Lessons from the Ocean: The day I was guided by the waves

As I’m writing this I’m sitting in a dark church, by instruction of my mom, who keeps trying to convert me back to Catholicism and told me to go to speak to el santisimo. The first church I drove to was closed so I found this one on google maps. It looked desolate when I arrived but by some miracle the side door was open. I’m guessing this was by accident as I don’t think the church is open by the fact that I am sitting in darkness lit by red candles. 

I had a lot to reflect on, which I did most of on the car ride over. So when I arrived and sat down my mind began to wander instead. I've been sitting on this pew for an hour, maybe two, and haven’t said much but the inspiration to go on my notes app and write this story down came to me so here it is.

December 2023, Konako, Miguel and I had gone out to the Makapuu Beach Park. I had craved to get in the water but the waves had grown and there were swim advisories. I don’t recommend anyone to ignore advisories but in this case I did.

We laid our towels on the beach and sat there talking and observing the water. I kept weighting my options about getting in. The waves seemed manageable and the shape of the beach was bay-ish. I tend to feel safer about the ocean water when it’s in a bay. So I decided to get in. 

To give a sense of what the water looked like that day, there was a section of consecutive waves all with white tops for a portion near the shore but their height was moderate and further past the waves the water looked calm. I figured if I could swim past the series of waves I would be safe to relax in the water.

The waves were loud. I was immersed in them and it was nice. As I swam further into the ocean I could feel the strong push of the underwater back to shore. This reassured me that I wouldn’t be pulled further into the ocean against my will. After a few minutes in the water, something told me to let myself be taken back to shore through the natural push of the waves. I decided to listen, so when the next big wave came in I took a deep breath and went underwater, letting the underwater push take me back to shore, a complete surrender.

For a brief moment my whole being felt in state of flow, of trust, and it felt magical to be underwater, my whole body guided against my will. Like a strand of floating seaweed, that’s what I became in that moment.

When I resurfaced I realized the ocean had moved me much further than I had thought, towards the rocks that were bordering the bay. I placed my feet on a sturdy rock next to me positioning myself before the next wave’s push came in. Above the surface the scene must have looked tumultuous, but underwater I was immersed in the ocean’s push, secured by the rock at my feet. I came back out after the push had subsided and had only a few seconds before going back underwater as the next wave crashed above me. By the time I came out of the third wave a lifeguard was headed towards me. I grabbed his hand and before the next wave came in we had made it to a spot where my feet could touch the sand.  We ran out of the water and back to shore.

Miguel and Konako were standing. They had grown worried because they were calling out to me with no response. I had no idea, I didn’t realize how much of their voices I hadn’t been able to hear. 

I’ve hesitated sharing the magical aspect of the experience because it was irresponsible. But if I’m being honest it was also a beautiful experience and I knew everything would be okay. Was it a knowing or confirmation bias? There’s no way to say for certain. What happened, happened.

February 4, 2025

Google Images picture of Makapuu Beach Park

Ex-votos

My first encounter with Ex-voto paintings was on a trip to Mexico City in 2021 at the Frida Kahlo Home museum known also as “The Blue House”. Her and Diego Rivera had become collectors of these small foil paintings. I am not sure if it was a curratorial decision or the original home decor, but the paintings hung in the room where her bed was, the bed she laid in and painted from while she was on bedrest.

Ex-votos are small paintings usually made as thankyous to Saints who have granted miracles to the patrons who commissioned or created them. They depict the miraculous scenes in painting and are usually accompanied by a brief description.

Their popularity is now mainly attributed to Mexican Catholic culture, but ex-votos originated in the Catholic regions of Italy and Spain, where these paintings would line sections of a chruch. I’m imagining they served as a form of entertainment to the local communities and fulled juicy gossip stories from the people who read them.

I did a deep dive online and found a select few, I’ve been enjoying looking at all of these, some are wildly hilarious, a young woman thanking a saint for successfully sneaking in her boyfriend without getting caught by her parents. There are also fantastical ones depicting scenes of ghosts and aliens. You’ll see that some of the more contemporary ones are satirical in nature, but I wanted to include them because they remain true to the structure of the ex-voto. In this post you’ll find a few standout ones that I hope you will enjoy.

In my research I also came across a Russian Tumblr page dedicated to old and contemporary ex-votos which I will link here incase you feel like browsing through more :)

Selected few

The other night my boyfriend came into my bedroom through the window because my parents do not want him, but suddenly they came because they heard our noise. I dedicate this to San Ramón Nonato who made the miracle that they did not realize that my boyfriend was hiding behind the bed and believed the story that it was my cat that made the noise. Salazar Luiciana, Tamaulipas 1940

In the night I began to feel very thirsty, I went down to the Kitchen but to my horror there were aliens eating at my table. My dog who is usually a good guard was inmobile. I give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopen because the aliens did not see me and I was able to remain in my home safe and sound until they left.

