gratefulness

Hi Friends of Kloe,

I've had clean-up of "Kloe Among the Turks" on my to-do list for ages. Lots of spam found me, and I've never wanted to use a spam blocker or review each comment before publishing. So I'm restricting comments on this blog. You know where to reach me if you want to chat.

It was the right decision to end Kloe--have been swamped with other obligations. I miss the daily ritual of writing, though. My new blog and website are stalled (sigh), but I'll write when they go up. It's about drawing, but you know me--I can rarely be totally serious or stick to the point.

My painting career continues to progress. I now have a dealer and agent who are pushing to get my work out there. Am even on Artnet! I had a solo show in LA and am in studio every day.

Teaching is not so good. California continues to cut education and I'll be back on the dole soon. Students can't get classes they need to graduate. Californians don't want to pay taxes to support education, so they'll support jails and highways carrying smart people out of the state instead.

If you've been perusing the toy aisles lately, you'll notice there are no Bratz for sale. Legal battles with Barbie hurt production, but new Bratz will be unveiled in Summer 2010. Let's hope they haven't de-sassed us.

Finally, my chef and little artist are fantastic. We have a new hamster, Mickey, because Biscuit departed to Hamster Heaven.

That's it for my Christmas letter in April.
kisses to all.
K

End.

Dear Friends.
This blog, Kloe Among the Turks, has been a constant in my life for almost three and a half years. This is my 850th post. It has given me great satisfaction to write almost every day, chronicling my life and artmaking, what I think about and feel.
I finally need a break. The past year has been hard on me financially, and I’m embarking on new projects that need my focus. I’ll be teaching a Renaissance to Modern art history survey in addition to my Ancient to Gothic course, so will be up to my blue eyeballs in study. I’m also starting a business that will also require a blog (but sadly, no Kloe). Find me here, soon.
I may be back. I may miss Kloe so much that I can’t bear not to write it. But for now, regretfully, I need to be elsewhere.

Before I go, I thought I’d explain my labels:
* angels (special, mystical things that occur in my life)
* art (mine, other people’s)
* art collecting (how and why to do it)
* beach (I live here)
* blogging (posts that question the practice of blogging)
* body (discussions of women’s and doll’s bodies)
* bratz (us)
* bungalow restoration (a project in 2009)
* business (thoughts on how to earn money beyond teaching)
* chickens (love ‘em)
* daily life (odd ‘n ends)
* drawing (as opposed to painting)
* dying (that inevitable subject)
* education (thoughts on teaching)
* expat (living in Turkey with kids)
* food (what I eat and cook)
* garden (what I grow)
* girl talk (feminism and politically incorrect subject matter)
* imagine this (exuberance!)
* in-progress (new stuff)
* Istanbul Biennial (a big art show in 2009)
* kids (.01 and .02)
* money (or my lack of)
* new life (changes)
* Odunpazari Project (a Turkish project from 2008)
* pets (my animals)
* politics (American and Turkish)
* religion (can’t get away from it)
* SoCal culture (where I’m from and am now)
* studio (getting one, using it, loving it)
* trade show (big international art project 2008-2010)
* travel (will never tire of it)
* Turkish culture (where I lived during my Fulbright)
* video lessons (my new business venture)

I wish you all the best for 2010.
Love and kisses, always.
Kloe

Cookbook Editor

The cookbook by Kids .01 and .02 was a big success. I made only 12 copies, trying to save color printing expenses. All the relatives who received it appreciate how authentic it is, with very little adult intervention in the writing and illustration (just fixed spelling).
Tomorrow kids and I are baking 100 cupcakes for a big party we’re throwing for my parents.
Am rather tired… but it’s been that kind of year.

Wishing You

A Very Happy Christmas.
K

Trade Show to Ankara

Got word today that the Trade Show will be exhibited in Ankara in January/February 2010 at Zirrat Bankasi Gallery.
They'll make a catalog. Nice Xmas present.
R. Threat, USA
Z. Akcaogul, Turkey
G. Lombardo, USA
F. Pelit, Turkey
A. Morales, USA

More Home Depot Guys

See the first set here.

Catch Up

Oh goodness, almost Christmas. Am about to turn my house into a book- and cookie-making factory. Of course, after I finish my grades.
Saw this exhibition by my friend Michele Guieu. It looks best from this street view. The text on the windows makes moving shadows on the mural. Michele, who lived in Africa as a child, created a show that is part anthropology and part art installation.

Drama

The moment before a 160 lb. pig that has been roasting underground for several days gets pulled up, like a mummy. Yummy.

Winter Garden

It’s been raining here, practically a miracle. My romaine is very happy. Winter lettuce in the garden is pretty and eliminates those nasty surprises you forget about in your crisper—you simply nip off as many leaves as you need for each meal. Both my kids eat salad, and like to dress it themselves with Euro oils and vinegars a friend brought me.


And if you were wondering, my worms not only lived through the hot summer days, but are thriving! Yes, Kloe hearts worms.

You Can’t Stop an Artist from Making Art

This is absolutely lovely. Not the car, of course.