This week, the Hebrew version of my book, Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources.  Activities and Initiatives for Individuals and Groups (with commentaries by mentor/friend, Cathy Malchiodi) was delivered to me.  A nice surprise and a lot fun to see it in another font!  This edition was published in 2006, and I knew it was out there, but hadn’t yet received an author copy.  In Hebrew, the text reads from right to left, and the book, itself, has a more compact format. However, the cover is identical to the English version. The Hebrew edition publishers are Ach Publishing, Ltd. 

For the Korean version, the look (and feel) has been changed: the black and yellow/greens are now white and yellow/oranges. 

For more about the Korean version, please see earlier blog posts:  Found in Translation—Korean (July 23, 2007) and All Good Things Come to Those Who Wait! From Ordinary to Exotic:  Breathing New Life Into an Old Book with Korean Font and Formatting (March 2, 2009). 

Check out the Magnolia Bakery on New York’s Upper West Side.  What’s old is new again.  Not  everyone is on a diet!  Fun to watch the baking process…

My favorite foods include nuts, soya/tofu, berries, and leafy greens!  I know that may seem strange to some.  But, as they say, "chacun à son goût!"  (everyone has their own taste).

When these basics were cut from my diet a few months ago (for medical reasons), I found it very hard to adjust. Now, as I start to feel better, the benefits of self-discipline have been confirmed.  And, with the resulting weight loss, I’ve been happy to indulge with special treats, like cheesecake for breakfast…

Thinking a little more about soy, perhaps it was a fortunate coincidence that this got removed from my diet.  I think I might actually have had soy poisoning!  All those soy lattés…  Googling around, I’ve now found a number of articles that support that theory.  For others interested in finding out more about soy and its potential health hazards, here are some interesting links:  

• Shirley’s Wellness Café
• HealingDaily.com
• About.com
• ReliableAnswers.com
• CNN

Earlier blog posts about my soya milk latté habit include:   Take-Out: Best Soya Latte and Burgers in Toronto (August 15, 2008) and An Unscientific Study of COFFEE Drinking—and What Others Are Saying and Doing (July 19, 2007).

Last Friday, a Globe and Mail headline announced "Art Gallery of Ontario Workers Face Layoffs."  There’s a substantial revenue short-fall and too few visitors and memberships.  The flagging economy gets ample blame.  But, obviously, that’s not the only reason…  November 14, 2008, my blog post, The AGO Reopens and ARTISTS Do MATTER was optimistic. But, soon after, impressions shifted.  Personal follow-up demonstrated how things aren’t always as projected: to be more skeptical about what’s put out when there’s lights, cameras, action. The design and layout of the gallery have been altered, but layers of "ice" still visible. Financial assistance and p.r. bestowed by outsiders aren’t always enough, especially if not able to be sustained in a challenging economy.  When consumers are forced to limit choices, feeling welcome, wanted, or involved is all the more significant, influencing  decisions as to where personal resources might be allocated for memberships and donations.  What didn’t count previously does now.  

Eagerness to trust and believe, perhaps, had caused me to take Director Matthew Teitelbaum’s message that "artists matter" too literally, at the AGO’s pre-opening day party.  Afterwards, I contacted him, as he’d advised, to be added to his "artists’ list."  It was my understanding, at the time, that there’d be (regular, local) artist-friendly happenings and mailings, and an openness to suggestions/meeting. Maybe, it was a mistake to put energy into follow-up when the thought-to-be-approachable (and open) weren’t really. A brief meeting with a tardy and distracted Dr. David Moos (Curator of Contemporary Art), who appeared comfortably so, didn’t justify weathering the cold and paying for down-town parking. But, hoping this was just an "off day" for him, and because of the work gone into my preparation, I followed up with a traditional "Thank you for the meeting note," daring to continue a truncated presentation. No response. I tried again. No response. I tried one more time. Still no response…

Probability:  If it’s happening to you, it could be happening to others.  The "Three Rs" still matter:  Respect, Reciprocity, Replies.  (A future blog post will look at this topic further.)

Principle:  Everyone matters, and those you think might matter least (now), could matter more (later).

The AGO’s annual "Massive Party" event April 2, 09, to collect more funds for the gallery, is $125 per participant. Not to be forgotten:  raising spirits and fostering good will, can also help boost funds (and visitor/membership appeal), no party (or extra expense) necessary.

