Paula Zima e-Newsletter
November 2006

Previous newsletters, can be found at the end of this one.
If you would like the newsletter sent directly to you, send a quick note via the
"contact the studio" page.

A New Home!

Early in 2006 Paula and her partner Tom set out to find a new location for their
home and studio. All of the equipment, art, and the household "stuff" was put into
storage, the horses were taken to a loving friends stable, the three kitties each had
lessons on how to walk on a leash... (Paula discovered that the natural horsemanship
theories that apply to young horses, apply to cats as well...) and they loaded up
an extremely scaled down version of art supplies, office and household supplies into
the Big Blue 1949 Ford adapted Motorhome. And, off they went.

The first stop was a couple of weeks at the home of Bill and Phyllis Davis,
in San Luis Obispo. There they made alterations to the motorhome to make it "Kitty safe",
and received a wonderful education in living green. They learned more about global warming,
caring for the earth, innercity gardens, eating locally grown foods, and composting and
protecting and harvesting water. Composting toilets were a big topic of discussion!
They realized how much good water (and potential soil amendments) is wasted with the
systems in current use in the USA. It is actually a fun topic, after the initial
weirdness to our North American ears.

After leaving the Davies home, they stayed in state parks, and with friends and
relatives for about 4 months. They were focused on having a relaxing, creative
and happy time, finding a place to live that they both agreed on, and where they
could get back to work making art. Their travels lead them through the South West,
Arizona, and finally New Mexico. They met lots of wonderful people, and lovely potential
places. Visiting Arcosanti, just north of Phoenix, Arizona was one of many places
that inspired them greatly. But finally, they reached Santa Fe, New Mexico,
and that is where they decided to stay.

Santa Fe is place that Paula had visited many times and lived in twice, it felt
like home when they arrived. Even though it has grown, a lot, and one can hardly
see the adobe's for the cars, it still has a certain feel, artistic, energetic
and spiritual, that both Paula and Tom were looking for. It took a while, but they
located a wonderful place that works perfectly for a home and studio,
and for their horses and cats.

Tom is working on a new series of large abstract paintings, Paula is
still just soaking up the new atmosphere, a new series of paintings will soon
emerge from all these experiences.

Paula Zima e-Newsletter
July 2005

Previous newsletters, can be found at the end of this one.
If you would like the newsletter sent directly to you, send a quick note via the
"contact the studio" page.

One more addition to the Mission Plaza!

The mission plaza fountain will have one more, and final addition. It will be a
bronze Steelhead/Trout that will be placed in the focal point of the new cubs,
the original, large bear. The fish was made possible through donations from the
community in honor of Ken Schwartz, mayor, architect and teacher, and "Father of
the Mission Plaza project. It was Kens vision that turned the busy street that once
rushed by the front of the Mission, into a beautiful place to walk, and celebrate and relax.

Paula created the Steelhead in much the same way as the other sculptures were made.
It will be installed sometime this fall of 2005. The fish also has a Chumash title, as do
the other pieces, it is Yach Ka' which means "The Fish/ Steelhead" in the
language of the local Chumash. They had words for other kinds of fish, but the Trout
or Steelhead were probably the most important to them, as Yach Ka' can be
used to mean either fish, or, steelhead. (A steelhead is a trout that has made the
journey to the ocean, and returned to its inland home to spawn.)

Last November Paula went on a trip to Portugal, to ride at a Portuguese riding school
and soak in the splendor of that country, and it's beautiful horses. She is working on
new paintings that come from the sketchbook that she keeps when she travels.
As well as some new sculptures that will be cast in bronze.

Paula Zima e-Newsletter
May 2004

This is the third newsletter, the first two can be found at the end of this one.
If you would like the newsletter sent directly to you, send a quick note via the
"contact the studio" page.

The bears are nearing completion!

The mission plaza bear cubs are nearing the first stage of completion.
Soon there will be a meeting of the sponsors, and the city of San Luis Obispo
"official people" to approve the work, and then the foundry process will start.
Please take a moment now and then to look up the section on this website
that has been featuring a photo essay of the process.

Paula is working on a new series of paintings that will be shown at
at the Gail Johnson Gallery, in San Luis Obispo. The show will open the
first Friday of August, 2004, and run for the entire month.
This show will also be introducing paintings and sculpture by her
partner, Tom Reno. This will be Paula's first major show since 1999.

Life quickly returned to "normal" for most people after the earthquake.
There were several homes that suffered a great deal of damage, and they
were either condemed, or are undergoing repairs. We are still experiencing
aftershocks, mostly small, some in the 3.5 range, no one seems to be bothered
by them any more. An artist friend, Deb Veldcamp and her aunt, Helen Van Den Berg
co-wrote and published a children's book, "Quake, six point Five! (but the Cat Survived)".
The book has helped children to verbalize their feelings concerning their experience.