Empty Vessels and the 3 P’s of Art

Posted on June 6, 2012 by susan

My ART! I’ve done some mulling these last few days concerning my style and why do I create as I do? This ruminating of the mind began after I saw a wonderful retrospective art opening by artist Perry House. The Houston ART CAR Museum housed a collection culminating with thirty years of work. What a sense of humor he injects into his pieces on violence. His expressionistic canvases embody foreboding ideas using cheerful color palettes making quite a statement on society. I loved it! Americans are so into the packaging, and he sure had a way of showing it.

Thinking about art to create and commentary has spurred a review of my work. Brainstorming words, “Empty Vessels,” comes to mind whether that be people, places or pottery. This acronym, “The 3 P’s!” describes my work in a “less is more” vocabulary. In general empty spaces appear in landscapes with extreme cropping, strong lighting and shadows. The people I chose seem to be looking another way, are expressionless and empty. Pottery I create in bowl forms incorporate slip painting of blank looking blue cubist women. So what does that say about me? Am I rummaging to fill the desolate spaces, do I show society in its infinitesimal form or am I probing for light to feature dismal objects? You the reader may think I am over analyzing my exploration of art. To me I am trying to figure out my purpose and why do I pick this subject matter.

Homeless at this point, living off family and running around like a gypsy with two suitcases in a green doodle bug, I am looking for a nest! For two years I have flitted around the world, learning and teaching. Time to settle down and create for real. This time the art space is more important than the living space. I need to have an ART STUDIO. Where that will be is still another journey and as always another story!

Home in Texas

Posted on May 29, 2012 by susan

TEXAS — Land of Large! Large state, large people, large voices, large portions, large, large, large! I am home! I bought a “small” car and already been flipped off and honked at to move on, not once but three different occasions. GEEZ TEXAS what happened? You are so rude and it is so unacceptable. Why are you in such a hurry?

Do I fit here, good question? Driving around in my little gecko green VDub Bug, with a sunflower in the vase, I am just enjoying the view, the sun and the climate. 500 miles later maybe I should have bought a tank with a driver! There are new streets, new places the old GPS can’t locate. I got lost driving to a Post Office, where my GPS directed me. Turned out fifteen miles later I was in a wheat field. I need updating!

The Apple store on Knox-Henderson was my next stop. Randy says I need an iphone4S. After two hours loading info and trying to figure out apps, I am technology appropriate. Ha, but can I use the thing? Someone call me and let me see if I can answer it. My cute little pink flip phone is now gone and I have a 3 inch miniature flat screen computer-esque phone. I believe I need to purchase glasses to read the fine print. I am savvy but do I really need this much stuff?

Life overseas was about “Less is More!” Life here is “more is overwhelming!”

Fitting in, may be harder than I thought.

Australian Pubs on Andy’s birthday

Posted on March 25, 2012 by susan

The day started with lunch at Bundy Sushi owned by Ross’ friends Dave and Toby. I ordered about every Vegetarian Sushi dish on the menu. It was delicious. March 24th is my son Andy’s 32nd birthday, the day we would go to “Red Lobster,” to celebrate. He would order the most expensive item on the menu. Today I am celebrating in “OZ”, keeping his memory alive.

From lunch in Bundaberg we went to the town of Apple Tree Creek and walked through a mesh enclosed open air bird sanctuary. Greeted immediately by a friendly blue Quaker parrot that flew to our shoulders, called the terrorist bird, he escorted us on our tour. I so enjoyed his company as we walked around chatting with the assortment of colorful tropical birds. We left the enclosed bird area to visit with kangaroos as we finished up our trip. I love roos, they are the cutest guys with curly eyelashes and big brown eyes.

Spending the day touring around the country side we came upon Cordalba, an off-beat town located in the midst of a sugar cane grove. The main street housed the only business being a pub. It has been in existence for 120 years. Your typical Aussie bar, with a hotel upstairs it felt like stepping back into time when cowboys clamored into the saloon looking for your typical “Miss Kitty” gals. The owner and his friend showed us around talking in a thick Aussie dialect, causing you to strain your ears to understand what was being said. He loved telling jokes and rambling about his life, loves and business. We realized much of chatter was true Aussie bull-shit. We laughed, drank our XXXX Gold beer and photographed the local four bikers out front.

