Back to School Time

Took my youngest out shopping today, where we purchased the bedding and towels she needs when she moves to her boarding school in a week and a half. She's a good shopper, checks the prices and the quality and has definite tastes when it comes to colors and texture.

Once we had loaded up a big bag with these supplies, we stopped by Peet's, where she got a small latte and a bagel with cream cheese.

Yesterday, she and Dylan took the train to San Jose, where they helped Sarah, who has moved for the second time in a year, by taking care of the three little boys.

It's a foggy San Francisco day; even a tiny smattering of raindrops fell for a few minutes as we were driving home.

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Recommendation Letter

Julia just yesterday shared with her mother and me the following letter of recommendation from her high school art teacher written last February. This helped her get into Oxbow with a large scholarship. I've removed the teacher's name for privacy reasons.

13 February 2015

To Oxbow School of Art Admissions:

I am writing to recommend Julia Weir as a student the Oxbow School of Art Semester Program. Through my experience as a teaching artist and arts administrator in New York City and in the San Francisco Bay Area, I have mentored so many talented young artists. This young woman, though humble in cadence, outshines her peers through her technical skill and depth of thought. Accepting Julia would mean bringing into the Oxbow fold an intellectually vibrant mind yearning to be challenged, a stoic artist intent on communicating complex feeling through advancement in technical skill and a compassionate friend and leader of her peers. I strongly advise against forfeiting the opportunity to work with this cerebral, yet genuine, individual.

I met Julia last year as the teacher of her Art 1 class at Gateway High School, though she is now doing fabulous work in Tommy Becker’s Art 2 class. My first impression was of a serious, observant young woman, who was anxious to be intellectually challenged and allowed to explore beyond the limits of studio materials and methods. It was also clear to me from the start that her reflective practice manifests through an innate understanding of diverse materials. I learned that when given freedom to invent, Julia creates meaning through intentional blending of meditative observation of the world around her and the annuls of her imagination. Her work is anchored in feeling and concept, but free and playful in execution. I particularly admire the expressive quality of her marksmanship and the tactile quality of her surfaces.

Aside from knowing her as a student of the studio, I also know that Julia seeks and cherishes experiences building community. For the past several years, she has participated as a leader in a peer support group GirlVentures. She wants to continue to expand her community of young folks with whom she can build trusting and inspiring relationships.

Oxbow’s emphasis on independent studio practice, individual growth and mentorship and deep multidisciplinary learning (alongside and through the arts)--which I became familiar with during my work at the Oxbow Summer Program in 2007--resonates strongly with my own teaching and administrative practices. I know that in applying to Oxbow, Julia is in search of expanding her artistic skills, refining her artistic voice and connecting with other artists. I sincerely hope that the Oxbow community takes advantage of the opportunity to be touched by this generous and unique young artist. Please know I have full faith in her qualifications and her potential to thrive and inspire others to thrive.

Yours,

Obviously, I am proud of my daughter and I am also in awe of her absolute modesty. I assume most kids would have shared this letter immediately.

Summer Winds Down

It's just the beginning of August, but my youngest is getting ready to move away to her boarding school in about two and a half weeks. I have to help her get a few supplies -- bedding, rain boots(!), etc.

Why the "!"?

Because we are in the midst of an historic drought. Nevertheless, the weather people are predicting a massive El Nino this winter, which would mean massive rains. We will see.

This morning I booked a hotel room for Aidan and Zaira at the end of this month when they head back to college in Missoula. They will be staying in the same hotel just across the river from campus where Julia and I stayed last fall when we visited them there.

Dylan, of course, is not going back to Missoula. He is taking a gap year and trying to decide whether to take some classes at City College and work part-time, work full-time, or be a student full-time.

It is very hard for him to make these kinds of decisions.

Since Julia will be living up in Napa, I am happy Dylan will be around, and I will not have to live totally alone 24/7. I think that would not be a healthy situation for me. The past year, with the boys in Missoula, I relied on the nights and days Julia would visit to keep me balanced and not too lonely at home.

I would shop and cook for her and we would do some chores together. Dylan will be a particular joy to have here, because he watches sports on TV with me and loves my cooking.

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