Home safe and sound, thank you everyone everywhere for your support, both here and there. Could not have done it without you!

These are images from Darat Safeya Binzagr's home and museum. Her home is her museum to her art, and the objects from Saudi history she is saving, including these garments. I had a private tour of her home with her. She's revered in the country, a very gentle and elegant woman. More about her later........
One of these is the ceiling in the center hallway.

These are delayed posting images from the National Museum in Bahrain. Vignettes, wonderful, particularly te pearl diving scene, lots of plastic sharks milling about.
I'm now in Frankfort airport, 5 hour layover, sitting in the lounge waiting with 1/2 the world to depart, 1/4 of whom need a shower.
Still, really looking forward to getting home, really sad to leave.
I'll keep posting all the images I couldn't show from earlier in the trip.

Opening of the show is in a few hours, this is the calm before the storm; cleaning and prepping. It looks fantastic, I'm thrilled and hoping for a great turnout. I know I'll have lots more interviews with he press, and then whisked off to the airport for a 2:25 am flight.
Nice way to end......
see you all soon, wish me luck!
And to all of you at shows this weekend, kick butt!!!!!!

here's one for all of you car buffs.....it's pretty common to see this.

These are shots of:
Me as I am dressed whenever going out of the hotel, shot in the room by me obviously; and the initial hanging of my show at the Hewar Gallery. It looks fantastic! Reception tomorrow, wish me luck. Ends about 11 pm then off to the airport and home. I am really looking forward to getting home, but I also hate to leave.......it's been an amazing ride.

This is a so-so (sorry) shot of a souk, older market, where I was taken this afternoon. This is right next to chop chop square as they call it. Home of lashings and beheadings on Friday. Today is Friday.

These are shots of Kingdom Tower, and one from within the gallery; highest building in Riyadh, absolutely beautiful cool blue/grey sweep in to the sky. I'll try and get better shots, but I'm in a car most of the time, and they drive like MANIACS here. Not embassy drivers, but almost everyone else. Italy has nothing on this country.....seriously, it's a problem. Lots of accidents, no protection for the children. Women are never allowed to drive. I'm always in an armored car, it's all protocol and you get used to it.
The tower is where Hewar gallery is located, 52nd floor, reception is tomorrow evening. All my work. The owner is a woman, is framing all the work for me, making a printed catalog, photographing all the work, hosting the Ambassador and his wife (I'm invited to their residence for dinner tonight) and it will be a big social event. Actually, I'm getting used to the paparazzi, TV, interviews, scrutiny. Abaya helps somewhat, but it's going to be pretty different returning to sleepy Shelburne Falls. I love this country, it smells fantastic - exotic incense and perfume, musky and lemony at the same time.
Last evening I stood on my balcony at 7 listening to the call to prayer. Mosques all have loudspeakers with recordings of different imams, and they echo all over the city, loud and mesmerizing, slightly out of sync. Like bells in Rome, in the dusk, in the change over from frenzy to calm as they all go to pray. It was a sublime moment, one of my best. My balcony is home to an escaped parrot who is quite entertaining.

These are images from a dinner in my honor hosted by a very famous artist at his magnificent home, 30+ guests, French Ambassador (left early and was rude, lol), excellent food by the pool with Enya in the background. First music I've heard here.
Lots of artists, lots of art and antiquities. Fantastic evening, hard to surpass. A few women were there. I wear the abaya but my hair is exposed, my choice.

