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!