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Marcie Hart has sent me the Byrum Spiritual Art Award. This award means: “You make a difference…… I know, because you have for me! Thank you for being such a creative and wonderful person.”
I really feel honored. Now I may send the award to six other people. Hard to choose. There are a lot of artists I admire and am fond of but I decided to honor and thank all the students I have met in the “Meet the Dutch Touch” class and my other classes. I would like to thank them because they are so patient, grateful and enthusiastic. It is always a joy to teach them and to be with them. And also I would like to honor all our “Meet the Dutch Touch” hosts. I have met so many wonderful people, so sweet and hospitable. I love you all.
To honor all students and hosts I would like to pass the Byrum Spiritual Art Award to:
Janet Bodin, who introduced us to Houston
Jane Darin, who was our very first US host
Barbi Kantor-Goldenberg, who is an absolute darling
Rosie Rojas, who is my favorite student
Marlene Slobin, who is the sweetest and a wonderful organizer
Lynne and Gene Olson, who turned Seattle into heaven for us
Thank you very very much for your friendship.
You all make a difference…. I know, because you have for me!
Marlaine
Yesterday I finally called my old friends Jane and Joe Darin, who live in San Diego, to hear how they are doing these days. Jane Darin makes cloth dolls and is a sculptor. They hosted the very first “Meet the Dutch Touch” class in the US for Ankie Daanen and me many years ago. And not only that, but right before this class they took us on an unforgettable road trip from Albuquerque to San Diego visiting a.o. the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. So calling them brought back so many good memories. Sometimes having a real conversation on the phone works better than email contact.
One of the running gags during this road trip was that Ankie and I, never been in a desert before, wanted to see a “real” cactus. The one with the arms. Years later we finally saw them in Tucson, Arizona and that is where this picture is taken. It is amazing where the dolls can bring you and how many “middles of nowhere” there are in the US.
Cleaning up the attic I found an old wooden cigar box. In my mother’s handwriting it said on the lid: “Marlaine 10 years old”. Inside was a collection of small objects sculpted with colorful childrens’ clay: an elephant that lost his head,a snake, a Mother Mary, a castle, a turtle laying on his back, a mother pig feeding her children…. All glued together during the time.
So this is how I started.
Yesterday December 22nd we had the most beautiful day of the year over here in Holland. During the night the fog was frozen on the leafless trees and had changed into a white “lace”. The sun was shining and the white trees against the blue sky looked as a wonderful Christmas card. I was “on the road” without a camera so I can’t show pictures. It seems our Christmas will not be white because the temperature is rising. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Marlaine
