This Year's Journey of Love in Pictures + Upcoming Winter Art Faire
- Jan Michaels
- Dec 6, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 8, 2024
An adventure trip to Ethiopia and Qatar in the Fall of 2023 kickstarted a year of many travels, both near and far.
It has taken me a while to fully articulate what 2024 has meant to me. It has been a time of reaching out, reconnecting with the dearest of dearest friends, and striving to relate in new ways, more deeply, more truthfully. With this has come an openness to hearing and accepting their perspectives about me, about life, and in turn, responding not with defensiveness, but with love and compassion.
I journeyed to places for one-to-one, heart-to-heart, sister-to-brother, friend-to-friend connections, and in doing so, my travels led me quite literally across the globe. I shared in a tapestry of emotions, from despair and loss to exuberant joy, and on the way, celebrated the art, nature and food of some of my favorite locales like Brooklyn, Maui, Stockholm and Chiang Mai.
A rare moment at home in the garden between travels. Museum of Islamic Art Cafe, Looking out to the Skyline of Doha, Qatar Sifting Teff the traditional grain of Ethiopia Here's Tesfwa our Guide serving Honey wine (Tej) on our Good Bye Dinner in Addis The beautiful owner of a little lunch spot in Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia Hamer Children looking at the cell phone Nyngatom Tribe - Beautiful Beads Dasenech Girl/Kuraz (photo by Donna Elswick) Hamer Woman Bull Jumping Ceremony Women wearing Lip Plates in Mago National Park Nyngatom Men from South Omo Valley Ethiopia Lake Chamo, Arba Minch Zuria, Gamo Ethiopia - Big Crocodile Hamer, South Omo, Ethiopia - First Wife - See necklace! Ant Hill in South Omo Valley in Ethiopia Hamer Tribe Women, South Omo, preparing for the wedding. Hair is coated in red clay and butter Ready for Sophie and Antares' Wedding Groom and Bride Sophie and Sally grab a moment. Wedding Cake Cousins and Aunties An old friend Bobby and me in Santa Fe for the funeral. It was his partner Suby who had passed. Sunset in Kihei The Quad Margarita 10 days before she died. We just had breakfast on the Lanai in Kihei Full moon the night that Margarita Died Yohimbe and Jan both wearing hats of Margarita's in Kula, Maui This is the iconic view of the Pittsburgh Point. Here I am overlooking Pittsburgh, the city where I was born This is another view of the Pittsburgh Point where you can see more clearly the two rivers meeting. My older brother Tony and his wife Elaine. Me with Sophie (my adopted niece) and Sally (my dear friend from Pittsburgh in the late 1960’s) My brother Jim and his dog Myra outside his home in Pittsburgh Randyland is located in the North Side of Pittsburgh Randy has painted the entire area of his house and yard with his creative perspective A happy connection with my friend Helen who is showing me around Pittsburgh and Randyland The entrance to Randyland and a visual color overload Words of wisdom from Randy are painted throughout his world Sally and Jan in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in August 2024 Sally stands at a sculpture in the Noguchi Museum located in Long Island City Me blending into a sculpture at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh The work of artist Beate Kuhn at the Carnegie Museum of Art This is another modernist ceramic piece of stoneware sculpture by Beate Kuhn A gorgeous silver vase with enameled magnolias by Tiffany. Large artwork from the Carnegie Museum’s permanent collection Jan posing with a marble Noguchi sculpture From a photographic show by Bruce Gilden at Fotografiska on Park Avenue S. Another incredible ceramic piece by Beate Kuhn from the show at the Carnegie Museum of Art From a photographic show by Bruce Gilden at Fotografiska on Park Avenue S. A Tiffany & Co. Silver Swan Centerpiece from 1874 From the Costume Institute at the Met Spring/Summer 2024 “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Also from “Sleeping Beauties” some of the fashions were a metaphor for fragility/ephemerality From “Sleeping Beauties” among 250 garments and accessories spanning four centuries A big Red Rose Dress from “Sleeping Beauties” at the NY Met Monarch Butterfly dress made with feathers. Part of the Sleeping Beauties show Razor Clam Wedding Dress (the recorded sound of the dress was awesome) Charles James sculptural Chocolate Evening Dress