The Art of P. Buckley Moss

Hello Friends,
Living in a sparsely populated county on the edge of the Chesapeake has many advantages in this modern day life of hustle and bustle but also its disadvantages. This is Tuesday, twelve days after Isabel passed this way and I finally have power again to my house in Mathews.

I have spent the days in Waynesboro, painting in my studio at the barn. Between times I have been buying more plants and shrubs for the Museum grounds.

Works in progress: three winter scenes.

Patti and I have now arrived back in Mathews. I will be packing clothes for the Dayton Convention for myself and for Malcolm before heading back up the road to Richmond airport to meet him late tonight.

Film goers I recommend you see Under the Tuscan Sun which has just been released. The film, a romance loosely based on Frances Mayes book, is set in Cortona, Italy, where I share a house with Becky and family and will be working on silkscreens and etchings in a couple of weeks time.

Sophie and Mikela, my two Tuscan granddaughters, are film extras with two appearances. You can imagine my excitement as I watched the film with Ginny, Corrado and Patti. I saw all familiar streets, the shops, the churches and even caught a glimpse of the roof of my house.

Apart from showing you the town and countryside of my Italian existence, the film is worth seeing for its delightful romantic story and for its gorgeous Italian co-star Raoul Bova. Those of you who are planning to be on the Society's Italian tour next year will be spending four nights in Cortona and the film is a must for you. If any of you are so taken by the film that you feel you must have a house in Cortona, don't forget to contact my realtor son-in-law, Roberto.

Pat discusses framing ideas with Jason and Dennis.

Being in Waynesboro allowed me to spend more time with my two framers, Dennis Morgan and Jason Miles, who are amongst the longest serving members of our staff, having joined us in 1987. Discussions with these two are always stimulating as we review the possible combinations of moldings and mats for a piece of my art.

I have a high regard for Dennis and Jason who never overdo the framing. Some framers, in their enthusiasm for their own creativity, forget that the purpose of the frame it to present the art and not to distract from its message with over-elaborate decoration. I am most fortunate that the galleries carrying my art have the same high standards of respect for works of art.

All is set for a great convention in Dayton which will start with the benefit luncheon for PALS for Life, the breast cancer support charity, on Friday. I am truly looking forward to being back amongst friends after six weeks in my studios. The six weeks have been very productive but now is the time to refuel my energies by having some fun.

Ohio Legacy, the large convention print, may be ordered through Sunday, October 5th.

The weekend after Dayton is the Museum and Barn show, which coincides with the Waynesboro Fall Foliage Festival with its Art and Crafts show in the downtown streets.

On the next day, Monday October 13th, Malcolm and I head for Italy. From there we will take a side trip to London to have an advanced 70th birthday celebration for Malcolm with his sons Hamish and Hugo and their families. We will be back in Virginia in time for the Foundation's annual conference, The Creative Mind, on the weekend November 1st-3rd.

That is it for now. I will have photos from Dayton for you in next week's letter.

Love,
Pat

Panama News:

Margo Carey inspecting the school's baseball field. David Carey took this photo from home plate. Note left field is almost straight up. At its top can be seen "the stand".

Malcolm is on his way back. On Sunday, after church, he took Margo and David Carey to the farm. Until recently Margo was co-owner of the Frame Haven Gallery in Springfield, Ohio. On the way they attended a fundraiser at the lagoon's elementary school. While waiting for a baseball game to begin, David and Margo inspected the field.

Malcolm ordering lunch: on his right Andres his farm manager, on his left Kasilda the wife of Andres. Photo David Carey.

Malcolm took the photo of the calabash gourd. There are three calabash trees on the farm. When the gourds are fully grown, he uses a saw to cut their hard shells into saucer shaped discs. When the discs have dried out, Pat smoothes the insides and paints on to them images of small animals and plants that are typical to Panama. Some of these paintings will be on show this coming weekend at the convention.

Calabash gourd at the farm. The background is Laguna Tierra Oscura.

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