backtotheroots

Friday August 21, 2009: Stephane's 50th birthday party

My daughter Charlotte has been here and I have not written nor published any news about it on my blog. We have had the official opening of our gallery and nothing on my blog. My son Gerald's friend Jurien and his girlfriend Malou were here and again... no time to write or publish anything! Last friday we had Stephane's 50th birthday party at home... and guess what: nothing on backtotheroots! however, it is not that I have not been writing, on the contrary that's almost all I have been doing except for going to the studio for sculpture... Keeping the shenart website up to date, writing on our facebook page, preparing our opening event, following up on leads, preparing and sending our first newsletter, selling at the gallery, answering mails.... I have been very busy and yet I miss writing on my blog. So here I am... back! And I will place pictures of the opening evening at ShenArt, of Stephane's birthday party, of Jurien and his girlfriend in Tel Aviv.. I only have no pictures (yet) to place about Chalrotte's visit in july. She took them all with her camera and has not sent them to me yet. Next time hopefully! Enjoy!

Back to business! I have not written anything for a long time. This is certainly not for lack of topics but rather for lack of time. So now let's try to sum up the past two weeks. Mick arrived on Friday June 5th. From the second he set foot in Israel he felt at home. Same thing about Tel Aviv, our appartment, the gallery. Mick here felt as something natural. The first evening he practically ran from our appartment directly into the sea. Stephane followed him. They were both in their underwear. But who cares? This is Tel Aviv! We drank cocktails while they were drying up. During Mick's stay we went twice to the gym together - spinning. Every morning he went alone to work out among all the other Israeli's for whom it is important to be fit. We went to the beach. He spent special hours with Stephane in the gallery. Brainstorming. Drinking beer on the porch at the end of the day. Observing people passing by. We went out for dinner, every night actually. Mick and I rented a car for one day and drove to Masada and afterwards to Jerusalem. On Friday June 12th we watched the Gay Pride in the streets of Tel Aviv. Mick shopped. I tried to show him what life in Tel Aviv is about. I tried to let him feel the energy. High speed on the one hand and super casual and relaxed on the other hand. Mick felt great walking around in sport outfits from morning till night. It is warm in Tel Aviv and every day is like a dubble shift. Work from morning till afternoon. Shower, change and then start the "other day" - which is the evening/night. Mick left on Sunday 15th of june. Stephane and I really enjoyed having Mick here. We spent quality time together and got to know each other even better. We hope we'll see him back here soon!   

Mick arrives tomorrow afternoon. He is leaving his busy life in Holland and comes to rest here for a week. But not only to rest of course! Also to visit me and Stephane, to experience Tel Aviv 2009. I am so looking forward to this week, to share a bit of my life with my dear friend. To hear about his impressions of Tel Aviv, of Israel. To listen to his ideas. Because Mick is always full of ideas. Even when "at rest" his creative spirit never stops. Although I do hope that Mick will rest here. Take it easy, enjoy the sunshine, the beach, the Tel Aviv scene. I know he really, really needs it. Waiting for you Mick!  

Last week I started the "ulpan". The meaning of the word is actually "studio". However, in Israel all new immigrants or people wanting to learn Hebrew know the word "Ulpan" as the place or insitution where you learn the language. You will find "ulpan" in many places the country and in the city. Ulpan Gordon has a very good reputation. Not sure why but I guess it is because of the teachers and the nice location in Tel Aviv (certainly for me: 5 minutes bike!!!): central, nice garden good & spacious classrooms, parking place for cars and for bikes.... Anyway I took the test to determine my level. They put me in class "Gimmel" meaning third level. I joined the class last monday and realized after just 15 minutes that even though I understand and speak very well, I would never be able to follow when it came to grammar. First of all this class started already in March and my last real hebrew lesson must have been in 1976..... The teacher told me to try level "bet", second level. I followed her advice and joined teacher Shosh's class that meets 3 times a week - mondays, wednesdays and thursdays. Most students were surprised when they heard me speak Hebrew however they soon realized that I am not further than they are when it comes to doing grammatical exercises. So I decided to stay until the end of this session (end of June). I hope to be able to learn by myself all I have missed and so be able to join a level gimmel class that hopefully will start in July.  Of course I tried to find out which classes will be given in the summer but I forgot that I am in Israel: the programme is not ready yet...July is so far away  :-)) !

It is Saturday morning and this is what I looked at when I woke up.... It is actually every day the same beautiful blue sky but on Saturday it is special because the city is very quiet.... slowly waking up. Almost no cars driving, people walking their dogs, others jogging, voices of kids playing.... I am getting ready to go to the beach for a couple of hours and afterwardsI will join Stephane at the gallery.  

Last night went really well! Sarah had done a great job on the net - facebook, twitter etc.... and we had visitors all night long! Everyone seemed to enjoy the gallery, the work, the company, the wine, the beer, the music.... At 2am we decided to call it a night. Tel Aviv went on partying: music on the beach and in many bars around town. We thought for a split second about going out to check it but we were too tired.... Next year maybe!!!

On wednesday it is going to be "White Night" in Tel Aviv. All over the city there will be dozens of open-air festivities, concerts, rock shows, opera performances, theatrical presentations, night tours, special menus at select restaurants, and most galleries will be open until late at night. We did not want to miss this unique opportunity and at the last minute, thanks to Sarah we created a small event for the gallery. A flyer announcing that the gallery is open until at least 2am, that there will be some promotion on the arty stickers, good music, beer.... and Sarah helped us promote the event on Facebook! It is very exciting. Stephane is working real hard to create a large variety of stickers and of canvasses. So let's cross our fingers and hope we will have many visitors and that they will buy!