April 2008

Dear Friends,

There’s no doubt that Washington enjoys a unique reputation as a city dominated by politics, a magnet for scandal, and an urban town with a grandpa mentality. But this melting pot of ideologies and power dulls next to the classic aesthetics and significance of one of the most truly beautiful cities in the nation. There’s the beauty in the design of maddening circles that direct traffic, the disconcerting “logic” of street names, the perfection in the architecture of museums that line the Mall, and even poetry in the reflecting pool that mimics the sky above and sets the mood for thousands of visitors.

Come spring, a force to be reckoned with unleashes a simple but breathtaking spectacle of cherry blossoms. Suddenly a walk around the basin becomes a magical experience where a canopy of cascading branches shades your every step and melts away any negative notions you might have had of the city.

A beautiful branch swaddled in blossoms seems to possess healing powers. Suddenly you realize how much you missed the sun during the gray days of winter. Instantly you become more patient with tourists who fail to remember the unspoken rule of “STAND TO THE RIGHT” on the Metro’s escalators, and more sympathetic with the swarm of eager photographers that impede your leisurely walk. But it’s spring and it’s beautiful, and we are lucky to be able to enjoy such a sight of simple beauty and renewal—regaining our sense of what is still right with this world!

Speaking of beauty and renewal, this month I’m offering a special treat for all of Exit Studio’s Spanish-speaking (and Spanish-learning) friends. I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite contemporary Puerto Rican writers, Ms. Tina Casanova, author of the hugely popular novel, Sambirón. I spoke with her recently about her work and life. You can read my interview with her exclusively on exitstudio.com. I also encourage you to visit Tina's website and get acquainted with the massive body of work of this prolific, talented, and award-winning writer.

And on a final note, very soon I’ll be giving you more details on the publication of my upcoming book of illustrated original poetry, Hadas, Sirenas y Sapos (fairies, mermaids and frogs). I know you'll love it.

Until then, open yourself up to spring!

Edwin