An Itch to Go

My husband retired 45 days ago. God help me!

Actually, Doc’s doing much better in retirement then I feared. He’s kept himself busy and is much less stressed than he was pre-retirement. He’s joined a gym/spa and has been going three days a week for water aerobics. After working out, he “takes the waters.” I had no idea what that meant. I assumed it had something to do with a high colonic. Apparently, not.

Pre-retirement, Doc kept talking about travel. He has visions of spending three months in Italy in a Tuscan villa, or renting a beach house in Ventura for the summer. He’s talked about a six month around the world tour. That’s this year. I have no idea what he wants to do next year.

Last time he talked about getting out of Palm Springs for the summer, I told him that was fine with me. “Really?” he asked. “You’d go away for a couple of months in the summer with me?” “Who said anything about ME going!” said I, “I love the summers in Palm Springs but I’ll come visit a couple of times where ever you go for the summer.” That won’t happen…. Doc won’t travel alone.

We’ve already scheduled trips for this year. We’re spending a week in Ft Lauderdale in March, two weeks in Northern California in April, then a month in Europe for July. I’m going to Black Rock City for 10 days in August/September and then we fly off to Cape Cod for a week in Mid September. That’s nine weeks of vacation already planned for 2011; tickets purchased, accommodations booked.

I put my foot down; said I’m not going on any more trips in 2011, I want to spend some time at home in the heat. If we’re going to travel, make it in the winter. And tropical: Tahiti, Australia, Costa Rica. You know, someplace WARM! I can even take the rain if it’s stinking hot outside. It’s nice sitting on the lanai in a sarong or a Mai Tai, watching the rain come down.

For the past several days, Doc has been on his computer & on the phone. Nothing unusual there. He’s a phonaholic, he’s always on the phone: but the phone AND the computer? Not so much. I knew he was up to something with those travel sites and airline schedules flashing across the screen.

If Doc hadn’t gone to Med School, he would have been a travel agent. Thankfully, he chose well. Perhaps he was tweaking one of our 373 flights booked for 2011? Or assisting another friend with travel plans? I know better than to ask. Besides, I’m maxed out with travel in 2011.

Doc came in into my studio excited & anxious to talk. He found a great deal on a week’s trip to Puerto Vallarta in early March he’s interested in. WHAT??? Then he asked did I mind if he & a buddy went without me? I think Doc is finally beginning to figure out he can vacation without me and, perhaps, still have a good time? Retirement IS good, no?

GO! Have a great time! I’ll be perfectly happy working in my studio.

I ‘m offering a couple of special deals on my artwork. I have pricing for most budgets – check them out here: http://dld.bz/KxWf. Contact me if you see something you like and please visit the rest of my website while you are there. Take a look at my artwork. And, while you’re checking things out at http://dld.bz/KxWf, sign up for my Newsletter. Add some spice to your reading life….

Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me on my studio phone 760-992-3157. You can call me. I won’t mind!

Thank you for listening,

Jerry L. Hanson

Return of the Prodigal

In October (or was it November?) of 2009, I decided I wanted to try my hand at making a mosaic. At the urging of @TheDeeView, I joined an Open Studio in the home/studio of mosaic artist extraordinaire, Jennifer Johnson. Her mosaic art adorns many public spaces in the Coachella Valley. She’s also an incredible teacher.

I spent 9 months in her Open Studio working on a mosaic. Although I liked my project, I was not enamored with the process and nearly abandoned it on several occasions. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of Jennifer and the other artists who attend Open Studio. It was their encouragement that enabled me to continue through to completion with that mosaic.

I completed the mosaic and am very happy with the results. It now hangs in my living room. I am not interested in making another mosaic. I like the medium. It is not for me.

I attended another one or two session but have no desire to make another mosaic. I have my own studio, after all. Jennifer suspended Open Studio when she and her husband took off for Mexico and Europe for an extended vacation. When Jennifer resumed Open Studio, I did not return.

A while back, I was talking with my niece in Indiana. She had been planning to travel to Black Rock City this year until her life changed to keep her in Indiana. She was telling me she wanted to make medallions for gifting. We discussed the various ways she could make them and from what materials. Chelsea gave me the idea of making ceramic dog tags.

Warning: By year’s end, you are going to be sick & tired of me talking about those self-organizing artistic groups in the desert.

I missed Open Studio. I missed the camaraderie, art talk and artistic stimulation. And I had nothing to work on at the studio that interested me: no projects I couldn’t do in my own studio. Until now. This past Friday, I returned to Jennifer’s Open Studio. I have my project: making high fire ceramic Burning Man dog tags.

