Tuesday, December 5, 2023

The fifth thing I learn over and over -- Friends make the world go round!



The photo of me and Miranda Brouwers that appeared in the
Dutch newspaper, The Carillon on December 29, 2015.
We are standing in front of the landscapes
Miranda showed at the Florence Biennale in October, 2015.
Miranda is a very positive person, and we started the
Happy People Group (not official) at the Biennale to help
all of the artists we knew stay positive.

Today it was Sinterklaasavond (Sinterklass evening) for my friend
Miranda Brouwers and 
her family who live in The Netherlands. Sinterklaas
is like our Santa Claus, and people give gifts and celebrate. Tomorrow will
be a day of celebration too because it's the feast of Sinterklaas.

Miranda and I made friends at the Florence Biennale in 2015 and have
shown together in the Carousel du Louvre in Paris too.  But what is
wonderful is that we talk on the phone once a week, most weeks, and
the conversations are delightful.

I am lucky to have wonderful friendships with artists. Their work, posts
and encouragement make me so happy.  

This year we were so lucky to get to visit Paris in August, and Miranda and her
husband Rolf made the 5 hour drive from the Netherlands to spend some time
with us.  Miranda has a wonderful laugh, and is generous, and kind beyond
 measure.  

Because the holiday festivities start earlier in the Netherlands, Miranda
and I missed our normal call this week. I look forward to hearing all
about the festivities. 

In Paris in August we also had dinner with our friend Alessandra Masha
Mascitti, who we met when she was helping manage an exhibition I was in
at the Carousel du Louvre Art Shopping show in the Musée du Louvre in
Paris in 2015.  Alessandra had dinner with us one night at our favourite
Thai restaurant, and we had so much fun.

I love this photo from eight years ago of me and Miranda.  I hope we can
show together again. 

Have a loving your friends day.

2 comments:

Evelyn Oldroyd - painter said...

Great photo and a great memory❣️❣️❣️ it is wonderful to have good friends that help one to keep the positive side of life uppermost. Thank you for the positive blog helping to make the world go round. Even though we have never met I think of you as a friend 🤗❤️❣️❣️❣️❣️

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Evelyn,

I think of you as a friend too. You are so kind to make a point of commenting
on my blog. I know that we will be actual friends when we do meet.

XOXOXOXOXOXO Your friend, Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!