Looking down at my paint smeared hands, a rush of shame came over me that night. I cannot remember what I said to my classmates in the studio as we sipped beer, but I remember feeling shutdown and ashamed. Up until that point, I thought I was deep, talented, street smart, adventurous…..How could I draw from an informed place when my view of the world outside the US consisted of several trips to Mexico and Canada. In that minute I decided to do something about my lack of international influence. This very conversation ignited something undeniable: I must travel far and wide.
But how? I needed to recruit a travel partner. At the time, my best friend from high school was miserable at her data entry job in Venice Beach. I, a 24 year old about to graduate art school, floral designer with no idea how I was going to keep making art and pay bills, decided it was the perfect time for a big change. We both set out with unshakeable determination to work as hard as we could, save money and travel the world together. My parents would never agree to our country count: Tanzania, Morocco, Vietnam, India um, Bali to name a few. By planning and paying for it, we were claiming it, all ours. 10 months later, packs strapped to our backs, we were hugging our parents goodbye at LAX. Filled with a lifetime of memories, our minds and eyes were forever changed. 19 countries,11 months later, we arrived in Los Angeles (right after 9/11).
Reflecting back on the trip years later, there are 2 pivotal moments that rise up: The giddy excitement racing through our bodies as we made our way to the gate with fists full of cash, prepaid flights to all of these exciting places we planned to see. Our childhood National Geographic dreams were about to become a reality. We did it!! It is happening!!! I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment and complete freedom we celebrated that day.
The other overarching theme, as I mentioned before, I set out on this trip believing that if I was going to be an exceptional artist, I must make work from an informed place. We spent the night on the floor of a boat, in the hallway, with 50 other people island hopping in Greece. We also slept on 600 thread count sheets at La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech. The sweltering heat of India, had us wondering how the people could be so incredibly kind and hospitable. With no space in our packs, we could not collect trinkets from our travels. We simply walked the earth together, just see what would happen. We met people for all over, making instant friends with locals and other travelers along the way. It was these connections with people that made travel meaningful. (We said yes! every time someone asked us to go somewhere. I still say yes….)
The sense of adventure has made its way into the way I approach my art. For 9 years I stood at the edge of a hillside in the Palisades painting a mobile home park. You see, this is, my definition of home. A tight knit coastal community who share common ground. Much like the uniformed education I had until age 18, there is a sameness present in the materials and shapes of these prefabricated structures. In order to get to know a place or more importantly a person, we must go inside.
Morocco: Making friends on the way to Merzouga & listening to Gnawa Diffusion (11 hour drive from Essaouira)
Nepal, about to fly into the Himalayas for a 7 day trek with this man, our cheerful porter
Bangkok: On the way to explore the famous floating markets
Kerala, India: Ashram for a week. Floor dining in mandatory silence with our hands- Yes, very awkward.
Mumbai, India: Holi, a festival of colors celebrating good over evil, rooted in the destruction of demoness Holika
Tanzania: Watching the Wildebeest Migration on a safari.
Kenya-Tanzania-Zanzibar: A typical bus stop, where vendors come to you. Sometimes there were 8 people chasing the bus carrying bags of oranges on their heads.
Pacific Palisades: Setting out to define the meaning of Home
Painting: Sold to a Collector in Vero Beach
Thanks for visiting this blog! Until next time, Ta ta!
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