But a smooth meditation Spalted Maple (piece of highly polished wood) Rubbing it is soothing. I didn’t know the word spalted before today
Created by artisan David Manos- pictured below – who makes gorgeous hardwood buttons and shawl pins, too….you can see his wife Madelyn, peeking! 
The Wood Rasp Shop at the Indie Knit & Spin Marketplace at the Ace Hotel today. 
Here is my friend Vincie in my living room, holding a Bodhi Wind original portrait painted in 1965, She had just picked it up from the framer’s where Jennifer Panza had helped her select the frame and matting. Vincie brought it in and we unwrapped it so I could admire the framed portrait. I’d gone with her to help get it framed, weeks ago.
It’s a really good story.
Five years ago last April, I posted about the Extraordinary Art of Bodhi Wind
In that post I wrote about my friend Steve reading an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette by Joe Smydo about what to do with the artwork of an artist who had passed away. When he read the article, he kept asking me if my friend Vincie knew Bodhi Wind since he’d graduated from her alma mater, Perry High School. After a couple of weeks of him asking if I had checked with Vincie if she knew Bodhi Wind, I finally remembered to ask her. “Vincie, Steve has been on my case to ask you if you knew a Bodhi Wind who graduated from Perry High School who was an actor in LA”.
Steve had mentioned the murals Bodhi Wind painted for the Robert Altman film 3 Women No, she didn’t know him.
(Here is a NYTimes article about The Man Who Painted Robert Altman’s 3 Women by Jennifer Dunning. )
So a few days later the three of us are in the car and it comes up again.
Steve is determined. Asks Vincie himself. Turns out I messed up by asking about an actor when I should have inquired about an artist.
When we got home, Steve got on the computer upstairs and called Vincie to come and read the article. And there was the missing clue. Bodhi Wind had changed his name. For more information it said to contact his mother Mrs. Kuklis. Vincie said, yes, she knew him. Yes, Vincie and Charles (Chip) Kuklis not only went to High School at Perry together but they were classmates in elementary school. Steve was insistent that she must have known him and not only did she know him but they were very good friends in elementary school, too.
This past August, Vincie and her friend Maribeth were attending their 50th Perry High School Reunion. Over the reunion weekend, the two of them went to visit Mrs. Kuklis at her home. Her granddaughter helped show them her Uncle’s artwork but before they looked at the work, they sat in the living room. Vincie said that Chip had painted her portrait when they were in high school. Mrs. Kuklis said “I have it.”
Not only did his mother have the portrait he painted of Vincie in high school, Mrs. Kuklis had set in out on a special chair for Vincie to see, and Mrs. Kuklis asked Vincie if she would like to have it. Oh my!
What a gift!
Vince wth the original portrait of herself, painted by her childhood friend- Bodhi Wind/Chip Kuklis. You can see his signature and the date 1965
Back home in Pittsburgh now but 
here’s an evening stroll from my hotel to the old city center in Reykjavik last week. Laugavegur was the street. It got dark on my way back. You can see the sea at the end of a couple of the streets. Open candles in windows were inviting
“Don’t Mess with a Knitter” tattoo on upper arm- the canvas of the old woman in the window of the closed Art Gallery so no chance to give the artist credit.
I saw this beautiful bicycle Bell on a purple bike, propped up and locked on a neighboring fence.
Artist Stephen Hankin, painting at The Frick, Pittsburgh. Although I interrupted his concentration, he graciously allowed me to photograph him at work. Said I could blog him, too. And here I was wondering what I’d photograph after the People at Work Show was over. If you live in Pittsburgh or plan to visit and would like to tour his studio (where he has 180 paintings on the walls) you can contact him stephenhankinart(at)gmail(dot)(com)
The front of his card shows his studio with paintings on the walls.
Art of the Brick Exhibit is just…Wow! Artist Nathan Sawaya’s Work is amazing. I want to go back and take more time looking and thinking about all his creativity that went into making these artworks. And all from regular LEGO pieces.Thousands of them.
Carnegie Science Center with Michael, Jack and Maura responding to Edvard Munch’s The Scream
One of my favorites (with undulating lights simulating water) was The Swimmer.
Yes, that’s all constructed with LEGO. The piece count is written on each artwork’s label.
It all starts with the single brick
The kids enjoyed building with LEGO at the stations provided on the second floor
a lot of pieces in the Easter Island sculpture Moai
Part of the In Pieces Gallery. LEGO objects in large photographs. Umbrella in this one
They’ve got it covered….with Heinz History admission stickers. Wonder who peeled off the first one and stuck it on the pole?
By the way, Charlie opted to keep his sticker on his shirt. He did not add it to the collection.
July has been a busy and satisfying month with the People at Work Show exhibiting at Panza Gallery. There was a well attended opening three weeks ago and now tomorrow (Saturday 7/28) the closing reception is at six.
Early Wednesday morning, my good friend Vincie texted me this photo she took when she opened her morning paper. What a happy way to start my day. It just felt great! Mary Thomas wrote a nice article (with four color photos) about the People at Work Show in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
V sent me the online version when it became available (link below )
http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2018/07/25/Ruth-Hendricks-People-at-Work-Panza-Gallery-Eric-Crosby-Andy-Warhol-Foundation-fellowship-Eric-Shiner/stories/201807180009
Later in the day, I received another text from From Vincie. Her cousin Paula had texted her the photo below saying “Great article about Ruth in the Post-Gazette today”
Very thoughtful of them both. Thanks Vincie and Paula.
It’s been a nice feeling to have good friends and family who cheer me on and encourage me.
Aphrodite at Ritter’s Diner came to see her People at Work portrait. Her photo was in the newspaper, too.
This is a good time to thank Panza Gallery Owner Mark Panza who (2 years ago) invited me to show my People at Work series and who hung the show beautifully.
Also thanks to his wonderful daughter, Jennifer Panza, whose generous help was essential in making the show a success. And a grateful nod to her fiancé J for getting the beer and ice.
(Mark Panza on left, photo taken by my son Mark)
Thanks to artist Carol Skinger, fellow member of Pittsburgh Society of Artists Guild, who tutored me about publicity for the People at Work Show.
And special thanks to Tom Underiner of Pixel River Images for making me shine by printing my work expertly, using the archival pigment on the Hahnenmuhle rag paper.
Bernie Pintar was the official greeter and encouraged gallery goers to sign the guest book.
My next door neighbor, who is an artist, suggested I put things together in my house, create a still life and photograph them.
I shot the flowers in the pottery vase the other day.
Here is today’s collection. 
Joaquin Navarro and Terri Wolfe Izzo
Terri Wolfe Izzo says-
Joaquin Navarro says-
Terri and Joaquin welcome you to Wolfe Izzo Fine Art Studio
820 Camp Horne Road Pittsburgh PA 15237
Email Terri to make an appointment to see their paintings sometime during the week tswolfedesign(at)gmail(dot)com
and be on the lookout for signs by the car lots to enter the lot for the studio
