SWAN Day

It may not translate very well here but we had a marvelous afternoon yesterday taking part in the international festival: Supporting Women Artists Now (SWAN)...we held our event at Selden Gallery in downtown Norfolk, Virginia where my work is currently on exhibit. We gathered to welcome spring and to embrace the new beginning for our individual and collective creative voices as we all enter the East Gate of the wheel, signaled by the Spring Equinox and the start of the Aries cycle.

First we explored the gifts and the challenges that the earth calendar wheel offers then we laid the foundation for the building of the wheel... you can see bits of its intial stages here on the floor...later, after this pattern was set, we each ceremonially placed 'stones' for the 36 position around the wheel...and culminated with a 'Spiraling into the Center' dance (with song) that created the finale for our performance art afternoon.

Funny thing...I use stones for the wheel but this day the lugging would've destroyed the fun so I pondered. Stones...? Stones...? And what came is russett potatoes! So I ran out and purchased a good supply, augmented with a few yams, and we laid our wheel using potaotes...it was pretty much a blast....and a fine way to honor the earth and the Earth Mother for her bounty.

Perhaps at our next event which is April 13 'Moon Day at the Wren' we'll pop those potaotes into our fire and when baked we can 'consume the energy of the wheel'. yum.

Tree-O

One of my favorite ways to be involved in the community is through organizations that correlate art with healing.

Being able to move my hand on paper literally saved my life following violent trauma oh so many years ago.

Since its inception in 2004 I've been a volunteer and sit on the Board of Advisors for Tidewater Arts Outreach/TAO. In a few days we'll hold a festival where fabulous music and some visual art come together to raise funds for what's to come.

My contribution is 'Tree-O' always fun to work with 'threes'.

Earth as Art

Spring Equinox and so much to look forward to...how does your garden grow???
this is my garden here at 'wren house' and even with all of the work ahead there is a lot happening already...

If part of your art includes co-creating with the earth and all of her mystery you may enjoy visiting my friend Sybil, an earth angel, at Useful Gardens.

The Art of Aging

Since 2003 I have visited (one afternoon each week) with my dear friend, 'Sir John'. At near 92 he is the spunkiest, wittiest, most articulate and determined to 'solve the problems of the world' individual I will ever hope to meet. He generally puts his extreme intellect to solving the political problems of any given the day.

Sir John is funny, feisty and in all ways an amazing human being. He is a a music aficionado with a vast knowledge of opera and symphonic music. His well kept yard is a secret garden, a haven, filled with countless Camillas, all of which have been named, so that when he walks among them he speaks to each of them directly.

Back in 'his day' he was a computer whiz and developed soft ware programs for the Navy. His little home is populated with computers, recording and sound equipment and until recently (before his body went into decline) he would be online most mornings chatting with friends and family via email.

A couple of months ago he asked me to start a blog and a FaceBook account...

In 2007, after I introduced him to video upload technology he said "Let's do that." He received a Flip camera gift from his daughter... and the rest is literally 'his-story'. For the past 18 months, I have the pleasure (and the learning curve) of being his 'hair and make-up', sound and production person as he continuously scripts and sits for me as we tape for YouTube. Here's our most recent entry...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShEbrHlMuPw

Dance for Peace

There is an awesome dance, called the Thousand-Hand Quan Yin, which is making the rounds across the net. Considering the tight coordination required, their accomplishment is nothing short of amazing. All 21 of the dancers are deaf and mute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgHmSdpjEIk

Quan Yin, as a true Enlightened One, or Bodhisattva, vowed to remain in the earthly realms and not enter the heavenly worlds until all other living things have completed their own enlightenment and thus become liberated from the pain-filled cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
There are numerous legends that recount the miracles which Quan Yin performs to help those who call on Her. Like Artemis, She is a virgin Goddess who protects women, offers them a religious life as an alternative to marriage, and grants children to those who desire them.
from wikipedia

Tibetans and The Art of Peace

This past week marked the 50th anniversary of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising that plunged an ancient and magestic culture into the long and relentless hellrealm of Chinese occupation. A tension filled milestone marked by prayer vigils, protests and observances.
Some years ago I took myself on a pilgrimage to 'the rooftop of the world'. I learned more than words or images can convey regarding the steadfastness of the human spirit and the ability to endure.
Here I post a few of my journal pages to honor the Tibetan people and their culture and the passing of their mystical ways.

Spiraling into the Center

For a bit of respite....enjoy a break...and indulge in the art of relaxation... http://www.labyrinthonline.com/flash/chartres.swf

It's a Wrap

It's trippy to have been in the studios at CACV for many years with some of my young artists. I've been working with, guiding and observing them since they were wee ones fascinated by nature and the animal world and now I get to see them turning the corner into their prepubescent phases.

In the 7 weeks of Saturday in the Studio the artists are free to design their own project and to problem solve along the way. Here are a few results. To the degree possible they are directed to use cast off and reusable materials.

Art as Play

I recently heard that we, our brain and the direction it will take us, is fully formed at age six.

May this sprite retain her clarity and joy.

I think I'll take my inner six year old into the studio for some real playtime today.

Joy of Discovery

I so appreciate that there surfaces a simple purity and magic when we discover that something is inside just waiting to show itself to us.

The 7 year old here thought he was going to draw his first mountain goat. He had selected a photo to work from. Twenty minutes later the delight came when he announced "My mountain goat turned into a mythical animal." He proudly asked me to 'stop the studio' so that he could announce his discovery to the other 10 artists.
Uncontaminated delight shared with all.