Artwork created by children for Learning Communities

Murals created by kids in Omaha, Nebraska

The pieces all come together

We Read While Dreaming from "Book Fiesta!"

Colors, imagination, energy...it's all there! I was thrilled to get these photos of the fantastic artwork created by children in Omaha, Nebraska. They made these murals for the Learning Communities Center that offers family literacy programs, parenting workshops, English classes and computer training. Way to go!

Collecting Memories of Sharjah

Last day with amazing students

Surprise Lunch 

Lebanese Bread

Hummus and Lemonade

At the Old Souk with Students

Leaving Dubai

Full Moon at mid-day on the Arctic Circle

Over the Pole and back to Southern California

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles".-Tim Cahill 

 I've just returned from nine days in the Middle East, invited by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour al Qasimi of Sharjah. This emirate is considered by UNESCO as the cultural capital of the Arab World. Their cultural policy is one of the most developed in the Arab world for it's support and investment in art and culture. Sharjah is home to 17 museums and the Sharjah Biennale exhibition of contemporary art. I was fortunate to attend the Sharjah World Book Fair and had the great opportunity to work with a dynamic group of young local artists. Together we worked to create a poster for the 2015 Children's Book Fair. This was my second trip to Sharjah and I am so fortunate to have connected with many new and old friends. I'm grateful to the Princess for her kindness and visit to our workshop. She is a true champion of books.

Architectural Delights of the United Arab Emirates

Futuristic Metro Station

Gleaming Skyscrapers of Dubai

Towers in the Desert

Atop the tallest building in the world

Burj Khalifa-163 floors, 2, 722 feet high

Origami Crane Sculpture

Marine inspired Hotel Lobby

Arabesque arches

Mosque Islamic motifs 

Inside the mosque with Ali & Omar

Vaulted Ceiling

Mosque at twilight

Sensing what you see

Documenting Textures

Candy maker

Photographing Sharjah's Port

Solitude

Chatting with Students

Exploring Old Sharjah

Oldest Cafe in Sharjah

Relaxing with a candy maker at the Souk

Photographing the Zodiac Dome

Iranian Architectural Influence in Old Sharjah

Museum of Islamic Civilization

What is it about travel that makes you take a journey into yourself? How to keep that spirit with you when you return home. To see, to document your own home with new eyes. To keep a record of things that pull you in. I took my students to different parts of their city and asked them to chronicle the textures and shapes as if they had never seen them before. To observe patterns and focus on the details and edges of interesting elements that we plan to incorporate into their work digitally. Watching them taught me so much. Wanted to bring you along as we walked the old part of Sharjah where fishermen lived and originally built their houses out of coral in the way we would use stones. We journeyed to an old Souk [market] visiting candy makers.  Leaving myself behind I discover new things.

Wander Often-Wonder Always.

Leaving the California coastline behind

After 17 hours flying over the North Pole I'm suddenly part of another world.

Color and Form Juxtapositions

Amazing Sharjah World Book Fair 

Getting lost in the rich architecture and geometry

One of many beautiful mosques of Sharjah

Through the windows

Decorative Water Fountain

Detail of old souk

Islamic Sunset

Along the Lagoon

Teaching a workshop to local artists

Drawing Demonstration

Exchanging Ideas

Road map to the solution

Thinking with Chalk

Along the road

I'll never get over the sheer magic of getting on an airplane and suddenly arriving in an exotic place. The unfamiliarity of it all just ignites your senses in new ways. Tuning into those landscapes, the allure of turning the corner and exploring with your eyes, the textures and sounds of a fountain, of children playing in another language.