Traveling as an Inward Journey

I love to travel and was always drawn to experiences new things. As a child, I had a map of the United States on the wall at the foot of my bed. I would study it and memorize the capitals and states. I wanted to visit all the states and was so happy when I could count up more than the two states PA and NJ as states I had visited.

I like to travel far away, to exotic places. Despite the inconvenience of long flights, or the fear of being so far from home, I am always ready to go some place new. The jet lag and hassle of arrangements are worth it. Once I leave my comfort zone and start the journey, I am ready to face the unknown- another culture, another place. I will learn from the travel challenges about the places I am visiting and about myself as well.

Someone once asked me why I travel. What's the point? This person never goes anywhere new. He stays home. In the Torah, God tells Abraham to "Go Forth." Rashi, the medieval Torah commentator, points out that these words literally mean "go to you." He understands this to mean that God is telling Abraham to go forward for his own good, to delve into himself. Go on a physical journey and find your true self- who you should be- in an inner journey at the same time.

Maybe being away from my familiar surroundings and culture frees me to learn more about myself than I normally would. I will be doing things I would normally not do- like riding in a helicopter, or going on a glacier, or climbing a mountain. I will be negotiating travel experiences and challenges. I will be meeting new people and seeing new things. I can see things differently and understand who I am more clearly. I am renewed. I discover this self-knowledge in an unfamiliar setting, coming home changed by my experiences.

I would like to thank Rabbi Danielle Stillman, Hillel advisor at Ursinus College for her insights into Lech Lecha from the Torah Portion in the Jewish Exponent, 10/29/09.

From top: Yellow Sky, mixed media and Yellow and Blue, mixed media, use vibrant hues and earthy textures, incorporating the mystery of memory and the magic of place. They express my reaction to travel and show how the journey from physical places to places in my being have been changed forever.

Favorite Ocean Vacations

Some of my favorite vacations included ocean stays. A trip along the South Ocean Road in Australia which included a stay on Kangaroo Island was one of my all time favorites. Arranged by Esther Beckman at Altour International, I would recommend it highly (914-993 -4085).

Another favorite was Cairns in the tropical north of Australia, which seemed an oxymoron to me. But it was a fabulous area. We stayed there a week and had a wonderful time exploring the area. The Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rain Forest, where the Rainforest meets the reef, snorkeling, boating, crocidiles, mangrove trees, lots of exctement. @whitsunday on twitter.
( www.whitsundayonline.net)

Another favorite was Prince Edward Island which is a great surpsie. Although it is far north, the Gulf Stream makes the water warm and comfortable for swimming. The red earth and farmland right up to soft sand beaches made it a nice contrast. We stayed on the north shore. (http://www.toruismpei.com/)

St Martins on the French side was very relaxing and wonderful for a week. We stayed at L'Esplanade which I found online. Lovely rooms with kitchenettes and easy access to wonderful restaurants if you wanted. We rented a car and drove to different beaches every morning and afternoon, until we found two we really liked and then went to those more often. The Atlantic side had waves. (www.stmartins.com)

Moorea was also an amazing ocean vacation. In a small bungalow only yards from the South Pacific (pinch me), we watched the palm trees sway in the breezes. Problem was the reef was so thick, you could not swim or walk in the water there. We did snorkel and swim in other parts of the ocean, however. The resort we stayed at had many activites everyday. It was paradise in so many ways. Contact Esther Beckman for travel plans.

A special ocean vacation is Long Beach Island, a favorite spot for over 25 years. Right on the New Jersey shore, it is hard to beat!! Beautiful sandy beaches, great waves for body surfing, not too far from home, only blocks between ocean and bay, Old Barney lighthouse, Fantasy Island amusement park!! Heaven on earth vacation spot. Plus LBI Foundation for the Arts and Sciences. (www.lbifoundation.org)

The pictures from the top are: Easter Island in the South Pacific Ocean, Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island in the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Horn in the South Pacific/Atlantic oceans, Turks and Caicos Island in the Caribbean, and Ocean City in the Atlantic Ocean

Ocean Views

Even though I prefer land to water, I must admit there is something relaxing about looking out at the ocean or a body of water. It is soothing, calming, mesmerizing... meditative. The colors of the blue waters vary so much. The blues are turquoise, aqua, green, clear, crystal-like, gray. These mixed media images reflect my remembrances of ocean views at various times.

From the top they are: Ocean Wave, Ocean View, Turquoise Sea and Aqua Sky.

Appreciating the Ocean

Although I am not a beach person, I do love to look at the ocean. I do not like being in the ocean- the sand and shells on the bottom, the waves knocking me down, especially since I am not a swimmer, the size brings up my fear of drowning. But I appreciate the eternal nature of it- the constancy of the waves, the vastness of the water, the predictability of the tides. It is a force of nature to be reckoned with- greater than man. It helps put humans in a place in the universe other than in charge. I am in awe of its beauty.

The series I did based on the oceans and seas I have had the pleasure to see: the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Coral and Tasman Seas.

Here are two mixed media examples from the series. From the top: Turquoise Waves and Turquoise Water.

Remembering the Light

The extraordinary light, the beautiful mountains, the perfect weather, the warmth of the people, the colorful culture, the delicious foods and spices, the exciting music and smells made the visit to San Miguel a multi-sensational experience. My stay at Casa Luna with the Main Line Art Center (www.mainlineart.org) group led by Francine Shore set the scene for a transformation so that I came back from Mexico an artist ready to pursue my dream and become a professional artist.

I look forward to revisiting San Miguel and staying at Casa Luna again, tracing my steps and finding new places, always expanding my horizons and open to new experiences.Here is a good resource to learn more about San Miguel www.sanmiguelmagazine.com

From the top: Remember the Light, mixed media; Casa Luna Evening, monotype; Remember the Days, mixed media

Perfect Climate in San Miguel

San Miguel has a delightful spring-like climate all year. The average day is brisk in the morning, with warm and sunny afternoons, and cool nights. At 6400 feet, both the humidity and the temperature is kept down and the air is clean and refreshing. Many tourist from North America come to San Miguel in the winter, where they can enjoy nice days in the 70s instead of the snow and the cold. But the winter nights still afford time in front of the fireplaces in the many bars, cafes, and bistros in town, and most find a sweater still necessary when the sun goes down.

The rains arrive after the hot dry month of May when San Miguel goes through a transformation into an oasis paradise. The rains continue, usually a brief shower in the late afternoon, until the month of September. Every day seems like a little slice of heaven on earth. The temperatures range from 70's to 80's year-round. For more information about San Miguel, visit
http://portalsanmiguel.com

The sun became an important image for me in Mexico. I used it in the monotype series I made when I returned. From the top: Night Fiesta, El Sol, Mexican Morning and Daybreak are colorful, vibrant, and express my love of Mexico and my time there.

Mexican Monotypes

I came home from San Miguel D' Allende changed forever. I left a hobbyist and came home an artist, ready to devote myself completely to my art. I cleared out a room and created a studio. I worked passionately for hours and hours on creating new work. I took workshops and classes, fine-tuning my techniques. I also learned about other printmaking techniques and materials. I wanted to become greener, using less toxic materials. I discovered Akua Kolors which are soy-based and much better for my skin than using oil-based inks which require toxic materials for cleaning, yet I could achieve the sheen I wanted when using them.

I went to a 4-day workshop created by Ileen Henderson of New Hope for Art http://www.newhopeforart.com, led by Susan Rostow who created Akua Kolors which I still prefer and use most often. http://www.waterbasedinks.com

These monotypes are from a series I made at the workshop. From the top: Moonlit Horizon, Mexican Sunset, Mountain Moon.