Riyadh

Hello all, It's been a tough time getting online, hence no blogs.......I've gone to Jeddah for 2 days, on the Red Sea, did a great workshop there with about 30 students in the late teens. They were so much fun, segregated boys and girls sides, but it seemed very natural and easy. They did some wonderful work. I just show them a few things I do with acrylics, charcoal water etc and let them run.
They're not allowed to depict the human or animal form, so abstract is appropriate, although the concept is very foreign to them....things have loosened up a lot, although Jedda is a different region, more international and relaxed.
Had a private evening with a fabulous band at one of their rehearsals, in an old part of the city, very smoky rooms, lots of tea and coffee and sweets then drums, dancing, chanting amazing rhythms and beautiful old songs. All men, all ages, maybe 15 of them Very famous group, so it was an honor to be there. Ad unusual....my 2 handlers from the consulate took me, and the woman was very surprised they let us in.
Consular people are so incredibly attentive, armored SUV's serious security everywhere. Hidden machine guns under nets, barriers to all hotels, it's a tight ship they run if there are internationals around. My hotel is mostly Saudi men, I'm sitting in the lobby wearing a black robe, sandals and my hair is covered, not my face. I never need to worry what's underneath as I can't compete anyway, although my shoes are pretty lame, not fancy enough but I'm comfortable, and I'm blonde, so they overlook it, lol. The people are such incredible hosts, ritual coffee and tea drinking, yeas both.....sweets, whatever they have to offer. They're funny, warm, intelligent, delightful people, and I'm making a lot of friends.
I'm running out of power, mine and the computer as I can only access internet in the lobby, so go see this website which is where my next and final exhibition will be......AMAZING!!!!! 52nd floor of the fanciest building in Riyadh, home of the 4 seasons where I am not staying, sigh.
Anyway, the gallery is absolutely fantastic.
http://www.hewarartgallery.com
Hope all's well with everyone, hope the Red Sox wait for me, just know that I'm having a wonderful time, everyone.
I teach at Princess Noor University tomorrow, now it's art teachers and grad students....things keep changing, I change with them.
Love to all.
Laurie

So sorry everyone patiently waiting. Macs are somewhat problematic here at my hotel. I get 2 hours of airtime for$25.00, and downloading images takes forever, so......maybe it will remedy itself in Saudi Arabia.
But, so far I've held 2 workshops with teachers, 1 group paint with local artists who are remarkable, and tonight I'm off to be guest of honor at the embassy.
This is a wonderful country, very friendly, safe, very busy and dynamic.
Weather is HOT, but there are sea breezes all day, and AC everywhere of course.
I'm behaving myself, have wonderful handlers who are making this trip as smooth as possible. It has been good to be flexible, and welcome change, as it happens.
The landscape is very arid when it's not developed, and the modern buildings are world class.
You'll see those images soon, ins'hallah. Off to dinner, making you proud as I now represent all of you!
CHEERS

I am now in Bahrain after meeting Minister of Culture, various teachers and my great guide on this leg of the trip, rachel from the Embassy.
I am between sessions, about to go back to purchase art materials for workshops, very interesting to see what is considered art supplies here.
At the moment though, I am overlooking the pool with Arabic music wafting over the swim up bar hosting Kuwaiti men on vacation being bad I guess.
Bahrain is mono chromatic, a dun color, palm treed and surrounded by construction. Traditional Arabic architecture and some ultra modern skyscrapers. I have no pictures of them, maybe tomorrow.
I need to be careful with what I shoot.
Very friendly people, beautiful breeze off the ocean keeping things manageable, but still very hot.
So far, it's confused but wonderful.
Pictures to come........

I've been painting up a storm, all works on paper to bring with me as there is no budget for works on panel. But I love paper!
300 lb. Fabriano Artistico hot press, full sheet, using my full armada on them.
Hopefully the images will be posted on the website soon.
Comments very welcome.

I just learned that the schools in Bahrain are re-opening a week late due to flu fear so all my middle school students just vanished.
Now the time will be filled with adults instead. This is true for Bahrain, Saudi schedule seems more intact. So, this is the first of the many changes and ways I must remain flexible.
My packing is on target, supplies were sent via diplomatic pouch - awesome concept - and I am preparing for leaving crisp autumn for 102 degrees and humidity.
Humility........

1st posting

Hello all,
My schedule is becoming less like the shifting Sahara, and more exciting every day. I depart Set. 24 from Boston arriving the next day in Manama, Bahrain.
I'll keep you posted as things progress, but for now, this is just a start at creating a blog.....