Full of anger against my brothers Damien, Celestino and Juan Lopez Soto when they came back from the fields I gave them bad food and all because they didn’t let me go with them to the dance in town with my boyfriend. But when I saw them begin to get sick from the food I asked the Virgin of Solitude to restore their health and she did that same day, thank you. Matilde Lopez Soto. Oaxaca, Oaxaca. 1958

Gilberto Morales did not wait a year to remarry after the passing of his wife. So in the nights she would haunt my husband in the bedroom and appear as a ghost. I thank our Lady of Zapopen for making sure that his deceased wife’s spirit could rest in peace and not appear to us again. 14th of November 1954

One night my boyfriend Pedro and I went to the cemetery so no one would see us since my parents do not allow me to have a boyfriend. We were there when all of a sudden some skeletons appeared to us and gave us a great scare that made us leave running. Thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe the skeletons did not reach us. Miss Lupita Gomez. Tequila, Jalisco. November 5, 1972

We could not get a hold of our horse names Blanquito and it had already kicked two of the men who had attempted to restrain it. We asked for the help of the Saint Nino de Atocha that helped bring the horse to a docile state and we were able to get a hold of it. Ayazdeo Lopez Rives. Jalisco, Mexico .1953

Virgin of Guadalupe I give you the infinite thanks for helping me avoid being cut and hurt when a client of mine tried striking me with a bottle upon finding out that I was not a woman when we were on our way to the hotel. In seeing myself in such danger I pleaded to you Virgin Guadalupe and here I am safe. La “Buenota”. Bario de la Mersed, 1999

I give infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving me the blessing of being the best prostitute of the Colony. Even though business is struggling I have the best clients and they look for me because of my dangerous curves that all the men love. Zulema “La Chula”. Mexico City. 1999

After leaving Sunday Mass on the 15th of July 1942 the sisters Rosa and Carmen Ruiz had a great scare when they were assulted at the market and held at gunpoint. Immediatly they pleaded for the intercession of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos so that the man would not kill them. The assailant only took their bags where they only had minor pocket change and did not cause them any physical harm.

My granddaughter Remedios became very ill when she gave birth to her son. We prayed to San Ramon Nonato so that the child would not become orphaned. The saint answered our prayers and my granddaughter’s health was restored. October 5, 1949

When we returned to the town in the morning after visiting the outdoors my family and I saw a UFO over the town had taken all of the town’s residents. We give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopen that the UFO did not spot us and returned the people to the town.

My daughter Claudia was at school practicing gymnastics when she had an an appendix attack. The Doctor that assisted her said she was in danger of loosing her life. In anguish, I prayed to the Virgen of Zapopen that she would save her and the virgin in her infinite mercy guided the hand of the doctor and my daughter is now well. Guadalajara, June 21 ,1949

2025 Artist Lunar Calendars

3rd annual Lunar Calendars are here!!!

For this year’s calendar, I’ve created a digital companion resource guide (available by clicking here) which helps you navigate using the moon cycles for haircare, gardening and fishing.

These calendars feature the four major moon phases and their placement within the astrological constellations for the best tracking.

They are printed on 120lb Mohawk paper and are double sided featuring a sun and a moon side. They are personally my favorite calendar editions to date.

This year the Woman Made Gallery selected them to be featured in their Member’s show. A special framed version of this calendar is available for purchase through them.

These calendars are also available on my Etsy shop but if you are in the Chicago area you can pick them up at:

Logan 11 Bar & Kitchen
2230 N California Ave,
Chicago, IL 60647

Into the Feral
2914 W Belmont St
Chicago, IL 60618

Parallel Botany

Parallel Botany by Leo Lionni , (1977)

I enjoyed this book so much that after I returned it to the Chicago Botanic Library I searched E bay and Thriftbooks.com for months until I found a reasonably priced copy ($70) to add to my personal collection.

Leo Lionni is primarily known for his work as a Children’s Author. Writing stories in the 1970’s that many of us 80’s and 90’s kids grew up with.

His book Parallel Botany is a project that deviates from his traditional work. Much like discovering Dr. Seuss' darker paintings, passion projects like this one feel like treasures to me, acts of love that artists leave us with giving a glimpse into their curiosities and imaginations.

