Diary of a Residency, Day 34 & 35

I didn’t do any journal entries yesterday; I didn’t do any art yesterday. It was a Day Off.  While we did go to Marta Beckett’s Sitting Performance at the Amargosa Opera House last evening, I didn’t even feel as if we were doing any serious touristing — neither investigating nor dreaming about painting. It was just a vacation. I took a long nap. I worked on my computer and shared jokes with Jer. I published a new Art and Perception blog.

I’m considering this week (beginning yesterday) as vacation time, although I’ve been known to do busmen’s holidays — painting while vacationing, just for fun. But I consider the serious work of the residency pretty well finished. And more painting is optional.

Today I need to respond to a lot of Art & Perception comments, and although the wind is howling outside and there are rumors of rain in Death Valley (!), we are planning another Death Valley trip. I’m taking my painting gear, but I’m not sure I’ll use it. The howling wind (well, the windy conditions) makes plein air work less pleasurable.

What will be pleasurable is discussing the Residency work with the Art and Perception folks. They are insightful and kind and really help me firm up my ideas about what I’m doing. So that’s the morning pleasure. If anything comes of the Death Valley trip, I may add to this again this evening. If not, well, Monday will be a more serious painting day. I think.

Here’s a nice twilight photo of the Amargosa Opera House,evidence of the astounding indefatigable human spirit. Marta Beckett gave a full hour performance, as steely and gutsy as possible. Not a hint of self-pity, although she is frail and walks only with difficulty. She sings — badly but unself-consciously.  She deserves the legend that she has created. A bit like Nevada itself, now that I think of it.

Reported at 8:41 AM, Day 35, March 21, 2009 in Beatty Nevada, in the Goldwell House, with a hot cup of fresh coffee at hand.

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