Driving back to Bundy I couldn’t but smile thinking Andy would have loved the day ‘down under’ with his mom as she continues to see the world.

Love you Andy and Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Andy

Posted on March 24, 2012 by susan

Today March 24th, Andy Zorn would be 32… Happy Birthday, son.

A few images that are great memories of him. Love you kiddo.

He was the life of the party, red headed, green eyed and always into something. A fabulous fisherman, he could out fish the lot. He was a wonderful son and a great friend. Missing you on your day.

You are gone, never forgotten.
Life goes on, so live it well, it could end at any time.
Go for the gusto, travel, meet new people, listen and help others.
Be KIND.

Wish you were here I’d take you out to the Great Barrier Reef and let you snorkel and eat a lobster.

PK land

Posted on March 3, 2012 by susan

Images from my land west of Ft. Worth. “where you put seeds of love, flowers bloom.”

Kookaburra lives in an old gum tree

Posted on March 1, 2012 by susan

Australian Flowers!

Posted on February 8, 2012 by susan

Flowers are abundant in “OZ!” Here are a few I have found in the back yard.

A Day in the Life

Posted on February 1, 2012 by susan

Learning “to be” is a different concept as my past was a life of “doing.” Believing I am retired, is also a new thought or maybe just believing I can live a retired life… is something I am having to get a grip on. Enjoying getting up whenever, having coffee leisurely, tinkering around, cooking and just envisioning myself in a lifestyle I never had is my new direction. My sweet friend Ross is allowing me to do these things in his lovely Queenslander home in Bundaberg, Australia.

I wake up to birds chirping at 5:30 am. Sometimes it is raining or like today a beautiful sunny morning, coffee on the deck, and Bob, the Butcher Bird appears on the rail for a visit. He is a “young’un” with no fear of humans and very curious. What a delight to have a bird just within reach to chat with. His mom shows up with a worm and he is off to have breakfast. A set of rainbow colored birds fly hurriedly by, chipping loudly, it is a family of Lorikeets. They are the most beautiful parrots I have ever seen. I want one for a pet, plus a kangaroo and a koala. Truly Australia is the land of unusually wonderful creatures.

Last Thursday was Australia Day, a celebration day for patriotism and similar to our July 4th, Independence Day. Innes Park was the site of festivities including live music, food, arts and crafts. A very rainy day we sloshed from tent to tent checking out the activities. I was able to pet a blue tongued lizard a young boy was carrying. His dad, the ‘snake man’ gave me a fright with the huge python snake he was letting others hold. Australia has the largest number of venomous snakes in the world, leaving me to think the only good snake is not near me! Time to move on. We walk down the beach, sighting a hawk with a fish in his mouth. The rain is drifting away to reveal a bright sunshiny day.

Critters are abundant here and each day is another wonderful retired day of “being” in OZ.

Re-locating turtle eggs at Mon Repos

Posted on January 26, 2012 by susan

Warm rain water dripped off my floppy Aussie hat as I watched a thirty year old mother Loggerhead turtle drop her fifth clutch of ping pong size turtle eggs into a freshly dug egg chamber on the beach at Mon Repos. Quietly in the darkness, lite by a single flash-lite I saw over a hundred eggs pile up by one by one. The ninety kilo turtle had lumbered onto the beach about thirty minutes before, dug her nesting chamber and as we arrived she started to lay. Not long after she covered the eggs by paddling sand with her flippers. Once it was all flat and tight she meandered back to the ocean.

The wonderful park rangers carefully dug the eggs out by hand to relocate them to a higher spot above the sand dunes. Each person was given two sandy eggs to transport to the new egg chamber. In total one hundred and eleven eggs were moved to the new location.

My first week in “OZ” and I am moving turtles around. I love it.

Where in the WORLD is Susan?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by susan

Here I am, no longer in China but A U S T R A L I A. The Fall months were excruciating with a terrible medical issue that proved the medical coverage in China was a piece of paper with a red chop mark, only. Then a bout of serious food poisoning to top it off and I realized time to move on. The semester at NSFZ ended with the most delightful IB Art students sending me off with a fond farewell from Lukou Airport. Thank you Rita, Cookie, Arno and Jane for the sweet gift and hugs at the International terminal. Keep making art, you are so talented.

