Today I took a day off.
We have all been working so hard on the FlutuArte project and in great need of a recharge, so we sought refuge in the jungle.
Dan, our project manager, Federico, who just arrived from Brooklyn NY, and I took the day to visit Parque Lage, a gorgeous mansion which now functions as a visual art school located in the Jardim Botânico in Rio de Janeiro.
Parque Lage is surrounded by a dense tropical landscape filled with unusual plants, monkeys and mystery. Within ten minutes of walking around we had already found a huge cave complete with tall sloping ceilings and stalactites.
Spellbound and jaw-dropped we climbed inside them and wandered around the natural dark corridors below portals in the ceiling streaming in light from the outside world.
“Really?!”
I was astounded that this kind of beauty and adventure has been at my fingertips this whole time while I have been so absorbed in painting a harbor. A balance is clearly needed and we have declared to take a day of rest and adventure every Sunday.
We explored trails, traversed mossy bridges, and discovered castle like structures before we came to rest in a square of grass in front of the old mansion at the foot of the backside of Corcavado mountain. Far above me stood the statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking the marvelous city of Rio, this time facing away from me, offering me a new perspective. The soothing sound of falling water from a near by fountain danced in the background as I pulled out Joseph Campell’s book The Power of Myth.
I am inspired and recharged to return to the FlutuArte mission.
40 some boats left to go, 20 of which need their rooftops repaired. We are about to break out the skill saw and plywood my friends… it’s getting serious.
More from the harbor soon…
Parque Lage at the foot of Corcavado with the Christ the Redeemer statue perched on top
The Botanical Gardens
The view from inside one of the caves in Jardin Botanica
Parque Lage
Students sit at the cafe inside Parque Lage