Susan Denniston

It was February 2020 and Morocco beckoned. Who knew the almond trees would be bursting with a haze of delicate blossoms beneath brilliant blue skies!

From the Atlantic Ocean to the High Atlas Mountains through oases to the Sahara dessert; from the Red City, to the Yellow City, to the Blue City, to the edges of the Roman Empire; from tiny alleyways of the medinas to walled-city Kasbahs on the old caravan routes through the dessert; the country is colorful, chaotic, serene, fragrant, eye-popping, and welcoming.

The decorative arts flourish, particularly the exquisite carved plaster and radiant tile work as Kasbahs and palaces are restored by artisans using traditional techniques.

The memories of Morocco…

in May 2019 I returned to the Fine Works Art Center in Provincetown for a residency. I bring some studio flowers that go from fresh to faded during the two weeks I am there…

Last year the March storms took out the parking lot at Herring Cove. I had to return to find what had changed in the past year… This year - WOW - “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot” - bigger and mightier than before! And 250,000 bits of beach grass and some beach plum were installed throughout the dunes surrounding the new parking lot and roadway.

The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 and came down in 1989. The city has been energized since then.

The ocean’s explosive fury is something to behold. My pictures are taken a day or two after the ocean has relented. Sometimes the sun is shining. Sometimes it is not even high tide.

Even so, wave after wave after wave continues to slam the seawall, each one arriving seconds after the one before, hurling saltwater and rocks into the air and over the wall.

I listen to the roar of the water, hearing the stones hit the seawall and clatter against each other in temporary retreat.

I feel the thunder of that wave under my feet.

I feel the sting of salt spray on my face and taste the briny mist in my mouth.

And I see wave after wave stacked up ready to make their assault.

I behold nature's endless, mindless drive towards nothing but change.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and the city these days is pretty spiffy! Still rolling hills, but it traded coal and smog for glass and research a while ago.

The graphic and graceful design of stairways encourages one to stop & look.

Highly polished black paint on front doors, sparkling windows, watery canals, and the long, low rays of the March sun made Amsterdam sparkle with reflections everywhere.  Add artful graffiti, flowers, and color on the move.

The 87 mile long wall surrounding West Berlin came down in 1989. Rebuilding Berlin continues to this day: alive with artistic attitude.