If you've learned from your most painful and joyful experiences, with courage you will find your creative vision, purpose and mission.
We all have a story to tell, and I hope the stories and topics found in this blog will help you to connect with your own creative story.
My mother she had a Ukranian church lady friend she sang in the choir with, she always said, " Oh My Godfrey !" She'd exclaim this when she'd get excited about something or just wanted to emphasis what she was saying. I think about my mum especially this time of year at Christmas. My whole human kind family I think of really and our world.
Christmas is often a sad and sorrowful time for many but also a miraculous time as well. The little miracles that happen and the big ones as well are present through out the year and seem to be more poignant during the Christmas season if we look close enough. It's a time of gratitude for me and happiness really for the little things, family and friends and the struggles overcome, not through my own strength but from the strength that comes from within, from the Power greater than myself.
The end of the university Fall term has come and ended. It really seemed insurmountable to me at points but as I struggled to have faith, I managed to get all my work done and I think completed to a standard that I am satisfied with and can be proud of my effort. I had so many miracles happen in the form of friendship and answered prayer, that helped me along the way and I'd never been able to accomplish what I did if it they hadn't have happened.
So, I am finally exhaling and plan to have a very quiet, peaceful Christmas alone but somehow not lonely because I feel the joy and contentment within my heart , and deep gratitude and communion with The Creator and I feel that connectedness with others.
May your lives be filled with blessings of the Creator.
Cro-Hooked Communication Tube For Two, Polypropylene Twine
Altered Found Object 3'x4x6, Fly tying Feathers, Pine Cones, Plaster, Glue, Wooden Box
Here's my recent sculpture projects. No sculpture classes for me next term, I am taking Open Media which I am really looking forward to, lots of variety and suits my Gemini personality.
Well I have finally come to the point in my studies where I can look forward to working on specific independent projects in the coming New Year. I can see landscape painting outside just like the Group of Seven in my near future! Oh to have known Tom Thomson!
I am now heading into my final year at Mount Allison. I have to say that although I am anxious and very excited about the prospect of the day of my graduation, I also know I will miss this wonderful learning experience. I realize more poignantly how beneficial it is to be surrounded by creativity in such a vital arts community of Sackville, New Brunswick, what Jian Ghomeshi from CBC Radio "Q", called, the cultural mecca of Canada, during his lecture at Convocation Hall on November 19th, 2010, for the Presidential Lecture Series. He was most engaging, riveting, down to earth, humourous and yes, I must say, very handsome and charming. Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my face.
I was able to get a bird's eye view , sitting directly in the front of him in the middle of the front row. My heart be still. I was a little excited I admit much like a young school girl, all be it only in my mind!
After the lecture he invited everyone to ask questions. I was sure to get up there and ask mine and comment on his collected demeanor during the infamous Billy Bob CBC Radio interview. When I asked what was going on with him, he said he thought Billy Bob had underestimated CBC radio and Canadian's intelligence, and was not doing any regular shtick as he claims in the media on such shows as David Letterman.
That said, I love Jian, CBC radio, popular culture, Canada, being Canadian, landscape painting and being a mature but not grown up, Mount Allison student!
Here is my last painting project for the Fall term; a landscape of my favourite view of Apple River , Nova Scotia. It is acrylic and oil pastel on 12" x 4 '. I have done versions of this view but never one of this size. It was a very satisfying process.
Next term I intend and look forward to be working in egg tempera medium on masonite.
I want to clarify, I have not been nor have I ever seen myself as a landscape painter. It was something I never even imagined doing however living in very rural Nova Scotia I have finally embraced and been greatly influenced by the awesome and gentle sacred beauty of where I live and I now have the desire to reflect and share this in my art work.
The series of small paintings I did on panels that originally made up the structure from a previous sculpture I did last year. I decided to do these paintings on the minimalist shapes because the basic forms lent themselves to the work and informed each piece individually and collectively.
Triqutra & Triskele - The Divine Feminine/Symbols of Love
Eye Of Horus
They are representational images of spiritual concepts within cultures, and the exploration of "Sacred Geometry." The circles can be also seen as mandelas.
I've neglected my blog among other matters in daily life I confess.
The ongoing challenge of prioritizing goals while attending university full time is a learning experience. Between trying to solve sculptural projects, figuring out the logistics of getting Winter tires, preventing science projects from growing in my kitchen and having an eyeball go wonky on me all at the same time is great fun, much like having monkeys fly out your butt! I'm sure when it's all done I'll laugh and sing gleefully and wish for these day again perhaps? Mmmm na a, don't think, but who knows. I am certain though,I will be a better person for it.
So here are some of my art endeavors this past term.
Note: I have come to the conclusion I may have my moments of maturity but will never be never be grown up! I refuse!
These drawings are what I call re-invented cosmology. The project was to be an invented cosmology however considering some of these ideas already exist within cultures, they are my personal expression and interpretation of what is called " The Tree Of Life ."
