Movie Star!

So here's a fun video that was done a little over a month ago.  Its my fellow artists, Debra Benditz and Beata Szechy (Director of Hungarian Multicultural Center) and me talking about Budapest.  We thought the interview was going to be about our artwork and exhibit, but it ended up being more about what we like about Budapest.  Its in hungarian, but you might hear a little english peeking through.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1geWioykPqA&feature=share

Self Portrait

I've been working on this piece for a week or so. Thanks to the Maureen and Tad Mallory for helping me with then title, "Self Portrait #1."  I'm not so good at faces or flesh tones, but I think this one worked out pretty well!

Street Art

A few years ago I saw a documentary called, "Beautiful Losers."  Since then, I've been fascinated by street art of almost any kind.  Here's a few that I've been saving for you.  The first two are from Budapest, and the last three are from Krakow.

This little stenciled owl is all over Budapest.  He's on the bus, on the sidewalk, on a building.  I think his creator is copying the "Andre the Giant" guerrilla artwork marketing model.

This vintage mural is in an area in Budapest with lots of design shops and fashion studios.

Here's a happy guy tripping down the streets of Krakow.

Not sure what the lion skin cap means - maybe something to do with the Lion of Judah?

And last, but my favorite - I love the megaphone that turns into a bell!

This morning I took the 105 bus.  It was supposed to take me to Hero's Square a large memorial in the middle of the city honoring the founders and great warriors of Hungary. I planned to walk to the huge Saturday morning flea market not far from there.  The 105 takes me across the old Chain Bridge into the heart of Pest.  As the bus approached the bridge - it continued around a circle and took an entirely different direction.  I noticed the fellow sitting across from turn around and look at the driver.  Then he muttered something in Hungarian and got up and tapped on the bus driver's window.  (The bus drivers sit in an enclosed box for protection from bus riders.)  The bus driver said something back in Hungarian and continued down the wrong path.  At the next stop, my fellow passenger got off.  As the ride continued - person after person tapped on the driver's window and conversed with him, and time after time, shortly after their conversation - they got off the 105.

You're probably wondering why I didn't get off the 105.  Well, unfortunately, I left my handy little iphone at home which has a sweet little app with a map of Budapest and a blinking blue dot (which represents me).  Those of you who know me well, know that my sense of direction is simply not there.  (I get lost in Greenville - even though I've lived there for at least 30 years - and its not that big.)  We were traveling on streets that I had never seen before.  Finally - when I was the last person on the bus - I tapped on the bus driver's window and said, "Hero's Square?"  He had already pulled away from the bus stop and immediately stopped the bus in the middle of the street and pointed down the road.  There it was...Here's Square.  Thankfully, he opened the doors and set me free!

So what was the problem?  Why had he taken this crazy route?

Here's Square had been transformed into a horse racing track.  No kidding - in the middle of Budapest - they had laid down tons of sand and bleachers and tents for a day of horse racing.  It would be like putting a race track around the Washington Monument or the Reflection Pool of the Lincoln Memorial.  In between the Hungarian Museum of Modern Art and the Fine Art Museum of Budapest was a horse race.  Take that Heritage Green!

I eventually made it to the Flea Market and had a great time.  One lady thought I was Polish and kept speaking to me in polish - one man chased after me with a gorgeous gold frame that I refused to buy because he was asking too much, and all I purchased were these delicious, freshly-cut potato chips.  YUM - where's my woodchuck?

Please forgive my lack of blog posts this week.  I've been working hard on a few new projects and will hopefully show them to you in the next few days!

Signs

When one is unable to read or understand the language of a foreign land - signs with pictures become quite important.  Here are a couple that have me puzzled.

No cigarettes, no ice cream, no hamburgers, no bicycles, no rollerblades, no skateboards allowed on the subway.
How about french fries?

No cigarettes, no hamburgers, no red backpacks, but green ones are okay and watch out for the big hand coming out of nowhere to steal your purse.












My personal favorite - men are devils and women are angles!

A Sweet Passage

This little drawing was started weeks ago and I just got around to finishing it today.  Its a scene up on Castle Hill on the Buda side of Budapest.  I've been working on it a little at a time and have totally enjoyed the process.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Finished!

Sisters

There are many things I like about living in Budapest.  I've already mentioned that dogs are allowed on all public transportation, but here are three more!

I love that everyone carries a shopping bag with them at all times.  Typically Hungarians don't go to Walmart on a biweekly basis to stock up their freezer and fridge.  Shopping for them is a daily task.  Most folks here use public transportation, so shopping must be done in bits and pieces. Its nothing to see a man carrying a large bottle of laundry detergent and a young lady with a 12 pack of toilet paper under her arm on the bus.  I stop by the grocery store almost every day to get milk or bread or potato chips.  (Did I mention the chips here are fried in sunflower oil and they're fabulous?) Food is super fresh and goes bad quickly because preservatives aren't use much.

