Fruits of Summer

The Bay Area has been a bit cooler than usual this Summer but the last couple of days have been positively scorching! Feeling awfully lethargic today but wanted to share some images of the fruit trees I've noticed on our walks recently. This cherry tree brought a smile to my face. So lovely.

And these little neighborhood apples look delicious, don't they?

Here's a recent Polaroid of our beloved lemon tree. We have lemons all year long!

Fruit trees represent growth, productivity (and creativity!), abundance, and renewed hope for me. Have you been productive this Summer? What were your "fruits"? Did you do something good, memorable, or that you're proud of? I witnessed something awful that turned out to be really life-affirming; I accomplished a few things I'm pleased with, did loads of thinking, some growing up, a fair amount of relaxing, and general making of plans for the future. I'd call it pretty fruitful...

Images: 1: Ditte Isager (for Real Simple Magazine); 2-6: Silvana Ferreira

Local Love

Have you taken a moment lately to think about how much the small businesses in your area contribute to the vitality and well-being of your community? It can't be easy staying afloat in these difficult times but many business owners really add a positive feel to their neighborhoods, consistently maintaining their appearance and displaying their wares/services in unique and inviting ways. You can't ignore the fact that seeing a street of beautiful, clean businesses lifts the spirits. Aesthetics really do matter. I try to do my best to return the favor by shopping locally when I can. I'm sharing some images of details of local businesses that caught my eye.

And finally, a collection of doors - the first is actually covering a window of a business. Beautiful, isn't it? The second is a kitchen door to a restaurant. Isn't that wreath (last image) pretty?

Images: Silvana Ferreira

Mina Barker's First Birthday

My sidekick, Mina is a rescue mutt. We adopted her when she was around ten weeks old so she was born around this time last year. She's been a real gift in our lives. Anyone who works from home will know how solitary and quiet the day can be. Mina keeps things interesting for me and forces me to take breaks and enjoy the day. She can also be incredibly naughty until she gets her exercise, and her antics often disarm me and I chuckle in surrender when she has exhausted my patience. Here she is in her first week with us (after her first vet visit, where she got the bandana she's sporting).

And here she is all grown up...

In this week's Sunday paper, I read about Jonny, a pit bull seized from the Bad Newz Kennels owned by Michael Vick when it was discovered that he was running a dog fighting ring. Wonderful judge Henry E. Hudson ordered $1 Million to be spent on the rehabilitation of Vick's dogs. Jonny "spent his entire life either locked up in a pen or chained to a rotating axle in the woods, with little or no positive interaction with people or other dogs" and actually became a therapy dog! Read the full article here.

Dogs continue to amaze me in their capacity to love, learn, and forgive. If you're a rescue dog owner - yay - you're awesome! If you're thinking of going out to a breeder and spending thousands of dollars for a pup (I hope you'll never consider a pet store/puppy mill purchase - people who run these kinds of operations are cruel, sick and greedy), take some time to consider a shelter/rescue pet. Thousands need your help - there are too many great animals in the shelter system right now.

As for Mina, she's just beginning her journey with us and will always be a treasured member of our family. Happy birthday, little girl. You are so loved. x

Images: 1, 2, 4: Silvana Ferreira; 3: Jonny by Amado Garcia (for Parade Magazine)

Photography Inspiration: Ibai Acedevo

The very talented Barcelona-based photographer, Ibai Acedevo is right at the top of my list of photography obsessions. Trained as a graphic artist, Ibai mixes reality and fiction in magical ways. The light, composition, and tones in his work truly mesmerize. Loving his entire portfolio right now. I'm sharing some of my favorites here. Enjoy.

Images: Ibai Acedevo. Visit his Flickr stream and web site.

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean--
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down--
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?

~ Mary Oliver

This is one of my favorite poems. My husband first shared it with me years ago and I return to it often to remind myself to live with purpose (and often with abandon - it's really important to laugh, be idle and wander). Setting new goals and reaching them, making the most of my time and making the days matter, appreciating the people in my life, helping to protect and nurture this beautiful planet, and letting go of petty concerns - this poem begs me to do all of these. Does it resonate with you? If you have a poem or quote that pushes you to be a better person and live a meaningful life, please share it, will you? 

Image: Silvana Ferreira

A peak inside my first group show

Just over 60 artists are exhibiting their work at the Sanchez Art Center (in the San Francisco Bay Area) until the end of August. I am proud to be participating in the show - my first ever. Marian Parmenter of SFMOMA Artists Gallery selected the exhibiting artists. This show was an incredible learning experience for me and I've met so many folks whom I really admire. Here's a look at my little corner of the show and the last day of mounting our work in the galleries.

And below, a couple of snapshots of the ticketed preview fundraiser night. So much to see - so much creativity! There are two wings of the building to visit and several gallery spaces.  I have to go back a couple of times to take it all in properly. My fellow artists are really stellar and working in every medium imaginable. If you're in the Bay Area, come on by.  The exhibition is free and the galleries are open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1pm to 5pm until August 29th.

Here's a closer look at all my pieces as they appear in the show (click on the image to view slightly larger). See individual pieces in detail on my Flickr page.

Every artist has their favorites and these are my babies - they make me take a deep breath:

All images: Silvana Ferreira

Renegade & Poster Love

This weekend I visited the Renegade Craft Fair at the Fort Mason Center on the waterfront in San Francisco. Dozens of talented crafters and artists showed off their beautiful wares for hundreds of visitors from around the Bay Area. What impressed me most about the fair is actually more techie than artsy. I can't believe how iPhones and iPads have changed the way indy vendors do business. The technology available to them now is extraordinary. Instead of getting worried about hitting an ATM before going anywhere near an outdoor art fair or farmer's market, shoppers can use their credit cards at the smallest of vendors who are equipped with an iPhone or iPad using new apps and gadgets like these card readers from Square and Swipe It. This is all mind blowing to me! When I first saw the tiny white swipe square (attached to an iPad) in action, I couldn't wipe the curious and excited smile off my face - and the vendors were all too happy to show it off. It makes everyone's lives so much easier! Technology is awesome! You really can take your business anywhere now.

My favorite exhibitors at this show were the poster vendors. Here's a peak at the Poster List booth and below that a shot of the DKNG booth. You really can decorate your entire home with posters and there are so many talented folks producing amazing work.

Other great teams at the show included The Small Stakes (below), GigArt (Josh Ritter poster - love!), and Cinqunquatre (featuring the work of Alice Jarry).

 

If you like poster art, you should also check out Gigposters (example below) and Hammerpress (beautiful, understated design!).

Images: 1: Silvana Ferreira; 2: Square, Inc. ; 3: Swipe It; 4 & 5: Silvana Ferreira; 6: posters by The Small Stakes; 7: poster by GigArt; 8&9: Alice Jarry; 10: posters by Gigposters (large) and Hammerpress.