How The End always is:

The end is near to another semester, a final count down ... My best to all your finals ...

... and hoping to see you back in the Fall again!
Unless you're a die-hard like me and come back for summer sessions.

join me on youtube anytime:

http://www.youtube.com/user/matsu1977?feature=mhum

Updates

In January, Mori was born healthy and already putting his parents to the test. When the time came for his arrival, the plan to have a home-birth came into full-bloom suddenly. However, the arrival of the midwife was delayed while she was caught in traffic on her way from Tulsa to Norman. The father, Michael, had to follow through with the delivery himself, while Cassie put her trust in her husband to bring them safely through! Moriah was definitely a joyful beginning, putting his life in his father's hands while teaching his first lesson on who's the boss, at least for a little while, Go Mori! Father, Mother and son were all doing fine afterward with an experience to remember that few have shared.

Last week I got a call from my friend John that I got back in touch with recently. He was at the hospital after having some tests done for his liver and treatment. He said that his doctor told him he would not be getting on the list for a liver transplant. I asked him why not, I was worried that maybe he wouldn't be eligible if it was necessary. John said, "It's because I am doing so well my doctor said I won't be needing one!" The doctor told him that his liver has improved and is in the process of healing itself since the stints were put in place during his last surgery. What great news to share!

The concert we were going to attend with his roommate's band last month however fell through. They decided to check out the place before committing to play and the venue turned out to be a redneck bar that would have been more likely to develop into a scene for fights and harassment, so not really worth it.

This weekend will be a different venue, so we are looking forward to trying again. Next month, Leonard, his roommate who plays the drums, will also be playing at the the Hawq Lakes Bike Rally and will be playing drums on stage with Otis Redding and Black Oak Arkansas. Wow, I can't believe that band is still around! If I'm up to it, I may go for the last day of the event to hear them play, we'd get to go in along with the roadies so it will be hassle-free.




As for my daughter, she is getting ready to take yet another bus trip, this time to Lawrence, KS to visit her father. I should be relieved that at least she will be visiting her dad and her uncle, right?

Interpol - Cain's Ballroom 4/20, Tulsa

Interpol

Being in Tulsa on Wednesday for doctor appointments has been an opportunity to take in some culture when possible. This week was exceptional, with a show including Interpol that opened with The School of Seven Bells. If you haven't heard TSSB before, they have a sound similar to the Cocteau Twins. Interpol was amazing to see live! The lead vocalist/guitarist, Paul Banks always makes me think of Ian Curtis/Joy Division. Although I sat/stood on the bench on the side of the ballroom, it was close enough to enjoy the show close up and relax at the same time. Don't let my doctor know I took in a show, the smoke was from the fog machines...

The only excitement aside from the show was the fact that when I got back to my car, my banana had liquefied in its plastic bag! I have no idea what would cause a banana to do that! It wasn't even hot outside. Pretty scary, what if that had been my brain?

Indian Trading Post

Saturday, after seeing my daughter off to work, I decided to take a drive west on Route 66. I went as far as Geary, OK, which is only around 40 miles west of OKC, but it was evening and I wanted to see the sunset from closer up. I noticed I was in Seminole/Cherokee territory. I took I-40 back to OKC, which has a couple of Indian Trading Posts at each of its highway exits so I decided to get out and take a look around before returning to the city. My happy hunting grounds turned out to be an antique store/art gallery/trading post with lots of interesting items and artifacts.

The first trading post had a KOA camp with bronze painted buffalo outside. Inside, I spoke to one of the shopkeepers and he said the trading post had been there since the 1950's. It had first started at the owner's home, where they would hang hand-woven rugs on their clothesline and set hand woven baskets and arts and crafts out in their yard since their home was on Route 66. Once they began building their business and the interstate was built, they decided to open their store where it is now, not far from their beginning. The owner and his wife have died, but their daughter still operates the store. The store still carries buffalo and cow hides, hand woven rugs and baskets, and hand beaded moccasins of all sizes, as well as some handmade jewelry, pottery, and kachina dolls.

Up the street from the first trading post, I found the second one (photos above). The shopkeeper was laughing that the man who had just bought a large piece of furniture didn't believe she could help him load it on his truck. She showed him she had no problem with the chore. Time was running out, since the sun was about to set, so I didn't get to explore for long.

One artifact was the Native American statue, which I remember seeing when I was a kid traveling with my parents. He was also saluting the sunset and much closer to the sun than me, being three stories high. I found a large gourd that was perfect to use with a wreath of fall leaves I made.

The weather was perfect, not as windy as it has been. The trip was a nice get-away with many wildflowers and wildlife to see on the way, as well as a view of Fort Reno with its history on the prarie. I hope to take a trip to the Alabaster Caverns and to "No Man's Land" in the panhandle sometime before summer gets here, although I hope to keep going west into New Mexico and visit the Santa Fe area.