Parallel Botany is a 181 page fictional “non-fiction” book about imaginary “Parallel” plants that defy the laws of evolution, motionless in time, unmotivated by the need to reproduce, often possessing unexplainable qualities. At times invisible, these plants, disintegrate into white dust when touched by humans.

Lionni writes the book in a way that feels like a nonfiction historical account, presenting these unique plants with a sense of factual precision and detail. Complete with history that never happened and myths about plants that never existed, he credibly conjured a novel detailing a new branch of botany.

It was his illustrations that first drew me to this book. Scattered throughout the pages, you can see his touch as a visual artist, bringing these plants to life. As standalone pieces, they resonated with my own practice as I, too, spend time working within the imaginary world of plants.

I picked a few of Lionni’s illustrations from this book to share here and included a small summary of the plants for context.

As an extension to his parallel universe, Lionni also created a few bronze sculptures of these plants. which I also included images of. And lastly, in my research I came across images of his home studio. I find that an artist’s home studio can help give so much context to the type of artist one is and how they prefer to work, so included here are images of all of that as well.

Antola Enigmatica
A plant that produces a physical “hallucination” one’s body split into two identical bodies while sharing one consciousness, it is a hallucination that is perceived in reality by others not under the plant’s effects.

Trillus
A version of this parallel plant, the “Trillus Odoratus” Is said to be used as part of an orgy ritual for the Machole Indians of the Mexican Sierra.

Anaclea Taludensis
A cluster of flowers that appear as black silhouettes to the naked eye, defiant to the laws of perspective, these plants are an optical illusion, regardless of how close you get to them they appear the same size.

Protorbis
Unlike most Parallel plants that disintegrate to dust when touched, these mushroom-like plants can be touched and transported. Their size varies from infinitely small to infinitely large.

The Labirintiana
Believed to have turned into a parallel plant to reduce the population of the ants in the region. This plant uses it’s maze-like structure and alluring scent to attract these ants and keep them busy.

Antaphid ants
The ants capable of endlessly eating everything in sight, posed a massive threat to all plant life in the region before the parallelization of the Labirintiana.

Artisia
Resembles a 18th century baroque sculpture, peculiar shape unlike any other plant seen before.

The Geminants
Appears as a seed/bud rather than a plant. Unlike other parallel plants, this one allows itself to be touched and cooked.

The Giraluna
Spherical “seeds” that shine with a strange metallic gold shimmer. Inspired the old Yaghurian legend about a poor farmer who grew the golden seeds to feed his family.

Photograph of the Giraluna taken by Marshall Norton during a parallel plant expedition.

Sigurya Barbulata
This plant’s “head is said to look like “a nose wearing a skirt”

Sigurya Natans
A parallel plant that lives in water, young men are forbidden to look at them as it causes the plant to go invisible.

Artist and Author Leo Lionni next to his bronze Giraluna sculptures in Venice

Leo Lionni’s “Imaginary Gardens” bronze sculpture in the Real Gardens of Verona’s Castlevecchio, 1978

Leo Lionni’s Home Studio in rural Connecticut, 1954 photographed by Ezra Stoller for Domus

The Geometry of Nature

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During my college years I took two mathematics courses, Perspective Geometry and Geometry in Nature. The later, admittedly, I wished I had paid more attention in. It was a tumultuous time in my life and the class wasn’t anywhere near my list of priorities.

There was however, one thing that stuck with me. The professor, who had been teaching this class for years, had a tradition of bringing in a pineapple during the lesson on fractals. He noted, over the past few years he had found that his grocery market pineapples would on occasion fail to demonstrate the fractals they once did. The natural fractal of the pineapple was disappearing in the modern food systems. Sure enough, the pineapple he picked for that day’s class failed the fractal demonstration. The professor, as a result of his findings from this lesson, urged us to observe.

Recently, my interest in natural geometry has returned to my practice and as a result, into what I observe. I spent the winter painting geometric exercises, including the “Circle of Nine”, a 7-circle solution used to divide a circle into 9 equal segments. It was in early Spring, on a morning walk, when I noticed the same pattern in the first flowers that showed up in the neighborhood lawns, the Daffodils. I captured this observation in a painting:“Spring Daffodil and the Circle of Nine”.

“Circle of Nine”
March 11, 2024. Watercolor and Gouache on Cold Pressed Arches Paper. 7”x 10”

“Spring Daffodil and the Circle of Nine”
April 3, 2024. Watercolor and Gouache on Cold Pressed Arches Watercolor Paper. 7”x 10”

How to make an Orrery

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What is an orrery?

An orrery is a model of the solar system that shows the positions of celestial bodies like the planets, the moon and our sun.