Many friends gave me good bye gifts, dinners out, last minute trips and so many fond memories. Mr. Chen, you and your family were a blessing to have in my life. Spring Yan and Stone thank you so much for all the lifts in your car, the trip to Suzhou for a silk bed duvet, and spending New Years with your family. Lady Ma, my maid I will miss our Sunday mornings together and communicating not knowing each others language. I enjoyed having a tailor, Mr. Lin. He created a gorgeous Chinese dress and Capri’s for me. My wonderful neighbors across the hall, thank you for watching over me. Sarah, Fino’s mom thank you for helping me at Sentosa Gardens, first of all finding my 27th story apartment that overlooked the city and the Yangtze river. Secondly for bringing me food when I was so ill. Rita and her vegan mom, thank you for helping me mail boxes to Texas and introducing me to a wonderful Vegetarian Restaurant. Jane, Ellen’s mom for being a wonderful art friend and showing me Nanjing sites. Daisy and her sweet friends in Shanghai and Xi’an for all our vacation trips! Didn’t we have some fun? I love the picture of you as a concubine and me as the Empresses!

Nan Shi Fu Zhong and my wonderful Chinese colleagues friends, what can I say? My office mates, Sue, Jenny, June and Alice, ladies I could have never asked for better friends. The library and offices down the hall with Esther, Shirley, Serena, Maggie, Tracy, David, Emmy and Ms. Wang, the teachers that work all day and night! The upstairs admin and teachers, Stephen, Mr. Can, Jackie, Mr. Hao, Tess, and Guo, you did so much to make my life run smooth. Thanks for getting that latte maker! To Sophia, girl I could never thank you enough for all your expertise, care and patience. “Let all my troubles pass through the hollow places,” you said describing the stone Lotus you gave me. You are a wise woman. To Gong Yan, the leader of the tribe, love your teachers as they work hard for the IB program.

My best friends Michael from Britain and Peter from Australia, how can I thank you for you brotherly friendship? I adore you both, for the care, time and lunches we shared. You were there for me in so many ways. Friendship is something I treasure and I will love you both forever and ever! We were the “Three Musketeers!”

“There was something in the water,” as Americans say when everyone gets pregnant. Drinking Nanjing water is no different. Sophia and Jenny had boys last year! Tracy just had a wee one this week. Alice and Sawyer, next month it is your turn and what good parents you will be. I wish I could be there when your daughter is born. Serena will be next! Oh my, so many sweet moments I will share from afar. I will be waiting to hear from each of you about the wonders your children are creating in your lives.

Lastly to all the national curriculum art teachers that befriended me. The art teachers are inspirations. The graceful dance teacher next class over, what a marvelous dancer and kind soul. I learned Tai Chi from the retired teachers, they were so patient with me. Then the sweet janitor lady that gave me hugs daily.

My graduating Seniors, Joy and Iris of higher level– you are talented young ladies! Iris, Elaine, Stephanie, Tiffany, Karen, and Willson of standard level, isn’t it nice to be finished with your Visual Art’s CRB? Move on, go to college and stay motivated with art or whatever you want to be. Cheng Peng, you are now at SCAD! You busted out of China early and are the happiest I have ever seen you—become the artist you want to be. My Juniors—Angela, Ellen, Rita, Cookie, Arno, William, Peter, Kevin, Jane, Becky, Sam, Fino, Amy, and Moon! Kids what can I say? You are all on track with IB, almost all 7’s and each of you totally motivated with art. I will miss you guys and remember you the most! You were the teenage art blessings in my life. The 10th grade foundation art students, to the fifty of you keep speaking English daily, stay focused and motivated, you are the future of NSFZ!

Now that I have said my thank you’s to China, what am I doing? I moved to Australia, retired and am relaxing. It is warm if not hot here, I am barefoot and happy. Learning to “BE” and not “DO!”

Susan Tadlock

Eat, Pray, Teach