portrait of Keith, ciment fondu tinted
Some years ago - I refuse to say how many - my brother, an engineer, decided to move to Israel to live and work. A week before he left I asked him if I could do his portrait. He sat for me for two hours each day religiously for just under a week before he caught his flight.
He stayed in Israel for three years working at a hospital in Safad where he was to meet his lovely wife and then at the Technion in Haifa. As much as he loved living there after three years he grew home sick and returned to Canada. One of the things he missed most (he said almost apologetically) was winter - the open space and cross country skiing. I think in the final analysis that is what pulled him back. For me I think, the impetus would be in the opposite direction, that is to say I wouldn't miss winter so much - having been land locked for most of my life I could see myself living close to the coast in southern Europe, perhaps Italy or France or Spain -one dreams of these possibilities.
Wow! I am speechless - this is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Connie!
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact I am speechless about your work, in particular your figurative work, so beautiful - your dancers seem airborne, as though to be in constant motion!!!
Hi Marcia,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing portrait. I love this. Lucky Keith having you to immortalize him. Winter eh? Never having lived without it, I don't know if I'd miss it. But I like your choices. Southern Europe -- moving like a nomad. Then going north in the summer, when it was too hot. Warning. It gets cold in the south of France in winter.
Love Barbara
This is just amazing! I'm so glad he dedicated that least week to sitting for you. My my, I wish I had his cheekbones...! Wonderful marks on his skin.
ReplyDeleteI can understand missing winter. LOVE Israel (fascinating place) but I'm more familiar with Cyprus (40 min flight from Israel), and in the winter it rarely pushes zero at night. During the day it can get up to 15-20 degrees c. It sounds nice, right? No snow, no biting cold. But it's dull. It's an island designed for summer living so in the winter there's nothing to do. It's too cold to go to the sea but not cold enough for skiing etc. Also, I now live in London where the turning of seasons doesn't happen like it does in provincial or rural England. And I miss that turning of seasons so much - particularly the smells and colours. It's like living a life devoid of nature. Living with an absence of something which is so inherently part of us as animals. It feels wrong and it can be quite draining on the soul.
Man, I need to leave London! :)
Btw, I'd go for France - Spain is thoroughly dull outside of the large cities and Italy is beautiful but very backwards.
But really I wanted to stop by and say how much I love this sculpture - sorry I got so sidetracked! I' living abroad at the mo (Philly) and it's just making me feel like I need to escape LONDON! Travel is very much on my mind...
You bet Barbara, nomadic - it would be nice to move around, follow one's fancy, allowing impulse to dictate.
ReplyDeleteA kitchen, a bedroom and a large studio. V basic setup. That's all one really needs. A place to eat and work and crash - as in sleep and dream or meditate and vegitate or just chill out.
Love Marcia
Hi Caroline
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by. I haven't been blogging much lately and it's a nice surprise to come back and discover your warm, supportive remarks.
I also enjoy your lively, restless. energetic spirit and I love the spirit of adventure with which you tackle your own remarkable work.
I love the change of seasons too and yet with global warming I'm uneasy and apprehensive about it at times as well. I miss the days when talk of weather was considered boring and we took the weather for granted and didn't worry about it so much - except for farmers of course - they always worry.