How I made my dining table orrery

Materials:

  • Cloth/ backdrop for your orrery (can be anything you already own and is free)

  • Objects to represent the celestial bodies, this could also be anything you already own and is free, think rocks, trinkets, or your own hand made creations like ceramic or wood carvings. You will assign meaning to these objects to represent the moon, sun and planets

I recommend to start with just the sun and the moon. You can always add in planets as you progress.

For your backdrop, you will mentally divide this into the 12 constellations of the zodiac / ecliptic plane (similar to the way a clock is divided in 12). For the purposes of this orrery I have chosen to omit the constellation Ophiuchus, which falls between Scorpious and Sagittarius.

The 12 o’clock (north) will be Pisces, 3 o’clock (east) Gemini, 6 o’clock (south) Virgo, and 9 o’clock (west) Sagittarius. Fill in the remaining 8 constellations according to their order (see the diagram “Table Set Up” in this post for guidance). We start with Pisces at the top because it has historically been considered the 12th and final zodiac constellation.

Next, place each celestial body in its position for that day. To make sure your placement stays accurate day to day use the online tool found here on the Sky & Telescope website. Position Earth at the center of the backdrop.

I chose to put the Earth at the center for this orrery because my main use for this tool is to visualize where everything is in our night sky in relation to Earth. This positioning assists with my telescope viewing and shows me what planets are visible in the night sky, at dawn, or dusk.

The moon will be your most constant change day to day. It is the satellite that revolves around our Earth and completes a cycle around the orrery every 28 days. The sun will move one constellation over once a month completing its cycle around the orrery in a year.

On the days of a full moon the sun and the moon will be seen placed opposite each other. Conversely days of a new moon they will be seen placed together.

When planets are opposite to the sun they are most visible in the night sky. The closer they are trailing behind the sun clockwise the later at night / early morning they begin to appear in the sky. When their placement appears near front of the sun they will remain out of site to our naked eye in the daylight until their placement falls opposing or behind the sun.

Having this orrery as a daily practice will help you become aware of what goes on in our sky and the rate the celestial bodies move around our ecliptic plane. It is a good meditation to practice if you wish to be more aware of what is happening in space as percived from Earth.

My dining table orrery. unglazed ceramic, wax candle mold, peony arrangement and embroidered linen tablecloth. 2024

Table Set Up

Shown here is a diamond shape set up, but it can equally be done with a square or circle as long as the placement remains the same.

Moon Cycle Example Placements

New Moon
The moon and sun are both placed in the constellation Virgo. The moon is not visible in the sky.

First Quarter Moon
The moon is in Sagittarius and the Sun in Virgo. The moon will rise during the later hours of the day before night fall.

Full Moon
The moon is in Pisces and the Sun in Virgo. The moon will be seen rising in the east as the sun opposite to it in the west.

Last Quarter Moon
The moon is in Gemini and the sun in Virgo. The moon will be seen rising in the later hours of the night and will be visible in the night sky moving west as the sun begins to rise in the east

Sky Chart Resource

Click on the image to access the free Sky & Telescope sky chart which will give you the most accurate data for the placement of the celestial bodies for any given date.

Journey to Eclipse Part 1

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Mapimi Desert
April 5 - April 16, 2024

The Total Solar Eclipse of April 8 was, without exaggeration, the most intense event I have witnessed in my 30 years of life. It has taken me over a month to make a post about this experience and I wasn’t sure how to begin talking about this journey, but for part one, I’ll cover the basics.

For the 2024 Eclipse, we traveled to La Zona del Silencio (Zone of Silence) an area surrounded by mysterious occurrences. Getting to this region from Chicago took a bit of preplanning months prior. The zone is in the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve, a protected United Nations desert since 1977, and spans the Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango states of Mexico.

I heard about this region growing up through my mom whose hometown resides in the mountains of one of the states. So when I saw that the path of totality would cross this area I figured this would be the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this cosmic event in this enigmatic place.

The zone became more widely known in 1969 when the Allende meteorite, mysteriously diverted its predicted course and landed in this area. A year later, in 1970, due to a loss in radio communication signals, a NASA ship carrying Cobalt 57 crashed in the same area. The United States was granted permission by the Mexican government to enter the region and clean the biohazardous crash.Which resulted in a vast amount of precious meteorite-rich soil shipped out of Mexico to the States via a temporary railway system. There is much local skepticism on this event and the US’ intentions and interest in excavating the land.

The crash sparked interest in the area and in the mid 70’s urban legends of odd occurrences and UFO sightings began to spread. Movies and books have since been produced revolving the stories of the region and comparisons over the years have been made to the Bermuda Triangle and the Devil’s Sea near Japan.