Approaching Don and Marianna's house Don and Marianna's Farm House in Orbyhus North of Uppsala and even more North of Stockholm in Sweden The old stove in the center of the farmhouse is no longer in use. It's probably 200 years old Pastoral view from the kitchen window Marianna shows me the ancient church in Orbyhus Marianna and Don at the look out point The Geese were gathering for migration The bird watching trip in Orbyhus (Jan, Marianna and Don) Grand old tree out on our walk. Selfie with Zophia outside Fotografiska Sophie and Jan in Brooklyn Yumi and me in NYC In NE Phayao Thailand a wonderful visit with the 89 year old weaver I have visited several times Hands of time Window and Rice on a lunch break on the way to Rico’s Jan Celebrating with Rico for his 70th Birthday With Emmy Rico's birthday "Junk" Street Art in Chiang Mai The Girls lined up for the celebration Jan and Brenda after lunch at the Love Spoon Cafe traveling to Rico’s Resort The traditional fishing boat in Candidasa used for excursions Old photo of the King of Thailand - King Bhumibol Adulyade called the “father of the nation” Demon Balinese God Protector The end of a celebration in Ubud. Took a walk around a lake filled with waterlilies in town Misti's Bali villa The beautiful swimming pool at Rachamankha Hotel in Chiang Mai Wat Phra Singh Pool at Hotel Alila Temple roof top in Mueang Chiang Mai Rice Field and Hut on the way to Rico’s Looking out from Ramayana room towards the ocean Stairs to Buddha Flower Mandala Wat Saen Mueang Ma in Chiang Kham, Phayao, Thailand Jan with Naga in Pai What Phra Singh Waramahavihan With Gusti (the best driver) at the Denpasar Airport
Some places felt almost brand new, like my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Helen, a friend since the early 70’s, reacquainted me with the old homestead, and truly times have changed in the Burgh! I made a stop at Randyland on the North Side, which is one man’s fantastical collection of found objects that takes form as an eye-popping art walk. It is such a gift to the Arts. Then there's the view of the three Rivers, which is phenomenal, revealing the unique geography of the city.
Earlier in the Spring, an especially close group of friends reunited in Maui. The four of us called ourselves 'The Quad.' After an exuberant week of catching up, Margarita, one of the Quad, unexpectedly died. It was a devastating loss. Her son said of her passing: "She gave us so much, so there’s no way we can be empty.” It couldn't have been more true. It also spurred on my trek of reconnections...It's the giving and sharing that ultimately makes us feel whole.
Above, in pictures, I share some highlights from my travels in 2024.
JAN MICHAELS JEWELRY AT WINTER ART FAIRE 2024
After a year of travels, I'm happy to announce that I'm staying put this December and coming out of retirement for 2 days to participate in the Art Guild of Pacifica's Winter Art Faire 2024 - It will be held at the Sanchez Art Center on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15 from 11 AM to 5 PM. You'll find me in Studio 3.
I'll be showing a bounty of classic Jan Michaels Jewelry with many pieces from my own personal collection -- All in time for Christmas!
You'll be able to shop for necklaces, bracelets and rings from very early Jan Michaels collections. And as many of you already know, most pieces are one-of-a-kind at this point, so if you miss it, it's gone forever!
The Faire hosts a slew of talented artistans who will offer a full range of fine crafts that will make for unique holiday gifts, such as pottery, textiles, original paintings, soaps, jams and teas, lots of art on the walls, and so much more.
I do hope you can come by to say hello and join me for some fun holiday shopping.
DETAILS
Winter Art Faire 2024
Saturday, Dec 14
Sunday, Dec 15
11 AM - 5 PM
1220 Linda Mar Blvd
Pacifica, CA 94044
I'll be in Studio 3
Contact me at jan@janmichaels.com with any questions!
NEW ART EVOLUTION
Besides jewelry, I'll be showing a few new mixed media pieces at the Faire, including this 2' x 4' Transformation Thangka. A thangka is a Tibetan Buddhist painting that typically depicts a deity or manadala and is used for personal meditation or spiritual instruction.
This is an exciting evolution that combines many of the new skills that I've learned in the last few years with fine detailed work.
Close up view of the mandala and Buddha
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