I love being back in the midst of creative people; love hearing about what they’re working on; love hearing about their next project; love to hear their comments about their own work and mine. I took it all in as I worked my clay making my dog tags. The time passed quickly and I’m looking forward to next Friday’s Open Studio.

I love knowing I’m no the only artist who is totally fed up with a project (my mosaic). I overhead this: “ I’m slopping down glue and slapping this shit on any which way. I’m so tired of this thing!” I laughed ‘tillI thought I’d pee! I know her finished project will turn out to be a masterpiece because that’s the type of artist she is. Oh, the irreverence!

I walked into Open Studio on Friday. Jennifer saw me and said, “Welcome home!” And, I was.

OK! I’m obsessing about Burning Man! Please take time to visit my website at www.JerryLHanson.com. Take a look at my artwork. Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me in my studio: 760-992-3157. You can call me, I won’t mind!

And thanks for listening!

Jerry L. Hanson

Burning Man

I never heard of Burning Man until I met Joe & Bill. For three years I’ve been talking to them about Burning Man. They tell me mostly about the art. I am an artist, after all.

Joe is a quiet man. Like me, Joe is an introvert and reserved. I’ve always liked Joe: looking into his eyes, you know there’s a lot there to discover. I hope that’s what others see in MY eyes. I don’t know….

However, talking about Burning Man, he comes alive. “Jerry, you need to go to Burning Man. You’re an artist. You will love it.” “Tell me why as an artist I’d love it,” I say. We talked for hours about Burning Man and the art. And I fell in love with the concept.

I met up with Joe & Bill at another party. “So, did you go to Burning Man?” I asked. Joe entertained me the entire evening with stories of Burning Man. Again, Joe said, “You are an artist. You need to go. You will love it!” The “You NEED to go” captures my attention. I was not able to pull it together to go last year.

I Googled “Burning Man” and found a number of vids: all of it rather confusing yet intriguing. There is something off center about the whole thing. That alone, pulls me in. I think I’m a bit off center, too.

Joe & Bill are “burners” & have been to Burning Man for the past four years. I’ve met other burners who love it. I’ve not met a burner who did not like it. Each person I talked with had a totally different slant on what Burning Man is about. It is clear that Burning Man is not for everyone. My husband would hate it: no room service or CNN.

This year, I’m going. I said this last year but chickened out. No excuse this year. I visited Joe & Bill with specific questions based on what I’d been reading & hearing for the past three years. I wanted to know the basics of personal survival…. How do I heat water for tea? How do you shower? What are the camp arrangements? What, exactly, do I need to take to Burning Man to survive?

God Bless Bill… he’s as OCD as my husband. He e-mailed a spreadsheet listing vital information to take. His list even records the number of spoons required for the week! I feel confident, now, that I can go with everything I need for the week, including those spoons.

Last week, I purchased a used Huffy Beach Cruiser single gear bicycle and an oversized Zero-rated sleeping bag (both on the spreadsheet). There is a whole lot more I need to collect but I have months to do that.

Tuesday, I was having lunch with my husband & one of his colleagues. I mentioned that I was number 27,989 in the queue for Burning Man tickets. Oskar looked at me, paused, and said, “Why do you need to go to Burning Man? You can run around naked here!”

OK! Now, I see there’s a whole other side of Burning Man I need to explore! But I am in queue for a ticket!

While I’m obsessing about Burning Man, please take time to visit my website at www.JerryLHanson.com. Take a look at my artwork. Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me on my studio phone 760-992-3157. You can call me

And thanks for listening!

Jerry L. Hanson

Cobalt Dreams

Cobalt Dreams

Several weeks ago, I received an invitation from DeAnna, Member Relations Manager of the Citrus Club, La Quinta Resort & Club, to participate in their annual Food, Art & Wine event.

As an artist, I was both surprised and honored to receive the invite. DeAnna had not seen my work and extended the invitation solely on the recommendation of Will Schinsky.

If you read my blogs, you may remember that Will is the Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Arts Alliance and he wrote a blog for me several months ago

I was one of eight artists invited. The event was Saturday evening and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I arrived to the Citrus Club with ample time to set up for the event. I wanted to be sure I wasn’t rushed. I wanted it to be a relaxing, enjoyable evening for myself as well. I was definitely not rushed. I’d brought my woven newspaper fabric and assemblages.

I visited a bit with DeAnna. As she looked through my photo album of artwork, she insisted I return home to pick up the paintings as well! So off I went. It’s an hour round-trip drive, La Quinta to Palm Springs. NOW, I’m rushed.

