In the news… July issue of Instinct Magazine

double WORKSHOP madness … one HERE … one THERE …

The artist is pondering the idea of having the students help complete a part of the Tile House in the Wonder Valley workshop…

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The date was March 24, 2002, according to my digital records. My friends Michael Johnstone and David Faulk, San Francisco based artists came to visit my little homestead in Wonder Valley. They promised me a dress up too !!! David being the dress up queenPalm/planetaryEmpress, she got dolled up. Michael and I took out our cameras. I lit the bonfire.
NOW it’s August 2008 and I receive a postcard in the mail from Michael. My EYES wide, I see that there is a photo I took on the postcard…but no wait, it’s not mine, it’s Michael’s. Yer but no but yer but no but yer but no but. Yes, folks it was Michael’s image. The photo posted here with the fire is one I took at the same shoot in Wonder Valley… WHICH leads me to another fascinating detail – OPEN STUDIO TOUR is coming to the desert. Please don’t miss it. This is an adventure you need to take. You won’t be disappointed by the inspiring art and artists of the high desert in Wonder Valley, just under the cradled mountains and Joshua Tree National Park. Chris Carraher will be joining me in the Tile House on El Paseo for Open Studio with her stunning pastels.


Michael Johnstone pumps up the COLOR… and this is where Perry and he hop on the same wave…
Cheers Michael and good luck with your show up in San Francisco.

Olive Rosemary Bread

OK, so you’re thinking, hmmm, he got married and now he’s baking bread. Hmmm, you’re so right
I found this recipe online yesterday and then I baked the bread. WOW ! It really came out pretty tasty and was REALLY easy to make… so here it is:

Rosemary Olive Bread
3 cups bread flour (ap will work fine, too)
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt
3/4 cup warm water
1 tbsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
1/2-1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsley chopped

Combine yeast and warm water until yeast becomes creamy, about 10 minutes.
Add olive oil, salt, sugar, rosemary and olives into the yeast mixture and add flour 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until dough comes away from the side of the bowl. Move dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic.
Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turn to coat, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 400F.
Shape dough gently into a ball. Place on a baking sheet and let rise, covered with a damp towel, for 30 minutes. Dust the bread ligtly with flour, slash the top and put into the oven.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, until bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
Place on a wire rack to cool.

Open Studio Tour …Joshua Tree …Wonder Valley

You know you’ve been meaning to take that trip. A trip to the middle of nowhere. A trip to the desert where the skies are huge, moon and star-filled skies and an openness that can be unsettling and yet so relaxing as you give it all up to the big sky and let it all float off on a cloud. As if you need more of a reason to go, the Open Studio Tour is a chance for you to see the desert and all of it’s interpretations by local artists or bi-coast/dez artists like myself. The connection is in the SAND. There will be a lot of new work in ceramics and mosaics and painted giclée photographs. This year Chris Carraher (alias Jackadandy) will be joining me at my studio in Wonder Valley so people can drive less and SEE more. She will have an amazing body of pastel works on display for your viewing pleasure. Maps of the event are available via Morongo Basin Arts Council and the Art Tours. Just make it a point this year to come out and have an adventure in the desert! Why not?!?!?

for Lisa

Dear Lisa,
Your father, Jerry produced some incredible music. I’m grateful for all the MUSIC. I’m grateful to have been taken to The Whiskey A Go Go to see Dr. John the Night Tripper, with you and both your parents back in the 70’s. Of course the stories about Tina at your house when you were only 12 are a treasure too. I love you with all my heart and hope the universe protects you and surrounds you with love. I’m sending ganesh love vibrations to you now. PEACE and in light and love, Perry
 

Dr. John

back to the garden

Tibetan Thangka Painting

A wedding gift from Joseph and Larry in Sonoma.The thangka is from one of the six largest of the monasteries of the Gelukpa sect – the sect of the Dalai Lama. Manjushri:Manjushri (Tibetan: jam pal yang. English: The Glorious One with a Melodious Voice).The bodhisattva that represents the wisdom of all the buddhas of the ten directions and three times. Manjushri has one face and two hands held to the heart in the Dharma Teaching gesture (mudra) delicately holding the stems of two lotus flowers blossoming at each ear. The blossom on his right supports the flaming sword of wisdom and the left supports the Prajnaparamita Sutra. Very peaceful and smiling, he is adorned with a crown, jewel and gold ornaments and variously coloured silk garments, seated in vajra posture above a moon disc, multi-coloured lotus.
ORIGIN: Chamdo,Tibet
PERIOD: 1800s
SPECIFICATION: this excellent Thangka is gathered from a Lama in Tar Monastery, Tibet.
The Tar Monastery, which means “Holy Place for the 100,000-Body Maitreya buddha,” is located in the Lotus Flower Mountain south of Lusha’er town. Huangzhong County, Qinghai Province. The monastery, 26 km away from Xining, the provincial capital.
Zongkapa, founder of the Gelug (Yellow) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, was born in the place where the Tar Monastery is located. The 3rd Dalai Lama Soinam Gyamco initiated construction of the monastery in Zongkapa’s honor. Gradually, it became the mecca for Buddhists of Tibetan, Mongolian and Tu ethnic groups. And the 4th, 5th, 7th, 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas as well as the 6th, 9th and 10th Panchen Erdenis once lived there. During its heyday, the Tar Monastery had as many as 70 Living Buddhas and 3,600 monks. Many of them were appointed Hutugto Living buddhas by the Qing (1644-1911) imperial court. Due to its size and influence, the Tar Monastery emerged as one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect. Thangka and Frescoes in the Tar Monastery are rich in content and elegant in style. Debating Buddhist Scriptures, Portrait of Six-Way Samsara and Fresco of Kalachakra ,Shkyamuni,Taras reconsidered the most representative. The frescoes are all painted with yellow, red and blue colors to highlight the themes.
Now this is in our home. It feels odd somehow to be like stewards now, to protect this piece of art. Not to mention realizing any of it’s symbolism in this lifetime… if only… CLICK images to enlarge.

Coastal Garden Photos

August 5, 2008 Santa Barbara, California

Wedding Reception

Well, it’s been a long time since I posted anything, except on ravenMAILart…Getting married is time consuming and exhilarating and exhausting. Anyway the images that have been rolling in from the many cameras are now available for viewing on their very own blog. To see the reception pictures, click this California Wedding link. ENJOY !!! To read written word and observations of Jackadandy, read Wear Your Love Like Heaven.