Winter Sun & Spirit

New Year, New Homes

A few days ago, I returned from an unexpected trip to London, new home hunting. I had sixteen viewing appointments in twelve days. Yes, I pounded that real estate pavement! I went to fifteen. I cancelled one. Half of them were adequate, more than a quarter were total dumps, only two were exceptional. One of the exceptional ones was not only within our budget, but so exceptional, my partner and I didn't care that it only met two of our four criteria: near the Elizabeth Line, in a particular borough, three bedrooms, fully furnished. I didn't even mind that the bathroom didn't have any counters around the sink (or really in the bathroom at all), which had been one of my main complaints to him when I was looking through the listings.

The mission was a total success! Just look at the beautiful stained glass windows in our new front entryway!

Booking the viewings and visiting all those properties was a lot of tedious, tiring, patience-testing work. And as much as I would like to say that my result came from all of that, it wouldn't be accurate to say so. Luck, magic, the universe aligning, whatever you want to call it.... it and timing played huge roles in me getting us our beautiful new home. I almost didn't even go and look at it, because it didn't meet all of our criteria, but this one agent, of the five I was working with, insisted that I must see it. I sure am glad I listened to her and went. It was one of the places that you go to and just know that it is for you.

It spoke to me.

Just as this home did when a request from its owner came to me about having Inner Peace go live there with her.

It was such a pleasure to deliver it personally into her hands, and to hear afterwards she had been moving it around her space, seeing how it felt to her in different spots. I'm smiling now just thinking about where it might be right now in her home.

I must admit that this was a very hard one for me to let out of my possession. I don't think of my work as my babies or even children. My art is an extension of my soul manifested into pysical reality and I very much want the pieces of it to be in loving caring hands, homes and hearts.

This home and heart spoke to me.

They clicked into place like a piece to a puzzle. They clicked together so well, at one point. I couldn't take my eyes off this view because I was so enthralled with it. Finally, I took this photo to preserve the memory and break the spell it was holding me under.

But, the funny thing about magic spells is that sometimes they don't just disappear, fade, or break. They transfer, change targets, and evolve.

The day after I returned from London, I packed up my tools, fittings, the art, and took the metro north to the very last stop on a metro line. The day to deliver and hang one of my wall sculptures from the September open studio exhibition in its new home had finally arrived, and both she and I were excited for it. And how did I know that Planet Earth No. 5 was for her and she was under its spell?

There are two images of the owner of the home that are sitting side-by-side in my mind. One is the day of the open studio and her standing in front of it as if nothing else in the world existed or mattered. The second is after I hung it on her wall. We sat down, and the way her eyes were drawn back to it again and again, gazing upon it ... like I did those days I was held in thrall of the Matterhorn while hiking in the Swiss Alps.

You can see it in her smile.

A smile that radiated and glowed as brightly as those gilded pieces did that day from the sunlight streaming in through the large window opposite. A smile that never left her face while she attentively assisted me with the installation and hanging...

Just like that day a few weeks ago when I attentively assisted the owners of the home in which Planet Earth No. 1 now lives, in finding the exact right spot for it to hang in their entryway to reflect the Winter sun and spirit.

As these days continue to grow longer with the light returning to us a little more each day, my heart soars at the thought of enjoying it's warmth and the new life that it ushers in during the Spring, in my new home.

We redecorated her living room. The painting over the sofa used to be where Planet Earth No. 5 now hangs, so we could take advantage of it now being on the wall directly opposite of all the natural light coming through the window.

Double Feature

In case some of you missed it, or are confused as to how and why I am moving to London, I will state that it all happened very suddenly and unexpectedly, and there have been several stages to it happening. And there are still more stages yet to come.

The reason for the move is that my love heart was offered a job that was/is an incredible opportunity and sports organization to be working with. Although, both he and I love Madrid, the job is based in London and so we must go from the bright, hot and sunny to a different sort of climate. I was amenable to the move because I had always known that moving elsewhere was a possibility due to the kind of work that he does. Some have asked me if I will miss it here. Yes! Of course! But, I have also had a really good run here, living my life to its fullest, and for a number of years. What, or rather I should say who I will miss, are my friends. I haven't made a big formal announcement about it yet, but I sent out the following flyer to a few people and a few wrote back shocked.

I was pretty shocked when it was confirmed that my partner would begin working the beginning of December, nearly seven weeks ago, and that meant he would be essentially moving out and over without me.

I always imagined that there would be time for us to pack and relocate and do all the things, together. I guess maybe next time? Aside from the days we took for Christmas holidays to be with family and friends, it has been hectic, it has been mad, it has been a lot of juggling multiple balls. Not unmanageable, but definitely very very busy. And I'm feeling very driven to get over and get working on some projects there that I can't really dig into while I exist in limbo here for a few more weeks.

That drive has me working on a new project that will exist online and I'm already so in the zone on it, I find it hard to tear myself away from working on it. I am actually forcing myself to do nothing with it at all today, not only to write this diary entry but also to temper and let some things from yesterday just sit and percolate. The new project is a tribute project in memoriam of a fellow Korean Adoptee and it had me in tears last night, feeling all the feelings. More on that to come.

That drive has served me well in getting much done for this relocation. The last few stages involve submitting my visa application, waiting thirty days (hopefully less than that, not more), and then packing up all my art and my studio into the van and me driving it over. Yes, I could hire someone to pack and transport, but I'm really saving lives by just doing it myself. If I break my art, so be it. If someone else does... it's just better this way.

Aside from the new KAD tribute project, a friend and I have decided to screen a few films over the next six weeks that were made by a fellow human being who ilike me is also connected to the moon. Tomorrow, we will start with Lost Highway, then Mulholland Drive. If you are in Madrid and would like to come join us in paying tribute, message me here while you think about what yummy movie snacks you are going to bring to share with me.

Salt & Vinegar chips and sour candy, mmmmm!

Save the Date!

On February 22nd, I will have a pop-up exhibition/Saturday chill-out/farewell leaving house party, and you are invited!

I'll have more details soon, but in the meanwhile, if you already know you want to come, please RSVP here.

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A friend has been telling me for ages to write a book, a memoir, of all my wild past-life experiences. Maybe I'll write a book about my life when I'm older, maybe around 80 (if I am blessed to live that long). I've decided to keep this diary instead.

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