Dream of the Young Artist

I often dreamed of what life would look like outside of the maze of the high level bridges spanning the railroad switching yards feeding in and out of the steel mills that surrounded the little house on Fenwick Alley.

When dad left in the morning to walk to work carrying his stainless steel lunch pail and thermos the Old Country women of the neighborhood were already busy with their morning chores. At the start of each day they swept and cleaned their porches, then their sidewalks and finally our little alley street. I'd idly watch their activity.

Then I'd lean out my second floor bedroom window and look up. There I could watch the large resident flock of white pigeons banking and arching gracefully over our roof.

It was during those moments of flight that I was free to imagine being able to lift above the milling greyness soaring off to see the world... through my artist eyes!!

This watercolor on 18x24 inch Arches was painted in 1980 as I 'met with Chagall' each day and explored my early life. It was so enriching, enlivening and healing to filter childhood memory through the eyes of a master seer.

Do you have a favorite artist that you like to 'have lunch with'?

Homage

Sometimes it feels nurturing to consider early influences and the dreams we had as young artists. I stand now at the entrance to my sixth decade and I'm embracing the many teachers and mentors that have appeared along my path.

Marc Chagall helped lift my spirit during a time of deep retreat and creative focus in the late 70's. I lived at a magical water front estate and botanic garden called Casa del Mar and while there I was in the on-going process of healing from horrific violence and deep trauma.

Chagall's world view helped me (repeatedly) to lighten my burden and to gently loop back into my early environment so as to reclaim any misplaced aspects of my artist dream life.

I leaned into his work for about 18 months as seen here in this 18x24 inch watercolor titled 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl' that I painted in early 1980.

Notice in the middle ground the pony drawn cart. When I was a child there was a man who came through the inner city neighborhood calling out in a loud clear voice 'PAPER! RAGS! PAPER! RAGS! We children would run along beside him eager to pat his gentle white pony as he heaped the contributions that the women brought out to his old wooden wagon. I suppose he was one of the earliest recyclers that I can recall. And a most charming elderly man.

The Art of Relaxing continued

I don't know about you but seems to me that some days there is nothing better to do than to stop. We artists can push ourselves. Sometimes, often times out of passion and at other times out of desperation. The idea that we won't be seen as serious or productive or talented enough.

Having a way of breaking up the runaway train is useful to me. Today and yesterday I practiced the art of the nap out in the hammock under the pear trees with the blush of the azaleas blooming all about.

How do you step out of the way of the drive that drives you so you can take a breather to reassess and refresh?

Happy Celebration of the Earth and her art...

This is the kind of wonderful surprise that I receive as I walk out into my yard.

Many years ago I visited the glorious Bird's Acre Sanctuary and began to dream the dream of one day living in such a magical environment. Today and every day I give deep and gracious thanks to all the forces and the love that allow me to live at the wonderful wren house a bird's acre of its own making.

I am entranced. Mesmerized by the endless beauty that surrounds. Whereas the turtles on the log of two posts ago will spot my movement and dive under water in a flash...this Great Blue Heron fellow allowed me to practically walk right up to him and never actually flew off since I gave him space.

Gratitude to Mother Earth

Prayer for the Great Family

Gratitude to Mother Earth,

sailing through night and day—

and to her soil:

rich, rare and sweet

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Plants,

the sun-facing,

light-changing

leaf and fine root-hairs;

standing still through wind and rain;

their dance is in the flowering spiral grain

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Air,

bearing the soaring Swift and silent Owl at dawn.

Breath of our song clear spirit breeze

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Wild Beings,

our brothers, teaching secrets, freedoms, and ways;

who share with us their milk;

self-complete, brave and aware

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Water:

clouds, lakes, rivers, glaciers;

holding or releasing; streaming through all our bodies salty seas

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Sun:

blinding pulsing light through trunks of trees,

through mists, warming caves where bears and snakes sleep

— he who wakes us—

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to the Great Sky

who holds billions of stars

— and goes yet beyond that—

beyond all powers, and thoughts and yet is within us—

Grandfather Space.