Secondly, I love all the second-hand clothing stores.  In the states - I'm not really into digging through someone's discarded clothing, but for some reason its different here.  Yesterday I found a pair of prussian blue Gandhi pants - for only $5.  I didn't have the guts to wear them to church today, but you bet they'll be sportin' around town tomorrow.

Last of all - public displays of affection are everywhere.  At first it made me a bit uncomfortable - I didn't realize how reserved I am.  But now I find it comforting to see how much a person enjoys the company of another.  Hungarians are known for being frowners, but when they see a friend or family member - their faces light up like a Christmas tree.  They greet and hug and kiss because they're happy to see each other.  Yesterday, as I was getting off the subway, I spotted these two sisters, arm in arm.  It made me think of my sweet sister (who has a birthday tomorrow!)  She's a trooper - watching my fat, mean, black cat for months on end.  Can't wait to go shopping together when I get back!

Jodi, Oh Jodi!

I have seven nieces (four had a choice, three didn't) and they're ALL special - each has her own unique point of view, style and taste.  Because I lived for a few years with Miss Jodi - I probably know her taste best.  Budapest has a fancy street that might be the equivalent of America's Fifth Avenue - its named Andrassy Utca (street).  Today I saw this window display and couldn't help but think of JoJo!  Books falling from the sky, funky skirt with an old fashion/mod blouse and ankle boots.  The only thing missing is a sparkly necklace!!!

Another window that made me think of Jodi was in front of a shop that made handmade gloves.  Jodi would have certainly gone inside to take a closer look - maybe try a few on.

One last display caught my eye -  I'm not one for furs, but this fuzzy vest would be welcome in my closet anytime!  I'm just sayin'...

Shoes...

Yesterday I went on a wild goose chase to find a "garage sale" that turned out to be four women selling their old clothes and shoes in a basement of a damp store.  I heard about it through a facebook group and the description and pictures were greatly exaggerated.

So, I decided to go on a sunset walk along the Danube to end a really nice day. I had heard about a sculpture located near the Parliment Building - so I headed that way.  After walking about 15 minutes, I found it and not a soul was there.  No plaque or words could be found to tell the title or the artist, just the sculpture.

Its a somber scene - scattered bronze shoes pointed toward the water on the edge of the river wall. I've been told it commemorates the lives of jewish victims during World War II. These people were ordered to take their shoes off at the edge of the water before they were machine gunned into the current.  I'm glad no one was there - words can't express my quiet sadness.

First Day of School

Yesterday morning as I was fixing my morning latte, I heard voices of children singing in the back yard.  I opened the back window and found I was right.  The kids weren't actually in my back yard, but at a school about a half a block away.  They were singing the Hungarian national anthem with all their heart.  The school year here starts quite formally.  Each school has an opening ceremony on the first day of school - where the students sing, recite poetry, dance and even pray.  Students of all ages usually wear some variation of black and white.  I'm not sure if this is a requirement or tradition or being polite or just trying to make a good first impression - who knows.
As I was running around town yesterday, I saw lots and lots of young ladies wearing black skirts and white blouses and hose and young men in black suits and ties. Kind of fun to see!  

Buy Some Peppers!

A few of you have asked if my little watercolors are for sale - well now they are!

I've placed one on eBay as a test.  Needless to say, marketing hasn't been my forte, but we'll give it another go.  Auction is up for 7 days or you can use the "buy it now" option to head straight to the top of the class.

These sweet little peppers were painted during the first week of my residency and will be carefully packaged to make it safely to your home.  Beautiful Hungarian postage stamps will be used to ship the painting, all included in the eBay price.  More peppers to come - so start your collection today!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121169480940?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

One Month Down...

Last Tuesday was the end-of-the-year exhibition for Hungarian Multicultural Center residency program and was the culmination of five sessions of artists from around the world participating in month-long residencies.  My colleagues, Rexy Tseng, Alexis Neider, and Debra Benditz, and our director, Beata Szechy (pictured in next post) will be friends for life.  Its impossible to live, eat, work and play with folks and not grow attached.  Debra, Rexy, and Lexy have departed for home and Bea will leave early Tuesday morning to return to Dallas.  Last night as I walked away from the Marriott after saying goodbye to Debra, a sense of excitement grabbed my heart.  Soon I'll be on my own in this great city.  Some of you may think that sounds sad, but I'm REALLY looking forward to it.  I can't wait to do more creating, writing, painting and exploring.

Alexis Neider

Beata has graciously allowed me to stay another three months in her lovely downstairs apartment. Its so perfect and simple.  I'm grateful to my kind Father for allowing me this amazing opportunity to heal and grow!

Rexy Tseng

Debra Benditz