It's Gotta Be Magic
If you talk to anyone who has been here these past two weeks, they will tell you the exact same two things:
"It feels like I must have spent at least three years in Murano, and yet at the same time, it also feels like it all flew by in less than three minutes. How the hell is that even possible?"
"I have no idea what I'm going to tell my friends and family once I get home. How do you explain this experience to someone who hasn't been here? Where do you even begin? They just won't get it."
Also, we will all start giggling uncontrollably at any mention of the words "tentacles", "carrots" or a few other random phrases. Don't ask us to explain why. You just had to be there. Us Murano Magicians are eternally bonded by our weirdness. But we like that in a person.
I must admit, I can't remember right now why carrots are so funny, but they sure as hell are. I must have changed my shoes one too many times since then.
All good things have to end. My last workshop, Glass, Glitter & Gravity (AKA Bloody Bugger Blinging Bombastic Barbie Beads) was on Sunday. It was a lot of fun. I feel like I'm improving as a teacher. I'm much more confident about doing it now; and besides, I've been coming up with some ways to get my students to think creatively and I'm really happy with that. The day ended with a wine and cheese party which included absolutely no wine or cheese, but much beer, much laughter and some really horrendous creme brulee.
Since then, it's been a long and torturous series of goodbyes. I have made many new friends here - I'm sure everyone has - and by that I mean true friends, who I hope to actually keep in touch with and see again in the future. I've learned a few things about myself and also about some other people. New perspectives, that kind of thing. My head is still spinning with names and faces and accents and languages and experiences and A WHOLE LOT OF GLASS. It all makes my life at home seem pretty dull.
Some of us have been collecting pieces of broken glass from the little shore right outside the studio. You'll find tons of glass just sitting there, in any color, shape or size you could imagine, and every day the tide brings in a fresh batch. There is virtually no way of knowing where each piece comes from - could be something someone discarded last month, or part of something someone made 100 years ago. The cool thing is, that all the different types of glass are (supposedly) compatible with one another, because the glass made in Murano is and always has been COE 104. I'm taking home a whole box of broken glass home with me (I really hope I won't have to try to explain THAT to customs) and I'm planning on melting the pieces and making them into something new. I think it will be a series of beads called 'The Murano Series', made entirely from recycled glass. How cool would that be? Seriously.
We were thinking, since we are taking something from the sea, we should give something back. So late last night, we took all the unwanted wonky beads and bits of broken whatevers that were left behind in the studio and threw them all far out into the water. There was something very satisfying about that (something besides making a bit of noise in the midst of the dead-silent midnight Murano). I wonder if a hundred years from now, someone will find one of our beads on the beach, wonder what it was, who made it and when, and shove it into their pocket. Maybe it'll be someone who can melt it into something new entirely.
Tonight is my last night here. Oddly enough, I am the last Murano Magician remaining on the island - everyone else is home by now, or at least on their way there (the Aussies are due to arrive sometime in late 2010). It's kind of like a weird game of 'Survivor', except there's glass all over the place and I don't win a million dollars for being the last woman standing. I think the wealth of experiences, thoughts and memories I am taking home with me may be worth slightly more than that, though.
If you've e-mailed me in the past couple of weeks I probably haven't responded - sorry about that, haven't had the time / mental capacity. I'll get back to you when I get home.
Thank you Sarah for your reports and photos of Murano. It really sounds like a macigal place and experience. Waiting for trilogy!
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Carrot are funny, because of Lucio Bubacco!
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You have a way with words that brings back all those wonderful moments. It really was magic in Murano and I will treasure all these moments, all the people I met and all the beautiful views of Murano and Venice. Thank you Sarah for being there and your company, I miss you already. I also miss all they other Magic Ladies and of course the Magical Magician himself, Quinton how is a real Magic Master, he can make a lot of dreams come true.
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Your trip to Murano sounds like true magic, I can only wish to go there one day. in the meantime, I would love to go to one of your workshops and it seems crazy that to do so I would need to travel to England or Oz....any chance of a little workshop in our homeland (grin) ?
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...oooooh how i wish i could have been there... however with all your pictures and stories it kinda feels like i was... a little...
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Glad for us you're back but sorry you had to leave - sounds like a life-changing experience. Now you have the UK and Australia to look forward to. But when you coming to the U.S.????
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