Christmas 2013

Season’s Greetings everyone!  I hoped everyone had a fantastic Christmas.  My Christmas was very sweet and intimate this year, spent with the family. 

On Christmas Eve I began my day with my favorite breakfast at Cracker Barrel, accompanied by my mother.  She had the light and healthy Oatmeal Breakfast with turkey sausage, and I of course had the Momma’s French Toast Breakfast which was very filling and did a good job of keeping me full for the remainder of the day. 


After that we both finally went to see Catching Fire which was phenomenal.  I definitely suggest that anyone who has read the book go check it out while it’s still in theaters.  My mother and I both agreed that it stuck more to the book than the previous movie had, and it doesn’t hurt that Liam Hemsworth was in it.

When we left the theater we ran some errands and hurried back home to get ready for church.  Mass on Christmas Eve is always beautiful.  It truly gets you in the Christmas spirit and reminds you what the real reason for the season is. 

Christmas Eve was spent with Grandma watching our annual movie It’s A Wonderful Life and eating mini peach and blueberry pies… a time well spent. 

Christmas morning was very traditional.  We had a lovely breakfast of ham, homemade bread, and hash browns.  At the table we shared Christmas memories and joked around.   

 We then proceeded to gift opening, which was of course very exciting. 

Throughout the day we watched Christmas movies on Netflix including my new favorite Love Actually. 

Later, we closed the evening with a typical Trinidadian Christmas dinner including pastelle, stew meat, macaroni pie, and rice and peas.  All prepared by my grandmother.      

It was a great, memorable Christmas.  I hope to have many others like it in the future.

Ciao,
       Monique

Heart Art

On Friday night I attended the Fine Framing and Art gallery with my mother.   Martin Eisenberg, my mother’s coworker, invited us to the gallery to see his display of art.

His beautiful art symbolizes joy and uses bright, vibrant colors in a creative, abstract way.  Every work of his art begins with a small red heart, hence the name “Heart Art.” 

Intrigued, I decided to ask Mr. Eisenberg a few questions about himself and his art, which ended up being my very first independent interview.  Here is our interview (MM-Monique’s Medley, ME-Martin Eisenberg):             

MM: Is your art your passion, or a way to escape?

ME:  My art is definitely a passion.  There is no need to escape life.

MM: What would you consider your style of painting?

ME: My style of painting is whimsical, every color represents an emotion.

MM:  Why did you choose art as a way to express yourself?

ME: I don’t know why I picked art, it came to me like people come to me.

MM:  Do you think you’ll stick to your current style of art?

ME: I’ll stick to my style of painting forever.

MM: Who is your inspiration?

ME: Britto, he uses many different colors like me.  His art is very eclectic.  He uses mostly figures, whereas I use puzzle pieces.  I actually met him before and showed him my art. He told me to keep up the good work. 

MM: What is your favorite piece of art?

ME: (long pause)   If you ask just about any artist, they’ll tell you that you can’t just pick one piece. I love everything.  Each has a different meaning.  Every time I look at my work I’m amazed that I did it. 

MM: So how did you end up here, at a gallery?

ME: Back in June I was driving to work when I saw this studio.  I stopped and wrote down their number.  When I called they didn’t answer for a long time until Samantha Frith called me back.  She told me to come by and I brought one of my pieces with me.  It was the first time that anyone had called me an artist. 

MM: Would you say that being an artist is now your identity?

ME: Yes it is, but it’s just one of them.  I have many others.  

Martin Eisenberg's work

My mother and I alongside Martin Eisenberg

Contact: heart.art@aol.com  954-383-0775

Ciao,
       Monique