Cairo Variations

Cairo! If it doesn't kill you it will make you :-)

Thomasina and Roland are on the 3rd day of their residency and yesterday I took them over to Darb 1718 and after looking at the latest exhibition and the art space they then walked around the potters' area (they themselves are potters). They are uncoiling to the pace of Cairo; it can take time; and another hot water plumbing problem here at ARC has been a 1st hand taste for them in Cairo infra-structure and working practice :-)

Theopisti Stylianou - photographer and her husband, Sheridan, a writer arrive Thursday night for a stay of 12 days. You can look at Theopisiti's work on: www.theopisti.com

I have to say that if I had a Christmas card list, if I celebrated it, that Madame Afaf (my landlady) would not be on it. One does have to live with a plethora of idiosyncracities in this city and ArtHome at ARC is not a 5 star pad. But I have created it and intend it as a little treasure and an ambient and loved creative space and having hot water come out of the taps at all times.. or at least most of the time, is pretty much necessary. Anyway.. shwaya shwaya, slowly slowly, the plumber is coming and it shall be resolved, inshallah.

Last night I went to a dinner hosted by the director of the arts division of the British Council in Cairo; held in a very plush pad with full power hot water at a million miles a minute I should imagine! I met some great people and built some links for ARC. The wine was also good and a lovely change from my usual Omar Khayyim brand :-)

So... I sit waiting for the plumber.. and working on editing a private student's novel and tonight I have my Tuesday writing class and then an opening show at Rooftop Studio, downtown.

Bye for now!