I packaged and packed up my truck with 15 canvases and headed back to the Citrus Club & arrived shortly before the start of the evening. I unpacked & re-arranged the display in record time. I spread out my artwork and incorporated a grand piano for display duties.

Thankfully, I brought a change of clothes. A fresh DRY shirt has such a calming effect. And I remembered Dee Dee’s advice from the prior month: “Breathe!”

I spent the evening visiting with the attendees discussing my artwork and process. They were an interesting, engaged and fun group of club members! I have to say, they have excellent taste in art! OK. I’m biased: I sold several of my pieces. "Cobalt Dreams" was purchased this night.

For this introverted Artist to be alone among a group of total strangers, putting my art out there is terrifying! AND I totally enjoyed myself. I had a great time interacting with the club members. I enjoyed meeting my fellow artists. I enjoyed my interactions with the staff of the Citrus Club. They were all wonderful! What a great evening!

Please take time to visit my website at www.JerryLHanson.com. Take a look at my artwork. Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me on my studio phone 760-992-3157. You can call me. I won’t mind!

Thank you for listening,

Jerry L. Hanson

Long Arm of the Law

Ok, I confess. I got a traffic ticket: in November, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

My husband & I were driving back to Palm Springs after going to theatre at the Mark Taper and after our book club meeting. One was a matinee and the other a dinner. It was a wonderful day. I rained. At 9:30 PM, we said our good byes and headed back for Palm Springs. The night wasn’t so nice.

It was raining cats and dogs. I drove. My husband is snoring softly as I’m driving East on the I-10 through Alhambra. I’m in the car pool lane because I can be. Traffic is moving just as easily in the other lanes. But I was in the car pool lane. The rain is coming down. No one is doing more than 60. Yeah, right.

This is LA. Everyone speeds! I’m doing 60 in the car pool lane. Cars are passing me in the “other” lanes. In the car pool lane ahead of me is a HUGE tour bus. He’s tooling along at 45 mph… Why is HE in the car pool lane? Probably because he can be: weird logic.

I check the lane to my right. Empty. Without thinking,I pull out of my lane to get out from behind that slow bus. Cool. I’m back up to speed with the rest of traffic.

I see the flashing red lights behind me. Who’s the California Highway Patrol car after? Damn! Me! He’s up my butt on his LOUD speaker telling me to pull over!

“What did I do?” is going through my mind. My husband is yelling at me, “Didn’t you see that yellow line? What were you thinking? Our insurance premiums are going to go up!”

I calmly reply – at the top of my lungs, “You got a speeding ticket a month ago and I didn’t say a word! Shut the I calmly reply – at the top of my lungs, “You got a speeding ticket a month ago and I didn’t say a word! Shut the $&#! up!”amp;#! up!” It was NOT pretty. Red lights flashing, CHP yelling from behind; my husband yelling to my right. I’m just trying to get off the I-10 in the pouring rain without getting us killed. What a fun evening!

Officer CHP is nice. He asked if I was lost. Lost? Me? I wasn’t until I pulled off the freeway. I had no idea where I was. What did that have to do with anything?

“Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?” “I’m sure you’ll tell me,” I snark back. I’m crossing out of a car pool lane where’s there’s no traffic, in the pouring rain. I’m lucky to see that there were lane dividers. OK. I was in the wrong. You don’t argue with a big guy who has a firearm strapped to his waist with a beefy hand resting on said gun. Write the damned ticket & let me be on my way.

It took 30 minutes for him to check my driver license and write up the citation. As he explained the convoluted laws of the State of California, I could only think, “finish up so I can roll up this window! I’m getting soaked!”

He finished with, “Do you have any questions?” “Yeah” I said, “How do I get back on the freeway? I’m lost.”

Six weeks later, I still cannot find a record of my citation in the State of California computerized traffic ticket system. I stopped in at the Alhambra Courthouse last week. THEY don’t have it in their system either! I asked the clerk, “Does that mean I won the CHP lottery?” He grinned at me. “Not if they record the citation before your court date.”

Now I’m hoping to go to court on the appointed date and find there’s no still record of that ticket. What are my chances?

Please take time to visit my website at www.JerryLHanson.com. Take a look at my artwork. Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me on my studio phone 760-992-3157. You can call me. I won’t mind; I’m hanging out at the gallery with nothing to do. That’s totally untrue. I’m working in the studio.

Thank you for listening,

Jerry L. Hanson

I Ain't No Scholar

Beth Chayim Chadashim Window (one of twelve)

I am a Jew. I’m not a particularly observant Jew but I do think of myself as spiritual – what ever that means. I’ve been a member of Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) for 30 years serving on the temple board in one compactly or another over the years.

