I made a slight detour and have been in Ostrava for the weekend. Ostrava is a small post-industrial city similiar to Cleveland. There are many old factories and also a beautiful lake and river.

Jiri Surufka has been my host and we have done much exploring. Yesterday we went to the mining museum (it was closed, but we walked around in the gallery) and drove to Poland before heading to the pub (where Daniella–Jiri’s girlfriend–had new art hanging) and hanging out all night. Hanging out in a foreign country is a funny mesh of sitting quietly and listening to all the conversations you cannot understand and being the center of attention.

The pub we spent time in is modeled after Tolkien’s Hobbit. The decorations are simple–fake vines and maps of Middle Earth–and the patrons are mostly musicians. Last night there was a performance of “Hair”, the musical and after the show all the singers showed up. At the very end of the night someone put the soundtrack of the musical in the stereo and everyone was singing along to the Czech version of “Let the Sunshine In”, and other such classics.

Today, Jiri, Daniella and I drive to Cracow. We will stop in Auschwitz on the way and then we will part ways. I will spend 3 days in Cracow and then I will go back to Dresden.

This weekend has been crazy and full of meeting people. I will be sad to leave Ostrava.

I have left my laptop and the majority of my belongings in Dresden and am currently exploring more of Eastern Europe. I have very spotty access to the internet so, unfortunately, my posts will be few and far between (and without photos) until I return to Dresden in a week.

I arrived in Prague on Friday and have been exploring the city since. It is an amazingly romantic city and it really makes me wish I had someone to share this time with. I have been meeting with some artists and talking to people in the hostel, but its not the same without a travel buddy.

So far I have managed to avoid any huge catastrophes (like getting hit by one of the speeding crazies of Prague) and have not run into anything scary. Tomorrow i will explore the galleries of Prague and Thursday I get to visit Pavel Kopriva in Bohemia and see some Czech glass. Very cool.

I went to the Opera last night and enjoyed it (maybe not as much as I would have enjoyed a ballet) even though there was an entire class of 14 year olds sitting in the balcony in front of me. I do not know who thought it would be a great idea to take 30 teenage boys to the Opera, but obviously were never a Opera viewer sitting behind 30 teenage boys at the Opera. It was hard to ignore their giggles and hands in the lights, but I managed.

Friday I leave for Krakow (I have to change trains 3 times–TERRIFIED) and then back to Dresden. Whew. Wish me luck!

Dresden actually feels like home now and boy was I glad to return to my nice room and kitchen and small city after visiting Berlin. I was totally un-prepared for the hugeness of the capital. It’s like New York and Chicago smashed together. The Eastern side of the city (where we slept) is such a gigantic contrast to the Western side of the city (where all the smashed together people were on the sidewalks). Here is my photoalbum of the trip: Where I could no longer claim to be posing as a tourist and had to claim the title proudly.

We almost missed our bus back to Dresden (not kidding– we ran up to the bus right as the driver was sitting down in his seat to take off), suffered through 7 degree C weather and rain– but we got to see a large portion of the city and go to about 5 flea markets (okay, maybe it was 3). I’m glad we went but am also glad that my residency is in Dresden. Berlin is so huge and getting around took much longer. In Dresden you can walk everywhere within an hour or take a bus and be there in 10 minutes. There is so much freedom in this.

Eliana and my exhibition closed on Sunday and we will be picking up our work tomorrow evening (I sold a piece!!!). So after working hard in the Grafikwerkstadt, Eliana and I will de-install our show and then go have cake at this fantastic shop nearby (I’ll walk off all those calories, right?)

Both of us are trying to cram as much as possible into this last week of shop time. I have 4 plates I am trying to finish and proof before we leave, as well as editioning a title page for the portfolio of prints I will create. Tomorrow Udo and I will print my title page and I will hopefullly aquatint and etch the last two plates. Martin Chidiac is coming to the shop tomorrow to talk to us about a possible exhibition in November and Peter is going to take us up to the top of the building for a (hopefully) nice view of the city and a coffee. I will be tired tomorrow night!

I will let you know how the day goes!

Time has flown and although it does not seem possible, I only have one week left at the Grafikwerkstadtt. I have been working really hard this week (waking up at 7 am each day!) and have managed to finish printing my mite book, have etched 3 plates (2 more to go!), printed out a digital book and have continued the collection of colors from the street (more on this project at a later date). Check out my work in progress here.

Tomorrow is a holiday and so the shop is closed, but I will be working from my room. Must finish as much work as possible. I know the second I step off the plane my life will be sucked into the vortex of SPACES benefit craziness so I must create while my brain still belongs to me! Saturday, Melissa, Eliana and I are going to Berlin so no work will get done this weekend. Which is fine! Berlin here we come. I will tell you all about my productiveness (or lack thereof) and our adventures later.

Iduna (runs the gallery downstairs and has shown us around the city a little and is fantastic) came up to our dwelling tonight and we all shared some wine and chocolate cookies. She has been working with two artists from Romania (we will be going out tomorrow night for dinner) and needed to unwind. I promised her that tomorrow night we would speak German so she could relax…I have a lot of homework to do tonight! After wine and cookie we (M, E and I) chilled out in front of Melissa’s laptop to watch a movie while we all worked on our perspective projects (Melissa drawing, Eliana typing, Susan sitting and relaxing…I guess that doesn’t count as a project, huh?). And now I am ready for bed. It is a little chilly in my room and I cannot wait to crawl into my delightful bed. Gute Nacht!

Who says I don't know how to rock?

Even in Germany my family manages to make me feel like they are right next door. I just received 2 cards in the mail, one from my Dad and one from my Mom. I miss all of you guys; squeeze each other for me until I can.

First thing I see in the morning after I wash my face