Finds

I went to a few art galleries not too long ago with an old boss of mine who has since retired. The experience left me feeling deflated and depressed. I cannot understand why with so much ugliness in the world- someone would want to create more and stick it anywhere they would possibly have to look at it on a regular basis.

Maybe I was being naive, expecting to recreate my Paris experience. After finishing my law degree (many years ago now), my parents spoilt me with a Contiki trip. I told the group that I was with that afternoon that I would meet back up with them. I just wanted to take my time feasting my eyes and my soul on what I was seeing there in the Musee de Orsay (not sure how it is spelt).

That afternoon that I spent taking my time, lapping it all up is one of my cherished memories. More so I think- because as I walked the streets I was mistaken for a Parisian and someone asked me for directions.

I have never liked Van Gogh- until I saw his original Starry Night- it made me want to cry. It was much bigger than I thought- and beautiful- overwhelming. Like so much that I saw that afternoon.

Not so, as I trawled a few galleries here with Graham. Most of it was ugly, contrived crap. Like I imagine a bad acid flashback would be. Awful.

But my faith in our artists was restored when I visited Decorex on Monday and saw Marlene Neumann's work . Beautiful beautiful beautiful. I could feel my soul sparkling with the happiness of my find. Pat, my mother-in-law stood patiently while I deliberated over my choice- so hard to only take one picture!

I ended up tracking Marlene down the next day before she drove back to East London as I decided I had to have another. She told me how the people packing up had cursed me as they had to pick through everything looking for the specific picture I had requested over the phone. We chatted outside the townhouse complex where she was staying, the wind in my eyes making them water. She was telling me about the beautiful berries she had noticed and how photography was not about the technicalities- it was about experiencing a shift in the way that you see things. She compared it to learning to cook- she said you could learn all about the knobs on the stove and it wouldn't make you a good cook. Like a lot of other things in life. It's not about the technicalities- but how often do we miss that? I was surprised when I said goodbye to her and she reached out to hug me. I hope that it is not the last that I will be seeing of her and dream of one day flying down to attend her photography course (and visit my friend Linda, also an artist).

I have also been drooling over the brochure that I picked up at the exhibition stall for www.roommatespeelandstick.com . I got Christopher an airplane decal pack and an airplane border which I have since put up in his bedroom. A rather odd combination withWinnie the Pooh and Forest pixies- but I was very happy with the overall result and was rewarded with a "Wow!!" from Christopher- when he saw the matching pillow case that I had put on his pillow.