Art By Tali Landsman

I wanted to mention a great movie that I saw a few days ago. It is called "Waltz With Bashir". It is Ari Folman's animated documentary into the horrors of the 1982 Lebanon war. The movie is visually beautiful with drawings that capture the light in many sophisticated ways. The interviews are all real with real people that have gone through the war and are giving first hand account into their nightmares and dreams. In the heart of the movie lays the controversy massacre that occurred in Sabra and Shatila. This movie strike a cord in my heart as I was first drafted into the army in 1982 which was the beginning of the Lebanon war. I have lived through the sadness and despair that comes with every war. I mostly recommend this movie as an artist, but I was touched by it as a person that lived through these times. If you rent it, make sure to see the extras which feature an interview with the director and a glimpse into how they made the animation. http://waltzwithbashir.com/

We had lunch at Woody's Creek Tavern which is a legendary stop for cyclists, bikers and weekend travelers. It is a casual tavern with some scrumptious options for vegans like us. Next to us a family from New Zealand were celebrating a birthday. Woody Creek Tavern quickly found itself to be a gathering place for the notorious anti- establishmentarian ism of the Woody Creatures and the legendary Hunter S. Thompson. Aspen itself may have moved and changed with the times but the Woody Creek Tavern retains that, that makes it so special and so keeps it's place in the hearts of this special community.

We has a lovely weekend. We went to cycle along the old Rio Grande path starting at Basalt. We had tea at the local cafe in Basalt and listened to some great musicians that performed in the open air farmer's market that was happening along the main road. We love cycling along this path which is the old train path that was converted into a cycling path and that snakes between the mountains all the way to Aspen. It is paved all the way to Woody's Creek and then it becomes a gravel path that leads to Aspen. This time we were on our road bikes, so we stopped at Woody's for lunch and then cycled back. Spring is the colorful season here and wildflowers dot the cycling path. Birds are nesting and gathering and the wild herbs scent the air.

I am in the studio painting large paintings in oils. I take breaks during the day to breath some fresh air. I currently have 10 large oil paintings drying in my studio and the air can get a bit "turpentine scented." I am considering redoing one of the paintings that I thought was done. To add more texture and interest to it by reworking the fields in the front.

It is a lovely sunny and warm day in the mountains. I plan to spend it painting and after work to take a cycling ride through the canyon to get my body back into a good cycling shape. Jules and I are considering taking a cycling trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand next year. This year we are cutting back on travel and plan to divide our time between our NZ and USA homes. For those of you who live in NZ, this weekend is the Original Art Show and sale in Auckland. It takes place at the Pacific Events Centre- in Manukau 26 - 28 June 2009. I have entered 7 large paintings from my Artist's Sketchbook series and 5 small paintings of my landscapes in oil. Go see it and make a day of it!

Today I swam 100 laps in the pool in Avon. This is my third time in the pool this week and I swam 100 laps in about an hour each time. It is so refreshing to be in the water. We also took the bikes for the first time this season for a cycling trip into the Glenwood Canyon. It is a beautiful path that runs along the river. This time of the year the wild roses are scenting the air with their perfume and all the wildflowers paint the riverside with bright colors. The path is maintained daily and it has three rest area with large clean toilets and cool drinking water. I love Colorado and how well they maintain and clean everything in America's largest playground. The rock formation in the canyon are incredible. They tower high above the river and the road like ancient red- oxide sky rise buildings.

I've enjoyed painting in the studio today. It has been more than three weeks since I last painted. Three weeks ago when we arrive back to CO from NZ, I spent the first week unpacking art that I brought to ship to a collector, packing art for the show in Chicago and organizing the house that was closed for two months. Two weeks ago we left for an art show in Chicago and it took us ten days to drive to Illinois and back. So today was my first day painting and it felt ever so good. Suddenly the world make sense again. It is like a soothing tonic to me.

And here is another link to some interesting sculptures made from bubble gum. http://oddee.com/item_96652.aspx

Here is a link to some really cool umbrella art installations: Hope you'll enjoy looking at them. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/incredible-umbrella-art-installations-around-world/9696

I spent the day packing art and preparing it to be shipped. It is a cooler day here in the mountains and the rain is coming and going all through the day. Tomorrow I plan to spend the day painting. I need to surround myself with my work and sort some things inside my heart. I have just heard that a collector of my art had died in a motorcycle accident and my heart is heavy and sad. His lovely and loving wife called me last evening and the news have left me overwhelmed. I am delighted to have creative work to do. I find that it is the best therapy for me.

At the art show Chicago's Magnificent Mile View from our hotel's window. Finally arriving in Chicago... First view of the city. And the traffic gets heavier. At a rest area. The endless 18 wheelers on the road. We are back from doing an art show in Chicago, tired and happy to be back home. In the next few days I plan to pack some art that I need to ship to a collector in Florida and start painting again.

Now you can see some of my art at the most prestigious Saatchi online gallery: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/a/109821.html Charles Saatchi is one of the largest art collector, art dealer and gallery owner in the world.

Mind numbing Nebraska's highway More flat highway The Colorado mountains are still covered with snow... On our first day we drove 400 miles and arrived at North Platte Nebraska. The hardest thing in driving on American highways is staying focused and awake. The road was good, the weather less so. Colorado is still one of the prettiest state in the union. There is still snow on top the the mountains and the highway snakes around the glorious Rockies. The beautiful scenery ends in Denver. North eastern Colorado is flat with endless fields of scrub brush growth and not much farm land. Nebraska is flat, lightly populated with endless green fields. Our second day of 440 miles just ended. we are managing fine with highway food. We were able to get some raw salads, and in Mexican restaurants we eat rice, beans, salad, avocado and saute' vegetables. Tonight we are staying in the "Comfort Inn and Suits" which has a surprisingly nice suites and a large, inviting and empty pool