You might not be aware, it’s World Kidney Day, and March is "National Kidney Month" in the US.  Please visit the website Kidney.org for more information. The Kidney Foundation is on Facebook too! (You can become a fan.)  There are free kidney screenings all over the US today. Many of us take our kidneys fore granted, and don’t drink enough (water, that is)—me included. It wasn’t until I ended up in Emergency last October (for completely unrelated reasons) that I discovered this… Stone disease is on the rise, and you can help prevent it by drinking more (water), and with a change of diet and supplements.  If not, the alternatives aren’t fun, and might take you by surprise! 

Today, I started my first Facebook Group, Susan Central.  March 8, an auspicious day, hopefully!  Not being a Facebook expert, it’s been another learning curve and adventure!

Susan Central Invitation

By chance, I seem to have been meeting a lot of interesting Susans lately, on- and off-line—nice people, and the reason I decided to start a "Susan group."  Whether you are a Susan, have a Susan in your life, or want to get to know one, please consider joining  "Susan Central."  This group will be a fun way to see where, and to whom, a simple name might lead.  Let’s embrace coincidence and serendipity and keep things positive!  Many thanks for your participation.
In anticipation,
Susan
p.s  Please feel free to forward this invitation to others.  The more the merrier!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56222883703
http://profile.to/docsusan
http://www.docsusan.com/
http://docsusan.blogsome.com/

For more about Facebook, please see another recent blog post: Getting to Understand and Appreciate Facebook: in Toronto Tonight, Live and in Person, Not Cyberspace (Facebook Garage 5) February 24, 2009.

Thursday night’s Portrait Society Show opening was a happy and successful happening.  The speeches were short and purposeful, and the curation and way the artwork was displayed very effective.  A steady crowd flowed through, and the ambiance remained warm and animated (like the musical accompaniment), from start to finish.  Kudos to Veronica Tsyglan, Mistress of Ceremonies, guiding light, and Chairwoman.  She thanked all involved and announced the 2010 show theme:  Canadian olympic athletes, past and present.

For more details about this event, please see the earlier blog post:  March 5, 09, Art Events in Toronto, Invitation Reminder: Portrait Society of Canada’s Annual Juried Show, Opening Reception Tomorrow Night. Please Join Us! (March 4, 2009)

The Portrait Society of Canada’s annual show includes the work of 42 member-artists.  One piece was chosen from each. I was at the host gallery (John B. Aird) on the weekend, for delivery, and got a preview.  What a wonderfully varied exhibition!  No two paintings are the same in any way:  size, media, scale, theme…  There truly is something for every taste and interest, and some of the pieces are for sale.  For those who love portrait painting, and are curious to meet the artists behind the paintings, this is a great opportunity. For those who are unfamiliar with portrait painting, this is also a great opportunity—to learn more about it, and get involved with fundraising efforts for a contemporary Canadian portrait gallery in Toronto.

Possible schedule conflicts:  Toronto Art Expo and the The Artist’s Project (Toronto) open the same night (March 5). Having participated in both of these shows last year (The Artist’s Project as part of Artropolis in Chicago), I am happy with my decision to not be involved with them this year.

Artists are repeatedly approached to submit applications and pay big bucks to display their work. Once their money is down, there can be multiple organizational disappointments (not of their creation). Unfortunately, usually, those who gain the most (financially, especially) are those who own and/or manage shows and/or run competitions, or offer to represent artists and/or sell their artwork, in person, on location, or on-line.

Artists, please beware!  General public, please be aware!  What really happens behind the scenes matters, and not just at the time, subsequently. Another blog post will be coming shortly, about scams and advantage-taking of artists, particularly those who are just emerging.  In the meantime, please look back to earlier art show blog posts.  These include:  

• Art Shows: Business Priorities Versus Exhibitor Satisfaction (July 23, 2008)
• Change of Date, Change of Fate: Toronto Art Expo 08 Snowed Under (March 16, 2008)

Numerous unreturned e-mails and phone messages later, the organizer of Toronto Art Expo still hasn’t provided me with receipts from last year.

To see examples of my portraiture (recent and past) please check out the Figurative Gallery on the DocSusan site.

My user-friendly book, Therapeutic Art Directives and Resources.  Activities and Initiatives for Individuals and Groups (with commentaries by mentor/friend, Cathy Malchiodi) was published in Korean last year.  I just received copies!  It’s amazing the difference a change of font can make.  Also, the care and attention to detail the foreign publishers have given to every page is obvious.  This week I’ll be meeting up with the once-little girl who did the cover art.  She’s now 22 years-old!  For an earlier blog post about this book’s translation, please see:  Found in Translation—Korean (July 23, 2007).