I am not a scholar. I am an artist. I am lost in Torah Study & marvel at my Rabbi’s ability to teach Torah. I am in awe of Rabbi Edward’s sermons and her ability to make me laugh and reduce me to tears. She is an artist of words. She does have a PhD in Literature and has published several books. That helps.

1997 was BCC’s 25^th anniversary. Big celebrations were planned with scholarly endeavors involving other Synagogues within the Los Angeles area. Rabbinic scholars from across the country came to participate.

I was humbled by the intellect our small synagogue gathered in honor of our 25^th year. Many of our congregants contributed to the various panels and discussions. What could I do? Not much.

Our synagogue is a former storefront. Along the length of the sanctuary are two 16-foot wide windows: blank, clear glass windows with mini blinds: nondescript and very ugly.

I told Rabbi Edwards that I would build stained glass windows for those windows if the congregation raised the funds for supplies. The 25^th anniversary of our building was three years away and this would be a nice tie-in and a continuation of our 25^th anniversary celebration.

She took me up on my offer.

Without going into great detail, we formed a committee to design the window. Design by committee is a particularly dangerous undertaking for Jews. In our case, it worked. For seven years, four of us volunteered our time. We built 12 windows for our storefront synagogue.

We used the scrap glass to make mezuzahs (you know, those thingies hanging crooked on the door jam of Jewish homes). We made & sold enough mezuzahs to pay for stained glass supplies and to cover rent for studio space. The initial donations raised for the windows then went towards education.

To this day, whenever I attend services, I am approached by congregants and thanked for having built our windows. They don’t understand. The honor was for me to have built them: to give back to my community a fraction of the love and support I receive from them.

Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC) purchased a new building this past year. I participated in the design process to incorporate the stained glass windows into the new sanctuary. I have been asked to design and build new doors for the Arc. I look forward to working again with my fellow stained glass artists. It just keeps getting better and better.

I touch people thorough my art if not through scholarship. I support our scholars; I’m just not one of them.

Please take time to visit my website at www.JerryLHanson.com. Take a look at my artwork. Contact me if you want to buy one of my pieces or if you have any questions about a specific piece. My contact information is on my website or you can leave a comment on this blog site for me to contact you (include your contact info!). You can e-mail me at JeryL@JerryLHanson.com or you can telephone me on my studio phone 760-992-3157. You can call me. I won’t mind; I’m hanging out at the gallery with nothing to do. That’s totally untrue. I’m working in the studio.

Thank you for listening,

Jerry L. Hanson

Burgled

New Year’s Eve. A time for revelry. A time for parties. Laughter, fun, merriment.

This New Year’s Eve, I went to a party and actually stayed up until midnight, toasting 2011 with 60 friends and a glass of champagne. I arrived home shortly after the New Year and decided to check e-mail before crawling into bed.

At 12:50 am, my iPhone pinged letting me know I had a text message. It was from Steven, my painting buddy. I had texted him earlier to wish him a Happy New Year.

New Year’s Eve. A time for revelry. A time for parties. Laughter, fun, merriment. Not for Steven. Not this year.

He texted to say he’d been burgled. I called him at 12:51 AM to see if he was OK; to see if there was anything I could do. Steven was shaken and upset as he told me what had happened.

Two men in black came through the back door. Flashlights. Face masks. The alarm went off. He locked himself in the bathroom & called 911. Within three minutes, policemen had surrounded the house with guns drawn, checking the perimeter.

Perimeter secured, the police told Steven to go out the front door. He was escorted to a squad car. The police went in to check the house for intruders. Evidentially, the intruders were warned off by the alarm and fled before the police arrived. Fortunately, nothing was stolen; no one was harmed. No damage done. Almost.

I offered to come keep him company through the night. “Yes, please.” I packed an overnight kit and a bottle of wine and drove to his house. I called when I arrived so he’d know it was I and not the burglars.

Steven and I sat up talking and drinking wine until well after 3 AM. It takes time to calm down after such an event. I know. I’ve been there: 24 years ago, our house was ransacked. No one hurt and nothing of “real” value stolen. Still, it shakes you up and makes you realize how vulnerable you really are.

Finally settling down for the night (morning, actually) we slept little, jumping at every little sound. We were awake at first light bleary eyed and tired. But neither of us could sleep anyway so we got up to begin the new day: the New Year. What an auspicious beginning. It can only go up from here.

New Year Resolution #1: Pay attention to home security. Lock the doors at night and set the alarm when leaving the house.

Be careful out there!

Thank you for listening,

Jerry L. Hanson