Morro Bay, CA
It really does seem like a dream. I was somehow at Morro Bay on the coast of California with my heroes, friends, and mentors.We were at an in-person gathering, talking about the art of encaustic and learning so mych from each other. People I had known only from Zoom were giving me real hugs. Even Lora Murphy, founder of Painting with Fire, was there from Ireland.
Me with Lora Murphy – what a brilliant artist she is –
But wait! It was real! My first trip out of Texas in almost three years really was to California to the Wax on the Water Convergence, hosted by the International Encaustic Artists.
Juror Pamela Smith Hudson discusses the work in the IEA Convergence Exhibition of encaustic art.
My dear friend Michelle Belto went with me and gave a wonderful opening program on creating authentic art. It set the tone for the amazing conference.
I brought home lots of great memories – a wonderful workshop with Jay and Ann Bonestell, the swanky dinner at Windows on the Water honoring Trish Seggebruch and Lora Murphy, meeting fellow Enso Circle residents in person –
One of my favorite stories is meeting Barbara Sitar, the former Morro Bay Art Center Gallery Director. Barbara has exhibited and been a featured artist in galleries and other installations in Europe and the USA. During her thirty years as an art professional, she has been a curator, mentor and artist in her native Slovakia in Prague, Vienna, Germany and America.
Talking with Barbara, whose work was in the IEA Exhibition, I found out that she was a native Czech speaker. I introduced her to my husband Bill, who also speaks Czech, and they carried on a happy conversation about Prague and families and all kinds of Czech-related topics. It was fun to watch (even though I didn’t understand a word of it).
The nicest coincidence, though, was that in the IEA Members’ Art Exchange, I won Barbara’s work! It’s an encaustic piece depicting a beautiful Morro Bay white heron. It has a new home in Texas 🙂
Barbara Sitar, 2022
If you would like to see an overview of this wonderful gathering, please view the video – Sean, our videographer, did a stellar job capturing the joy of ConVergence in just five minutes of film.
Master.mp4 from Seannie Cameras on Vimeo.
There was also a good article from San Luis Obispo New Times about the Conference. Many thanks to my fellow IEA Board members whose hard work made this an unforgettable experience. Here’s to next year!!
Outstanding!!! Looks like a wonderful time! And Heron! Well yes!
Right? Meant to be – sending a big hug to you.
What fun, Lyn! It was a great course and I’m only one third done! Thank you and all the ladies and gents involved.
So very glad and grateful that you’re involved with PWF – it’s amazing – would love to see what you’re doing, Dee Dee.
♥
Congratulations on winning that beautiful pice of artwork!!!
Looks like a great gathering. So glad you had such a positive experience for your first post pandemic travels.
I am so sorry I had cancel and miss this after looking forward to. I keep reminding myself over this past year that “you are where you need to be.” For the past 9 plus months at my home it’s been trying without details.
Thank You Lyn for sharing some of the details-
xoxoxox
I missed you but will see you sometime soon 🙂 fingers crossed.
Hi Lyn, I lived in Morro Bay briefly in 1995 and during the summer, I painted a large mural of a ship on the side of a motel on the Embarcadero and across from Morro Rock, the Adventure Inn. It’s probably no longer called that. The mural was covered when a building was built in the adjacent lot. I recognized Morro Rock immediately. I visited many lovely galleries while there and SLO was a favorite trek. Thanks for writing and including these pictures. Kate Word, Corpus Christi, TX
Kate, that’s a great connection! The Embarcadero is busy and booming – what a huge job that must have been but what a lovely place to paint a giant mural.