening of the show is October 15th from 11am-3:30pm with many activities for young and old. I hope to see you there. Please stop by and say hi!

Click here for your own copy of the MOONVIES!