Did I ever tell you that my sister-in-law, Isa, is an artist – a sculptor and painter? Of course, I didn't because – well, what did I have to show you. But now I do. On Friday evening, I attended the reception for her one-woman show which opened last week in Portland, Oregon.

I laughed when I saw this “bowling ball” head of Keith Richards. It was right on schedule for me as I'm just finishing up reading the Rolling Stones guitarist's memoir, Life.

There are two other guests and me reflected in the glass which you can't think about too much without getting bogged down in an existential moment.

Here is Venus in two media...

Isa spent a number of years living in Afghanistan and in India which shows up in a lot of her work. When I stayed with her and my brother for a week last year while waiting for my furniture to be delivered to my new home, Isa was just beginning this one:

Here are women herders riding camels...

When I saw this one, I was transported back to my visit to The Alhambra in Granada years ago. Lots of similar architectural detail in the Moorish palaces there.

When Isa first moved here from Switzerland two-and-a-half years ago or so to marry my brother, they lived in Lake Oswego. I have forgotten the details, but when Isa researched some history of the town, she discovered something related to synchronized swimming and thus...

Cats figure large in Isa's work. This one, sitting on a lotus blossom, looks a bit like my Ollie with those spots.

Not to take anything away from the rest of Isa's work, this bronze cat has been my favorite since the first time I saw it.

This is only a small representation of Isa's show, titled From East to West. There is much more to see and if you live in the vicinity, you can drop by at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Highway. It is open through 4 January 2012.

At The Elder Storytelling Place today, Joanne Zimmermann: FUNerals