Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July! I spent the weekend
painting while listening to patriotic music by The Boston Pops, and
I want to share a few of the pieces with you.
This year’s Christmas print tells the story of a snow family
“rockin’ around the Christmas tree” and will pair
up nicely with this year’s snow globe.
The 2004 Annual Christmas print.
Drake University will be released at the Ames Convention, now just
a few weeks away. It will retail at $125.00. The print features the
Law Library, Old Main, and the Reflecting Pool. Drake is located in
Des Moines, Iowa.
I am also showing you a new crucifixion piece. I have titled it My All,
for Christ gave His all.
Drake University will be released at the Ames Convention.
My news this week is brief, because I am getting ready for this weekend’s
Barn Show. Next week my daughter Becky is coming over from Italy to
help me with some ideas I have for future etchings and silk screens.
Maybe I’ll have something fun to show you in a few weeks.
My All will be published as a limited edition print and released
for $220.
This weekend I gave a call to Virginia Vasquez who heads up the education
program in Panama. She is always very excited about the program and
the progress of the kids. Here is what she had to say: “The program
continues to run at its high level of success. We have a new paid member
of our teaching staff, Ariana Clarke. Ariana teaches computer keyboarding
to prepare the children for when the computers finally arrive in Bocas.
The other teachers are Natasha McFarlane and myself.
“We have two ‘Gringo’ volunteers, Margo Carey and
Joan Burgaman, both of whom are here for half of each year. We are looking
forward to receiving additional teaching help if the Foundation’s
plan to bring student Spanish teachers from U.S. universities and colleges
comes into being.
Virginia and her students during one of Pat's visits to Panama.
“After many hold-ups, the thirty computers donated by Texas Hovercraft
via the Foundation are getting close to Bocas. They have reached Puerto
Limon, Costa Rica, and should be here within a week or so. The computers
will be divided between the high school and those elementary schools
that have electricity.
“We are keeping within our budget but have some concern for the
last part of the school year, because we are expecting extra expenses
associated with the distribution of the computers.
“Another cost we did not plan on is the increased cost of gas.
Gas is a major factor because most of our transportation is by water,
and boats require more gas than cars. The price of gas has doubled in
the past year and is now in the range of $2.95 to $3.15 a gallon.”
Virginia is a gem, and the school program would be lost without her.
Until next week,
Pat