What we do know for certain is that the area does have an unusual magnetic field that shifts and results in a frequency of meteors falling, traditional compasses spinning aimlessly, and radio signals failing. The magnetic fields are also said to have a strange effect on the behaviors and characteristics of the flora and fauna of the region. These odd occurrences have drawn scientists and researchers to this desert from all over the globe. Within the zone, there is also an area that researchers have named “Cementerio de las Reses” because animals who have reached the end of their lifetime have inexplicably traveled to that area to reach their final resting point and die. Because it is miles away from light-polluted areas it also produces some of the best viewing opportunities for night sky watching, attracting many astronomy enthusiasts.

This is where we traveled to see the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.

The Winter Hexagon Asterism

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Right now if you look up at the sky on a clear night from pretty much anywhere in the northern hemisphere you’ll find the winter hexagon. Depending on where you are, around 8pm-ish you’ll see the stars that make up this six-point polygon directly above.

A northern hemisphere winter asterism that appears most prominent between December and March and is pretty much visible in even the most light polluted areas. Made up of a series of the brightest stars visible in our night sky, Capella (from Auriga), Pollux (& it’s twin Castor from the Gemini constellation), Procyon (from Canis Minor), Sirius (the brightest star in our night sky and part of the constellation Canis Major), Rigel (from Orion) and Aldebaran (from Taurus).

I’ve been admiring this little group of stars this season. Looking for the 3 stars in Orion to point me to Sirius and seeing the moon occasionally makes it’s appearance with the group and Jupiter not too far west.

“The Winter Hexagon”. February 29, 2024. Watercolor and Gouache on Cold Pressed Arches Watercolor Paper. 7” x 10”

Photos from thevenustransit.com

 

Stories from my Lineage: Mama Lupita and Papa Santiago

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I never met Mama Lupita she was my great great grandmother and passed before I was born. I have heard many stories about her, she was the town “healer”. She cared for the sick and brought babies into the world. Made shampoos and medicines for people and she had a certain knowledge that helped the people in the crater mountain village they lived in.

Mama Lupita was set to get married. Due to the location where they lived, they needed to travel up the mountain to the city in order to officiate the marriage. She requested that her groom send horses for her and her bridal party. However when the day came the groom only sent one horse. Mama Lupita called off the wedding.

His cousin, Papa Santiago, saw this as his opportunity, asked for Mama Lupita’s hand in marriage and when the day came made sure to have the horses, they got married and had many children including my Grandma, Mami Mitty.

Papa Santiago died at age 49, due to complications after a surgery in the city. He was a good man, hard working, caring, loving. He died when my grandma was still a kid. She fondly remembers going with her sister to bring the food her mom would pack for him to the fields where the men were working. My grandma looking back thought about how he must have been tired and hungry but he would share his food with them whenever they were craving some. My grandma and her sister at the time blissfully unaware of his loving sacrifice.

When he passed, my grandma recalls her youngest brother, who was very fond of Papa Santiago, becoming deeply sad, until one day he too passed, they say he died of sadness. Occasionally my grandma’s older siblings would attempt to discipline her, she would grow frustrated and run towards the mountains, shouting for her dad to intercede. “Like a crazy child” she said, telling me this story one rainy day in Durango while we sat on a dusty couch in her old home looking through photos we had found in a box.

I was able to visit both Mama Lupita and Papa Santiago’s graves on my last visit to Durango, July/August of 2021.

Laws of Nature

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I am not an am. For once you claim I am it will shock you to see the counter. A being is expansive, ever changing, free to form, free to choose, unknown. I am, I am not, it’s probably because I never was, nothing but layers of essences attempting to balance on a scale. An ever-changing path that strives for a certain way. A fragment of time in your path that lead you to assign me an incomplete is. An am is stagnant and truth never is.

Volcan Toliman: Picture from Lake Atitlan in Jaibalito, May 17, 2023, during the time of day of the wind of Xocomil (of the Kaqchickel language meaning "the wind that carried away sin")

Thinking about Spring

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I have a memory of being at my grandparents home in Guanajuato one summer and going to their garden with my older cousins to collect some vegetables and herbs for lunch. I remember there being a small stream running though it and the garden feeling so lush and cozy with smaller trees that created pockets of shaded areas for my then 4-year-old self. In my memory that garden has always stayed as a wondrous place that transported me to a new world. It was something I stored in the banks of my mind as inspiration for what I wanted to have and the world I wanted to live in.