The Mind is his Wife.

so be it.

after a Mohawk prayer
Gary Snyder, Turtle IslandNew Directions, New York, 1974, pp. 24-25

Turtle Island...the art of peace making

Earth Day is almost here... to celebrate here's a terrific view in my backyard.

Dozens of sliders, the size of large dinner plates, can be seen on numerous turtle logs on any given sunny day...I can't get any closer or they all quickly flop down into the water.

I recall reading about Turtle being the oldest symbol for the planet in Native American stories.

I collect children's books and one of my favorites is an Abby Book of the Year award winner titled Old Turtle . It's by Douglas Wood with wonderful watercolors by Cheng-Khee Chee that shares a fable about how Old Turtle brings an awareness of peace to all the animals and people of the world. What a great idea. Peace to all.

Women Artists Gathering

Do you find that one good thing often leads to another?
Last month during the 'Shared Terrain' exhibit with poet Toni Wynn and printmaker Liz Boyle we were each asked by Selden Gallery to create a commemorative piece for Women's History Month.
My idea was an afternoon of performance art with 12 women...my SWAN Day event posted here March 28.
That led to this evenings fire at my studio/home attended by 9 artists...a marvelous sharing of dreams...

Here's the flyer I sent out...we'll gather again May 11.

INSPIRED BY THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S WOMEN’S HISTORY PROJECT FOCUS ‘WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD TO SAVE THE PLANET’ I INVITE YOU TO:

JOIN ME ON APRIL 13 FROM 6:30-8:30 TO IGNITE THE CREATIVE FIRE IN YOUR BELLY… COME AND SIT NEAR THE FIRE AND/OR WALK THE EARTH CALENDAR WHEEL.

TAKE THIS TIME TO RESPECT WHAT YOU WANT, TO LOOK AT WHERE YOU’RE GOING AND TO IMAGINE HOW YOU INTEND TO MOVE FORWARD.

CONSIDER THESE TWO HOURS AS YOUR TIME TO WATCH THE FLAMES DANCE, WARM YOUR HEART AND LOVE THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE INSPIRED TO ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE WORLD.

THIS IS NOT A GROUP THAT IS ASKING ANYTHING OF YOU. THIS EVENING, AND THE ONCE A MONTH FIRES THAT WILL FOLLOW, ARE DESIGNED TO BE A BREAK, A REPRIEVE, A TIME OUT, A GENTLE SOOTHING SPACE FOR YOU TO WATCH THE FLAMES DANCE AND TO LISTEN TO THE SHARED DREAMS OF WHAT THE WORLD WE LOVE SO MUCH CAN TRULY BE.

Ruby Slippers of Wren House...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY!

Our rescue Airedale is my companion in the studio...and in the garden...she turns ten today...a big clown and a great character. Thank you for all these years of being my studio mate and for understanding how important it is to look but never touch art supplies and works in progress...such a smart girl.

The Art of Blowin' in the Wind

Cherry blossoms and sheets on the line... spring has come to Virginia.

I feel fortunate to live in an area where it is possible to let the sun and the breeze do the work of drying.

When's the last time you slept on sheets infused wth fresh air? Consider giving yourself a gift and hang a clothesline.

Springing Forward

I enjoyed a delightful week creating with over 500 students at Thoroughgood Elementary in Virginia Beach. Each class K-5 had a different experience. Here are some wee ones in second grade enjoying some time 'down at the river bank' drawing with 'paint in a stick'. it always brings a sense of wonder to see how they make it happen so effortlessly and with such focus. Thank you Jorja Jean art teacher extraordinaire for inviting me in to you magical art space. Virginia Beach puts a strong emphasis on the arts for all grades and it is so apparent when you are able to spend time in the class room.