Jana Matusz on Site

The third Monday in June is Heroes Day in Bermuda. There was a kite festival and celebration at Fort St. Catherine, so Marta and I went to join the fun.

Bermuda kites often have noise-maker attachments and make amazingly loud buzzing noises when they are aloft. They sound like amplified mosquito buzzing, or maybe grass trimmers. (It’s quite something on Good Friday, the traditional kite-flying time, to hear lots of them buzzing away.)

It was rather nasty and windy weather, so the kite flying at Fort St. Catherine was actually quite limited, but everyone still seemed to be enjoying the day. Jill and Scott had a good day at Blackbeard’s Hideout. It was nice to take a long walk and show Marta more of St. George’s, all the way to Mullet Bay.

The plein air group met at Emma’s studio in St. George’s today — how convenient! It has been such a pleasure to join the plein air group, and I think this might have been my last opportunity to work with the group during my residency. Thank you all for welcoming and supporting me. I wish you all many happy painting days and much success! Please stay in touch!

Sylvia invited Jill and us for an absolutely delicious dinner. Thank you, Sylvia!

We took a night stroll, and I realized how many night paintings there are to be done!  🙂  St. George’s is really gorgeous anytime, and especially at night.

The day after!

Still glowing from the opening last night. Thanks again to everyone for coming!

Today was time to relax a bit and share Bermuda with Marta. We visited Clifford at the farm. We took a long walk and saw needlefish, snails, lizards, the night-blooming cereus (amazing!), and even saw GLOW WORMS at EXACTLY 9:21 pm, which is 56 minutes after sunset on the third evening after a full moon. We don’t have a photo of the glow worms, but they are truly incredible and magical to see. (Thanks, Diana, for the tip!)

It was such a fun art group morning at Renate’s! We learned about the picture plane and the “power of the pencil” and practiced new skills. Thank you to Renate for sharing her home, and for the absolutely delicious lunch! I was moved and honored by her hospitality and kindness. It was a very special morning. Keep those elbows straight!  🙂

After a brief rest, it was back to Masterworks for the opening. I was so happy to see so many people who took the time to come see my work. It was gratifying to hear so many complimentary comments. Thank you all! To those people who purchased something, I thank you sincerely, and hope that the works will bring you much pleasure for years and years to come.

Thanks to Masterworks for this opportunity to share my work.  I think the exhibition is a testament to Bermuda’s unique beauty and its power to inspire. Bermuda is an incredible place for an artist. I’m so grateful for the chance I’ve had to work here.

Once again, I warmly thank Jill and Scott and Marta for all their help and support. I so enjoy their company, and I’m grateful for all the kindness and caring. Thank you!!!!!!

Jill and Scott are my heroes. They gave their day to helping me get my work to Masterworks, helping get Marta at the airport, getting a great lunch at the Black Horse on St. Davids, and even helping to set up and hang the exhibition. What generous and kind friends. I am so indebted to them. Thank you!

We also stopped by to see the opening at the Windjammer Gallery at the Hamilton Princess. Beautiful work, and it’s so nice to know so many of the artists. Congratulations to all!

Tomorrow is the big day. You are invited to the opening at Masterworks, Friday, 5:30pm. Come see the paintings and drawings in person! I will be happy to see you all there!

It was too late last night to post, so I’m doing an unusual mid-day posting. It’s been rainy, which is wonderful! Bermuda needs rain, and everyone is very happy to get it! It may not be good painting weather, but that’s okay. I’m just about all ready for the exhibition. Plus, it was not raining last night, so Jill and Scott and I went out for another try at a night painting! It was such fun, and comfortable here in the nearby streets, with street lights for illumination, and apartment close at hand.

Rain today! Very welcome rain. It came at a good time too, since I needed to work on framing almost all day.

In the evening, Jill and Scott and I went to the Knorr, the vessel from Woods Hole now docked here in St. George’s, and tried to do a night painting. Very very difficult, especially with the wind, cold, smells, etc. tonight. We will try another night painting, but this was a good first attempt.

Got a lovely tour of St. David’s/Clearwater Beach/Cooper’s Island from Ray and Kay, who are superb guides. It was nice to see these places I’d heard so much about.

Today I delivered invitations to the exhibition opening which is this Friday (!), and picked drawings to frame for the show. It was cloudy and hazy today, but no good rain here still. It’s been so dry. Got invited to a delightful picnic. Good food, and good company!

In the morning, I overheard some fascinating information and left my little hobbit apartment to join a tour group! The building I’m living in dates from 1706. I knew it was old, but I never knew how old. Turns out the tour group leader was none other than Mr. E. Michael Jones, former mayor of St. George’s, who also acted as town crier today. After viewing St. George’s with an artist’s eye for the last two months, it was interesting to learn about some of its historical and botanical details.

In the afternoon I went to the Menuhin Foundation Annual Concert at the Berkeley Institute. Charles, (known to me from the plein air group!) conducted some of the pieces. It was a delightful concert, introduced and moderated by Mrs. Ruth Thomas. I enjoyed hearing string music, which I’ve missed.

Art group was fun. I will miss it on Fridays!

Got my “fish fix” at the Aquarium afterward since I was close, and did a little drawing there too.

Jill invited me to go with her and Scott for the opening of the Bermuda Society of Art Summer Exhibition.
Scott treated us to ice cream at the Double Dip! It was my first ice cream there.