Last year was my first time trying my hand at gardening. There were many things to consider for the front and backyard. How will we use it, where will Ozzie run around, will he destroy the grass, will the pea gravel be uncomfortable for him to walk on, what do we want the space to feel like. We mapped it out, Miguel built a deck and I planted seeds, starting some seedlings indoors in early spring and transplanting them to the beds after the frost. I got packets of basil, fennel, jasmine, zinnias and a midwest wild flower assortment.

We discovered a few things this past year about the space: The neighbor’s tree released lots of sap and leaves on the deck; Mosquitos liked hanging out in certain areas making it a pain to be outside without some sort of protection be it fire or a huge blanket; Ozzie did really well with the grass areas; I encountered some cute insects and butterflies and many curious robins; I planted too many wildflower seeds and they grew in a tangled fashion making it a sore sight in late summer; The zinnias provided an on-going source of flowers to cut and decorate the home with; and the basil was a graciously abundant herb that we shared and used until the frost ended its season in the fall.

This year, I’m being proactive about the garden, I’m checking out books from the library before the season starts and found a few YouTube channels to pull inspiration from. I’m growing lavender in pots from the seeds I harvested from gifted lavender sprigs and since lavender is a natural rat and mosquito deterrent I’m hoping that will solve some of our pest issues. I also want to clean up the beds from all the wildflower seedlings I crowded in there last year and shift my ambitions to focus on growing more greens and paying attention to color palette combinations.

I have reasonable hopes for this year’s yield and I’m hoping it will help set the tone for the following year. Elva from my ceramics class told me it’s taken her 20+ years to get her garden where it’s at. Sometimes it’s just trial and error, patience, experimentation, continued care and an effort to learn.

Video still from “Wendy’s personal video archives” August 8, 2023

Documentation and memories

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Exerpt from March 12, 2023

I’m a sentimental woman, catch me at the right time of the month and I might be shedding some waterworks over a trivial thought popping into my head. Today, memories. I watched “Terms of Endearment” for the first time last night and I cried. When asked if I liked the movie my answer was no, I did not like how it made me feel. I had a nice lazy Saturday, my first lazy Saturday of the year after a late Friday night out. I did not feel like thinking, much less crying. But there I was shedding tears for the kids, the mom, imaginary characters I had invested 2 hours of my life getting to know. 

Many times, I have found myself regretting not documenting more. Back in what I estimate to be 2017, I had a good portion of photos from my 20s wiped out of my phone forever, sometime after high school I had a similar thing happen on my laptop after not backing up and as a 13 year old, I deleted a bunch of photos I didn’t like of myself from my family computer. As time passes it’s inevitable that many more memories and mementos will leave my life removing the little traces of their existence. This, I can’t help but feel a little sad about today.

I’ve been keeping a written journal and in my calendar, I’ve been writing in each day to help me record the days as they pass by, but I want pictures. At least right now, at this moment, what I crave is pictures, I’m attempting a physical photo album that lives outside of my phone. I don’t want to make it something I’m forcing myself to do every day, I’m bad at rituals, but hopefully writing this on here will keep me accountable or at least remind me to document more pictures of the small special moments of life.

coming soon <3

singing Baby one more time by Britney Spears at Alice’s Karaoke Lounge (January 21, 2024)

Back from Oahu

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Back from Oahu
December 19, 2023 - January 4, 2024

This year for the holidays we decided to leave the cold Chicago weather and spend majority of December and our first days of 2024 in the island of Oahu visiting Miguel’s long-time childhood friend Jon and his fiancé Kanako.

Hawaiians have a long history with the cosmos. The first Polynesian explorers of the Pacific, who ventured the ocean, used the stars as a form of way finding and the moon to predict the tides among other things. Way finding using the night sky is part of the Weriyeng system used by the master navigators of Micronesia that remains one of the valuable forms of knowledge that has been retained in an increasingly technologically dependent world. Which is something that gives me hope to know when I ask myself how much natural knowledge is at risk of becoming lost or has been lost?

The stars and planets were very visible in the night sky of Oahu. During our time there Jupiter usually made the first appearances in the sky as the sun began to set and since we were lucky to be visiting during the full moon season, we saw the moon opposite to the setting sun. I learned that Hawaiian moon tracking cycles account for all 30 stages of the moon, each with a name and understanding. The 8th-10th night after the full moon, like clockwork, the jellyfish float closer to shore increasing the chances for a swimmer to get stung. The night of Pō Kāne/Kāne, the 27th night of the moon, the tide is lower and a belief that the veil of the spiritual world thins during this time. Mōhalu, the 12th night, the night before the start of the 4 full moons, is a night of low tide, for planting flowers that will be round and root vegetables, it is said that on this night what is hidden is meant to remain that way. Which may be in reference to something in the spiritual realm or simply be a mnemonic teaching device for the knowledge that rooted vegetables that grow in the darkness of the ground are meant to stay in that space on this night.

