Patricia by Patricia

Patricia by Patricia
Patricia by Patricia

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

In Praise of Saying Thank You



I have been listening to the radio in the car this week. I usually end up with a take away. No, the universe is not speaking to me, but someone on the airwaves seems to be communicating directly to me. Sometimes I even have to keep listening to the radio even after I pull the car into the garage. (My garage only has two sides so I don’t worry about carbon monoxide.) But the downside is that I don’t have any idea who it was that said what I found inspiring so I can’t quote names or organizations.

For example, I came in on the middle of a discussion by an art marketing specialist. The interviewer asked her the one biggest mistake that artist make in promoting their work. I held my breath for the answer. Would it be over or under pricing, meaningless artist statements, or maybe getting drunk at their own opening receptions? No to all of these. IT WAS NOT SAYING THANK YOU ENOUGH.

Sounds simple, but I started thinking of all the people I say thank you to and how it is never enough: Artists involved in SDVAN projects, art gallery and museum directors, patrons who give donations, writers who report on our SDVAN efforts, masses of volunteers, our Indian software expert, community leaders who support the arts, my family and personal friends that help me through moods swings, stress, ranting, and who feed and walk me and all those people on the radio and their words of wisdom.

So I researched how to say thank you. Be sincere, be grateful and be specific. It can be in person, over the phone, in a text, in an email and don’t forget the classic written note.  I could be saying thank you 24 hours a day, day in and day out. But can one be sincere day in and day out….I know I am grateful every moment of my life. But sincerity can be exhausting and much harder to muster if you think you should be grateful but the “gift” was more trouble than it was worth.

Deep down my mother loves to get compliment and thanks, but she always shrugs it off as insincere. She does not think she is worthy because thinking you are worthy is too prideful and to be resisted.

And who says thank you to me? Masses do but a lot of what I do is never acknowledged. The thanks is seeing a worthy project happen and the fun I have in participating. Do we need to start saying thank you to those who thank us? Do others think that saying thank you, is a thankless task?

Next on the radio was news of the drop by 1000 points of the stock market. Echoes of 1929, but the reassuring words came fast. THE STOCK MARKET IS NOT THE ECONOMY. The Economy is fine. I am grateful for this viewpoint. Who do I send a thank you note to for the good night’s sleep I can have tonight?  


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Naimeh Tanha Woodard

Queen of  Parties and Art Supporter par Excellence

I think it is time to pay homage to Naimeh Tanha Woodard who has whole heartily supported local arts since I was first asked to train her in 2006.
She was a health care executive who spend many hours in hospitals as part of her job so she had a very good idea of how patients and their families as well as health care providers​ ​could benefit from the arts. She did not want to become an art therapist, but instead wanted to make sure that the healing powers of art was available to all seekers. She had a website constructed and presented art that was created specifically to help those with health challenges.  

She was able to start a healing arts program at Scripps and she became a board member of Synergy Arts Foundation which aids artists in need. Several years ago she became a Commissioner for the Arts in Encinitas about the same time that she married the love of her life Jonathan Woodard, businessman and talented musician. They live in a charming home with their dog and chickens, a recording studio for Jonathan and a new art studio for Naimeh. Naimeh's daughter is in training to be a doctor.

Naimeh is a terrific party giver and has become known for their annual carrot cakes competitions that have morphed into salsa competitions, and celebrations of all types. The last was for Jonathan's 60th birthday and was complete with a dance performance by Ballet Folklorica de San Dieguito and delicious Mexican cuisine. This group
​was formed and is supported by the Encinitas Friends of the Arts and started right after the first celebration of the Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Death ​
which Naimeh helped bring to Encinitas.


A large part of her duties now as commission is to direct the Encinitas Friends of the Arts organization. This fledgling group has been tasked with gathering together volunteers and supporters and funds mainly to elevate cultural arts in Encinitas, to support the artists and arts organizations in Encinitas while raising funds for a city owned art center. . With Naimeh's extensive world knowledge, putting on a series of events exploring cultures from across the nations is a great fit. The first was Passport to Persia, followed by Passport to Cuba and now at the end of August, we are getting to enjoy  Passport to India. Her skill lies in putting together a great team, offering a large variety of enjoyable experiences and being sensitive to the customs of each area. Naimeh Tanha Woodard is a gift to our arts community. Go to her events and will discover new joys.


The third passport event in Encintias is Passport to India: Tradition to Transition produced by Encinitas Friends of the Arts on Fri. Aug 28 from 6 to 10 pm at Encinitas Community Center (1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas, 92024) Tickets $20 to $50 More info: encinitasartsmail@gmail.com. The Passport to Persia and the Passport to Cuba would both exciting events and so don’t miss this one featuring Featuring
Singer: Rahis Khan,
DJ/Drummer: Vikas Srivastava,
Dancers: Kirti Srivastava ,UCSD Zor, Payal,
Visual Artists: Bhavna Mehta, Sushila Srivastava and Preet Srivastava




 

Isaias Crow Portrait of Naimeh Tahna

Isaias Crow Portrait of Jonathan Woodword