It seems like yesterday when I sent one of these newsletter out but I realized that I haven't updated since January. So I am writing to let you know what is going on in my life. I must say there has been a lot.  My brother was ill and taken to emergency room with a lengthy stay in the hospital in November.

His kidneys and liver had become toxic due to a build up of a medication he had been on for years. But out of the storms comes sunshine. After detoxifying his body from these medications and with the discovery of a new medication "he is back" and in amazing condition. He is like the brother I haven't had in 30 years returned to us. My dad fondly refers to him as "Rip Van Winkle, " since its as if he has been sleeping for years. Perry, my brother thinks its rather cute and so appropriate.

My brother a very talented musician and artist is back to working on creating art and music once again.

Through this connection, I am working to get a show together of his work and my work along with artists who may have a connection to a family member who have been touched by Depression and or Schizophrenia. The show will be titled " Fractured Siblings" with the proceeds going to help NAMI, the National Association for Mental Illness, and NARSAD the National Association for Research of Schizophrenia and Depression. You can read more about this and Perry's Story, at www.FracturedSiblings.org .

Back on track with regards to me and my art work. The months of March and April, I taught a fun and exciting class on Mixed Media and Collage through the Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment (which is for 50+, the old Chestnut Hill Senior Center.) Unique and imaginative works were made by several of the students from greeting cards utilizing layers of soft tissue roses and photos of people with castles to a menagerie of cats on a board. These kitties are my student's best friends and she made a great keepsake capturing their personalities of which she was quite pleased. I won't be teaching in May but hope to have both the afternoon and evening class on Wednesdays going in full swing for the month of June. If you are interested in joining us and trying your hand at making some fabulous art please contact Mary at Chestnut Hill Center of Enrichment, Telephone: 215-248-0180 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              215-248-0180      end_of_the_skype_highlighting Email: chseniors@cavtel.net or feel free to contact me at 215-233-3916 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              215-233-3916      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Just last month I gave a lecture in Broomall at St. Luke's Greek Orthodox Church on the subject of  "Creating Art and Stepping out in Faith." The lecture was received nicely.  It was a pleasure and privilege to be able to share my story and my work.

As for my art, I am showing in a juried invitational show for the "Stuckists" in Athens, Greece which I am member. Three of my pieces are on exhibit at the Ash In Art Gallery and School through May 15^th, 2010. The show will also be touring Athens after that throughout next few months.  I also showed in an ACX - Artists' Cultural Exchange Show in Lansdale at the Center for Performing Arts in March.

Currently I am learning and working on digital printmaking by combining my drawings and paintings through digital printmaking processes by means of the computer into stunning new works of art. Or at least I hope they will be stunning. I am quite pleased with the results of two finished pieces so far. I have a long way to go to build a body of work. I will post them as soon as I get them more developed.

And finally, I have been invited to attend a two week artist in residency in St. Scholastique, Canada during July/August. I will be working and sharing my work and techniques at the CIEM  http://www.journalinternet.ca/transfert/Ciem/ciem.htm  Thank God it will be summer as I am not one for the cold and can't imagine doing it in the winter. Although the way it was here this last winter, I would rather have been in Canada than here with all the snow. It should be great to be there when we are generally having extremely hot weather here and I am really looking forward to it.

So that's what's new with me.

I hope you have a great spring and enjoy the beautiful days we are having.