On the eve before my flight to Dublin, I'm reflecting on the many decisions and actions, large and small that have made this trip possible, and on a larger scale the focus it takes to make any big idea happen. Some things come at you seemingly out of nowhere, others take prolonged effort and planning...my Irish trip has had some of each. It all started with an email contact about workshops almost two years ago from the man who would later become my agent in Ireland and the UK, Alan Evans. I was pleased of course to hear from someone "across the seas" as he put it, but had not a clue that this would eventually evolve into representation and my first exhibit in another country (Still Spaces, opening at the end of this month in Dublin with my work and that of two Irish artists.)

It was at Alan's suggestion that I applied for a residency this fall at the Tyrone Guthrie Center--though I had heard about it during my previous residencies in Spain, and had for years thought of going there "maybe some day." It seemed the perfect opportunity to get to know the country and culture a but--though when I applied, I had no idea about the exhibit. As it turns out, the opening comes at the very end of the residency, allowing for the possibility of work done there to be included in the show. The bulk of the work though, I painted this spring and summer, and it has already been shipped.

So, I will be at Tyrone Guthrie painting from September 12 through October 3rd. An unexpected development that came up this spring: my friend Janice Mason Steeves turned out to have the same ambition of a residency in Ireland, and we ended up with the same dates at Tyrone Guthrie. We both chose the self-catering cottage option (one can also stay at the grand main house on the Guthrie estate) and we're looking forward to studio visits, sharing dinners and perhaps a pint of Guinness after the work day. There will be other artists around too--as always, one of the best parts of a residency is getting to know creative folks from various parts of the world.

But first, two days of travel (somehow I ended up with an 11 hour layover at Heathrow in London) and four days of exploring Dublin and surroundings. I'll be blogging when I can, so stay tuned.

The painting above is Mineral Point, finished during my last workshop and now in the collection of James Edward Scherbarth. One of his wonderful necklaces is in MY collection and I'm wearing it at the opening!