Karma coming full circle - Continuing my trees

30 years ago, I lived here in the DMV, Cleveland Park to be exact. I started my career at the Department of Commerce (DoC)under the late great Secretary Ron Brown and now returned to the DoC to help lead the US Census Bureau in its mission.

Arriving to the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) area in July 2022, my daughter and I did a lot of driving around, exploring and getting lost. We embraced the “beginners’ mind” as we would drive in circles, even with the help of Siri, and we would listen to her playlists consisting mainly of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers. But after retiring in California, needing a break from the “mean girls” - the lyrics in the Taylor Swift’s “KARMA” resonated with me.

Those lyrics listed below (credit to the artist Taylor Swift) are embedded in this painting. I love the diamond shape of the canvas as it reminded me of the shape of the DMV. If you blur your eyes, you will see the map of the DMV with the waterways (in brown) as the branches of the beautiful cherry trees that DC is so known for. If you look closely you will see the lyrics in risen letters but geographically you will see represented with larger more prominent/textured flowers are significant spots of personal interest. Where Del Ray Alexandria is located on the painting/map - next to “I’m still HERE” is a larger ✿ because that is where we chose to settle this time. There are also demarcations for the White House - I un-retired to come serve in President Biden’s administration, and Suitland Federal Center - where the US Census Bureau is located.

I continue to be fascinated with trees even just walking in the neighborhood, so many amazing beautiful specimens which just provide more and more for my creative efforts. Hoping you enjoy the music and foray back into painting and the art world.

Giclee prints of "KARMA is a MAP” will be available this summer 2024, or please reach out to me.

You're talking shit
For the hell of it
Addicted to betrayal but you're relevant
You're terrified to look down
'Cause if you dare
You'll see the glare
Of everyone you burned just to get there
It's coming back around
And I keep my side of the street clean
You wouldn't know what I mean

'Cause karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a God
Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend
Karma's a relaxing thought
Aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Sweet like honey
Karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me
Flexing like a goddamn acrobat
Me and karma vibe like that

Spiderboy, king of thieves
Weave your little webs of opacity
My pennies made your crown
Trick me once
Trick me twice
Don't you know that cash ain't the only price?
It's coming back around
And I keep my side of the street clean
You wouldn't know what I mean

'Cause karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a God
Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend
Karma's a relaxing thought
Aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Sweet like honey
Karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me
Flexing like a goddamn acrobat
Me and karma vibe like that

Ask me what I learned from all those years
Ask me what I earned from all those tears
Ask me why so many fade but I'm still here

'Cause karma is the thunder
Rattling your ground
Karma's on your scent like a bounty hunter
Karma's gonna track you down
Step by step from town to town
Sweet like justice
Karma is a queen
Karma takes all my friends to the summit
Karma is the guy on the screen coming straight home to me

'Cause karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a God
Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend
Karma's a relaxing thought
Aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Sweet like honey
Karma is a cat
Purring in my lap 'cause it loves me
Flexing like a goddamn acrobat
Me and karma vibe like that

Karma is my boyfriend
Karma is a God
Karma's a relaxing thought

Lyrics by Taylor Swift