Dumpster Diving is an Art

While driving in Edmond I happened to pass a business on one of the side streets downtown. Outside the business, between streets, a dumpster was near the road and a large framed art print was leaning against the dumpster. Someone had put it out as trash, but maybe had a second thought before throwing it into the dumpster. My daughter said, "Stop, there's an American Indian painting!" So we stopped and she got out and brought it to the car. It appeared to have been in storage and was covered with dust and dirt, but not harmed at all. The colors and detail are much more beautiful than the photo can represent (above).

Once we brought the picture home, I was amazed that when the metal frame and glass were easily cleaned it revealed a lithograph of a limited edition poster, #42, signed by a Southwestern artist, Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr. I did some research on the picture and the artist and discovered that it was made in 1987 (which would explain the dust and cobwebs), and that the black pottery and black night sky had a special significance.

The painting, titled San Ildefonso, also happens to be a location near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The town is famous for its development of black-on-black pottery which was first started in San Ildefonso by Maria Martinez and her husband. Together they collected clay from the Black Mesa which is not far from the town and began to work the clay in black-on-black Pueblo designs.

The town of San Ildefonso was an agriculturally based economy until the late 20th century when Maria Martinez and her husband Julian rediscovered how to make the black-on-black pottery such as is seen in the artwork of the ancient Greeks. Since the development of the Martinez's pottery, the Pueblo area has become more of a tourist area with tourist shops and fine works of art.

The artist, Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr., works from inspiration by places such as San Ildefonso as a tribute to the Native Americans and their environment, from which he is also a descendant. I was so happy to be able to reclaim this treasure and give it a place of honor in our home.

An example of the pottery in the lithograph:

The Black Mesa:



Amado Maurilio Peña, Jr.

Magic Carpets and Singing Bowls

This is it, the "magic carpet" I saw in Tulsa in February. I was back in Tulsa on Thursday for an appointment with my doctor. Afterward, I stopped again at the Persian Rug shop on Cherry Street. I stopped to park at a meter without realizing that I happened to park right in front of their shop. Inside the shop, the carpet was still in its place and still out of reach - hanging high above a doorway, as well as high in price - but the shop owner welcomed us back and let me take a picture. It's gorgeous, exceptional, authentic and full of mystique.

Stumbling into unexpected out of the way places is one of my favorite things, especially when it happens more than once! The owner said he'd make me a great deal on the carpet, so I may have to take it home with me one day. But for now, I am happy with the mystery.

Next, we made our way to Peace of Mind bookstore where I found a 1929 Edition of the Archko Volume for less than $10, which I did bring home. Downstairs in the shop below the bookstore we found Tibetan singing bowls. We tried some of them out in the store and they sound incredible. The bowls are used to raise a vibration sound that resonates throughout the room. The acoustics in the old building with high ceilings made it even better. My daughter found an antique singing bowl and bought it so we can use it at home. I'm still working on getting the sound without the vibes getting too strong which makes the wooden striker bounce off the side. Takes practice.



They also have the singing bowls that can charge water like the one shown here:



The Carpet Market:

Haitian Oil Drum Art

Recently, while at Full-Circle Book Store in OKC, I ventured to see what life might be left in 50 Penn Place. The fountain had been shut off for the day, or maybe longer with so many of the stores closing and property leased to technical schools. The escalators were still running so I went upstairs to find Route 66, an upscale clothing store with eclectic art, to see how they were surviving.

Luckily, they were still open. After talking with the owner, I noticed a wall hanging 48" in diameter of "The Tree of Life" which was made in Haiti from a recycled steel oil drum (photo above). It was a beautiful demonstration of artwork, resourcefulness and determination of the human spirit to survive in Haiti. I personally enjoy working with metal, listening to metal and also looking at metal. It is inspiring to see a work of art recycled from environmental waste and reclaimed. They (the people and their art) are truly amazing.

Checkin out...

The morning I was checking out of the hospital after my surgery in February, my daughter was taking a picture out of the window of my room. I asked her what she was looking at and she said "the labyrinth, didn't you see it?" I didn't walk close enough to the window before that to see the view below where I stayed. I was glad I didn't miss it, one of my favorite themes! As we were leaving, I said I felt good enough to walk out on my own, without the use of a wheel chair, so the nurse insisted on accompanying me. I said that was good, because it is not easy to find my way out of a hospital, much like walking through a maze. A maze is different than a labyrinth, designed with a different purpose in mind.

At Full-Circle Book Store, I also came across a book on the subject of labyrinths written by three local authors. "Oklahoma Labyrinths - a path to inner peace," by Gail Peck, Linda Yeingst and Phyllis Pennington covers information about labyrinths in Oklahoma, some of the history behind labyrinths and the spiritual and cultural aspects of a labyrinth. It even includes a photo of the labyrinth I saw from my window. Looks very interesting!

(Picture my daughter took of the view of the Labyrinth from my room)