I have been given a very poinient reminder today that we are who we are because of who we have met and loved along our path in life. Those people who who have made their marks on our hearts for good or bad have shaped us in many ways. Maybe in ways that are not readily apparent unless reflected upon but shaped us none the less. I guess I would like to thank those who have come into my life. Some have stayed and some have moved on but the memories and lessons have molded me into the person I am now. And I have found that I like that person.
A person that I knew 40 years ago came to see me today. We had some fun talking about the “old days” and what is going on with each other recently. I realized that I’m glad for all my ‘Old days”. Anyway, the older I get the more “old days” I get to have.

My husband and I just came back from a wonderful island called Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize. Not only is it a melting pot of nationalities but it’s slow and easy pace, which at first is frustrating, is refreshing. If asked what time it is the response is “morning, aftrenoon or night” whatever the case may be. If asked what day it is, “March” is as precise as they get. While we all move around our worlds at a frantic pace, myself included, I wonder if the Belizian people and those who have adopted thier country, may have something there. It’s not that we should be late for work or every appointment or do things without regard for others, but take a more thoughtful stance, slow down, and as the saying goes, “smell the flowers” along our paths. I wonder if we fill our lives with activities just so we don’t have to stop and reflect. We bump along as pinballs from one project to the next either gaining points or loosing them. And the effort we put in is enormous! If we lose points we go back to the game and try harder and harder. But who does it really benifit? Our struggles lead to …..what?
While I don’t advocate dropping everything and go fishing but take some time to own your life. Step aside from the game and reflect on your choises and those things that you don’t have a choise about. Where you are being lead and where you can lead.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and how life has shaped who I am. But it took a Belizian culture to make me see that there is time to “see”.

Well, I have to apologize to those that I have hounded to read this blog. I have been very lax these last few months in writing about my work. Alot has happened since the summer breezes blew( oh, how I wish that they were still here). First of all, I’m still very busily working in the studio at the North Dam Mill. I go in every day and thank my lucky stars that I am able to work in my sanctuary. I sometimes try to stand back and look at my work objectively, to see how others may interpret some of my pieces. I question whether what I wanted to communicate actually comes through. Through body language and our stereotypical impressions of animals I’m trying to express the emotions of protection in our lives. But since we usually protect or hide ourselves in situations with other people, I’ve started to use more than one piece to create more of an interaction. I like the action/reaction between the two ( or there may be more than that in the future) pieces. So that’s how I’ve been expanding this end of my work.
As for the ISH series, I’ve been playing with new materials, beads, shells, leather etc. It has been fun to think up new ways to make a fish with “off the wall” materials. Though I really enjoy the portrait part of the “fish” which gives me so much room for expression.
Speaking of portraits, I was at a craft show in mid December and pulled a very nice young man out of the crowd to do a portrait sketch in clay. I was hoping that people would see that clay is not limited to pots and can be used for other purposes. That was not very intimidating and could be learned in a class. So, I will open my studio in March to whoever would like to try some clay work. Stay tuned for times and dates for these classes. I will post them both here and outside the studio door and a few other venues.
I also am trying to start a Figure Drawing class. This would be a non-instructive drawing class where a model is present and people can come in to draw or paint. The fee will be $10-15 just to cover the model’s fee. If you are interested please contact me.
The fruits of my labors of the last 6 months have just been photographed and should be up on the website in about a week. I have a wonderful photographer, Bernard of Monento Photography, who truly cares about showing my work in it’s best light.
That’s all for now, thanks for listening.

Hey there!
This is will be the first time I can let you know what is going on with me and my work.
I will be in a benifit auction on August 31, 2010 at the UNE campus on Stevens Ave. in Portland. The auction benifits the Marine Animal Rehabilitation center(MARC). If you go to their website(kmatassa@une.edu/research/msc/marc/.) you can find the names of the seals and turtles that are being rehabilitated and eventually released to the wild. What a great way to give back to the world. Something we should all think about.
As for my work, I am always busy in the studio. I have four new pieces which will take a little time before I can get them to a point where they can be photographed but they are bigger than my normal work and more complex. Funny how my work follows my life. I am more contemplitive, with my focus inward so all of my figures have that quality. As for the size, well, that is anyones guess.
Stay tuned for more information, facts, fancys, and future blogs.
Bye for now.

This is to unveil the first blog of the year. Keep your eyes peeled for new and updated photos.