We visited during the Ho’oilo, wet season, mid November- early May, a time when the sun sets closer to the south produces massive stories-high waves in the North Shore of the island attracting surfers and typically being the time for surf competitions in Oahu. However, the west and east facing shores would produce comparably smaller waves for swimming. I took every possible opportunity to swim in the ocean during this trip. The lovely part of being on an island is being able to drive to a variety of beach experiences and witness the many behaviors of the ocean.

Island life was good, a few other friends also came to Oahu during our time there. On Christmas Eve, Jon’s friend took a group of people out on a boat, Jon dj’d some house, eventually a bunch of us jumped into the deep sea ocean to swim and watch the sun as it set on the horizon. Christmas Day we decided to go on a hike to Kuli Ou Ou and after a hectic trek up some seemingly endless stairs we were met with a beautiful view. New Years Eve we swam at Papa Oni Oni beach and the waves would push us in and pull us out. On one lazy day we hung out on the upstairs porch until the stars came out. Poke was good at any given spot (except for Speedway, I’m told) and the Seven 11’s have some pretty good takeaways for the road.

Unfortunately, I’ve become increasingly worst at documenting memories since my phone camera malfunctions earlier last year so I’m experiencing a bit of regret looking at my photo album. I did take some video footage on my video cam of the surfers at Bonzai beach so I may share clips of that at a later date. <3

Images from the book Fishers' knowledge in Fisheries Science and Management
Haggan, Nigel , Neis, Barbara , Baird, Ian G.
published 2007 (pages 128-131)

Kohala Center breakdown of Hawaiian Moon Phases here

2024 Annual Lunar Calendars

2024 Calendars Are out!
This is my second edition, so happy to be getting photos from everyone who’s received them so far.

This Year’s Calendars highlights the details on the anticipated 2024 Total Solar Eclipse that will pass the US, Canada and Mexico. We won’t be having another total solar eclipse (very different from a solar eclipse) come to the United States until 2044.

For the artwork I used 35mm film photographs I had taken at the Huntington Library in California. I also have a page dedicated for each season.

These calendars are exclusively for friends, family, subscribers and select people who I’ve chosen to gift these to. So if you’d like to be on the list next year, send me a message on the contact form to be added to the list or subscribe.

Visions: In the path of totality

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I’ve been thinking about the eclipse more over the past two months. This will be my first time experiencing a Total Solar Eclipse and a special place near my heart happens to be on the path of totality. This image came to me two days ago. I felt the need to put it on paper and was able to finish these two paintings in a little over a day.

For more details on where to see the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse visit the resources below:

https://nso.edu/for-public/eclipse-map-2024/

https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/

“Visions: Renacer en la zona del silencio”. December 2023. Watercolor and Gouache on Cold Pressed Arches Watercolor Paper. 7” x 10”

“Visions: In the path of totality”. December 2023. Watercolor and Gouache on Cold Pressed Arches Watercolor Paper. 7” x 10”

Dream Journal: A cat and a rabbit

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An Unsettling Dream

It was dream within a dream. I stepped our of their home, it was night time and I was looking for my shoes that I had left on their upstairs patio. In the shadows I saw a rabbit. In its panic the rabbit ran towards me and tucked itself at my feet in between my legs. I could tell it was scared, scared of people as rabbits are and I had spooked it with my presence. I wanted to calm it. I felt it’s body breathing in between my calves, it was rapid. I met it at its breath and tried to slow it down. The rabbit synced with my breathing and I felt it calming down. I heard a sound behind me, from a pile of things on my back left side, but I couldn’t see anything in the shadows. A cat jumped out and in its quickness sliced the rabbit’s neck killing it. The blood sprayed on my legs. The dead rabbit laid at my feet. I felt like I had betrayed the rabbit, given it a false sense of security before its death. I was angry with the cat, I scolded it, but the cat’s instinct was to kill, it had done nothing wrong. I felt guilt for not having done more to protect the rabbit, whose trust I had gained in its last moments of life. Then another animal ran to me, not a rabbit but something else that I couldn’t remember when telling my mom in my dream and I can’t remember now as I write this. But in the same manner it ran to my feet and in the same manner the cat came out and killed it. Two animals laid on the porch covered in blood. It felt like a waste. What was the purpose of their deaths?

Mexico City, September 2021

Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden by Herman Rusch

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Prairie Moon Sculpture Garden by Herman Rusch

We found ourselves on a roadtrip to Minneapolis this past week and we were able to cross this one off the list.

It’s not a place we would have drove 5 hours just to see, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone to drive an extensive drive exclusively with the purpose of visiting, but it was on our way so making the pit stop was easy.

Enjoy the photos, the Noweigan hunter fighting a bear sculpture was so detailed, down to the spiked hair on the bear’s nape and I personally loved the multi-arched sculpture titled “Arches”, felt like something you could make a game out of.

On the property there’s a bio of the artist, Herman Rusch. In brief he was was an immigrant of Prussia and farm hand at an early age. He lived a very Midwestern life, farming most of his life until retirement. Retired, he purchased the Prairie Moon Pavilion in 1958, which he planned to convert into a roadside museum with taxidermies, fossils, and random oddities he got his hands on. It was during this year, in his attempt to fill his museum grounds that he began making these sculptures with scraps and rocks around the area. By 1974 at the age of 89 he had created 40 large scale sculptures. He was known for playing the fiddle in his museum and taking people on tours around the property. In 1979 he sold his property so he could have more time to fish and fiddle. And 6 years later, in 1985, 11 days after his 100 birthday he passed away.

It’s an odd property to find, located close to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, Apple Maps absolutely refused to give us the directions to it, but I found it on Google and so here it is,

52727 Prairie Moon Rd,
Fountain City, WI 54629

Few other notes:
The drive to get there was chill, scenic with the Mississippi River and we passed some cute towns along the way. There was a few missing sculptures on the property including one titled “Indian Scout on Pony”, unclear why they were missing. The pavilion looks like it could potentially be open for visitors, but it was closed when we arrived.

The perfect day to go would be on a clear fair weathered day, you can find some nice scenery with the hills behind and there are two picnic tables on the property making it a good rest stop location to stretch your legs on the way to your destination.

To see more sites on my list of artist sites I would like to visit in my lifetime click here.

Remedios Varo: Science Fictions at the Art Institute of Chicago

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I came across her work this Thursday at the Art Institute of Chicago. It was all a lovely happenstance, much like many things in my life. Since seeing the show, I’ve found myself on a small deep dive learning more about her.

She was a woman captivated by the alchemy practices of her Surrealist circle, with a fascinating life lived in Mexico. She was surrounded by mystics, scientists, musicians, and occult practitioners. She explored these occult practices, with paintings showing scenes of transmutation practices and theories around music and levitation. The show also contains excerpts from her journal, including a recipe for how to have exotic dreams.

The show is the first solo show of Varo’s work in the United States in over 20 years. It’s located on the second floor of the Modern Wing next to the cafe. And I very much recommend you view it, it’s a great show to indulge yourself with as we enter the Autumn season. Up until November 27.

Exhibition Links:
1. Exhibition Details
2. Summoning Remedios Varo

Video of Conversations:
3. Remedios Varo AIC
4. A Taxonomy of Techniques

The Birth of Venus

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In August, Venus began its shift from being an evening “star” to appearing in the morning sky. The morning sky has always been a lovely thing to witness from Chicago. Watching the colors come out over the lake until the sun decides to make it’s appearance.

Through a few happenstance occurrences, towards the end of the painting, I chose to highlight this Venus resurrection and celebrate my own birthday on September 2, which happened to be the last full day Venus was in it’s apparent retrograde motion. 

For the flower, I originally painted this Miltoniopsis Orchid. I’ve been fascinated by orchids since starting my small collection a few years ago through a gift from my friend Xerx. I was feeling drawn to the patterns the petals have on this species and painted this one into a sky scene, unsure of where the composition would lead me.

During my visit to ArtPrize in Grand Rapids this weekend I encountered a Coleus shrub that caught my attention. I had planned on painting the Coleus in a new scene of it’s own, but after pulling out my collection of started paintings. It felt fitting to incorporate it into my orchid painting, merging the two in an unlikely union that results in the vision of a spirit in flight.

Captions:
Image 1: “The Birth of Venus” painting by me :)
Image 2: Explination of Venus and star placements in the painting
Images 3-5 diagrams of Venus


Resource to accurate Sky map click the link:
https://skyandtelescope.org/interactive-sky-chart/

Gestures of Love

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A fond memory I carry with me is my mom carrying me in the shower. I remember it used to be a little treat when I would shower with her, she would pick me up, carry me to the water falling from the shower head and let the water hit my back. I remember it was so soothing to me, it felt loving and it made me happy.

When I was little I would occasionally wake up in an emotional cry during the night, the first time I recall it happening my mom was laying next to me, grabbed me in her arms and calmed me back to sleep, it was a gesture of love, and I remember feeling comforted and safe.

These are some of my early memories of love, treasures I collect in my mind and look back at fondly from time to time.