Changing Woman

Navajo Sand Painting - Mother Earth - Artist,  Marie Akee

Following up on my last post Creative Restoration leads me today to share what I've been reading, studying and writing about this past month or so that is causing a big shift in my life. I have been re-reading and studying this book everyday because it is one of those books that profoundly speaks to the very core of me,  and I can't stop writing, reading or talking about it!

The Heroine's Journey was given to me by an artist friend last year. I had read Maureen Murdock's book Father's Daughters years ago. But I remember nothing about it for some reason. It wasn't due to the book itself or how it was written, but I think perhaps because I wasn't ready to absorb the topic of the book. I was trying to sort through all the issues surrounding my own Father/Daughter relationship in light of having an absentee father.

There are so many poignant statements made in The Heroine's Journey that it's difficult for me to decide which one has struck me the most.


Here are a few that I find so insightful about the creative feminine.

• "The soul of a culture cannot evolve if the body is not reclaimed and honoured.Many men and women are dreaming about the Goddess; she is a projection of the feminine principle that needs restoration in our culture. She takes many forms often embodied in the rich symbols of a person's heritage."

• " In Navajo mythology, Changing Woman is the creatix. She is earth and sky, the Lady of the Plants, and of the Sea. She goes beyond the bearer aspect of the mother; she is the feminine creator. Her cosmic cyclic movements-aging each Winter and becoming a young beautiful maiden each Spring-make Her the essence of death and rebirth signature of the continual restoration and rejuvenation of Life. It is said "where masculine creativity tends to move away forward, feminine creativity tends to turn round on itself," not circularly so much as spirally. It's constantly changing."

• " This ability to move with the creative impulse without trying to force it is an aspect of the feminine. There is a quality of the feminine that allows things to happen in the natural cycle of things. People who work at deep levels of the unconscious in therapy and in the creative process know that there are phases of both quietude and renewal, and these must be respected, protected and given time. One can't force birth. Trusting the mystery of manifestation is one of the deep teachings of the feminine journey.

• "The heroic quest is not about power over, about conquest and domination; it is a quest to bring balance into our lives through the marriage of both feminine and masculine aspects of our nature. The modern-day heroine has to confront her fear about reclaiming her feminine nature, her personal power, her ability to feel, heal, create, change social structures and shape her future. She brings us wisdom about the interconnectedness of all species; she teaches us how to live together in this global vessel and helps us to reclaim the feminine in our lives."

Eyland's Acre -  Water Colour - Artist www.judithjosephstudio.com

Judith Joseph

I first met Judith Joseph online on this site http://www.egg tempera.com 
I was very excited to see her work and have been a great fan of hers ever since and have great admiration and appreciation for her talent, skill  and especially her passion for creating the most beautiful Ketubahs. She is a beautiful human being, humble and gracious.

Blog Tour!

Well I've been busy working part-time and trying to get ready for an up coming exhibit at Struts Artist Run Centre and Gallery in Sackville, New Brunswick, June 2nd -15th. Next week! The opening reception will be on June 3rd, day before my birthday.
Spring is a rather overwhelming time so much to do, in and outside of the house. But I'm just doing what I can and taking it all just one day at a time. The warm weather has been very slow in getting here in this part of the world. Today on an afternoon CBC Radio program I heard someone call this month of weather Junuary! Oh boy. Not that cold, but sure as heck not very warm! Furnaces and wood stoves are still being fired up, sweaters and wool socks are also being worn! Any who...

Just this week, I was contacted by a dear online friend, Indigene Theresa Gaskin a prolific, talented and beautiful, insightful and  very vibrant artist. She asked  if I would be interested in participating in a Blog Tour. Apparently this has been happening for sometime now online. It gives you the opportunity to meet other women artists by visiting their blog and  maybe subscribing  to see what is going on in their studios. What a fantastic idea! Wished I'd thought of it!!! Such a positive and uplifting  thing to participate in! God knows we need that right now.
It's a wonderful way for women artists to connect, network and support one another, plus see a lot of great art! 

And so Indigene forwarded me questions to answer and here they are!

What am I working on?

Presently I am doing a series of Jelly Moulds from a 1920 - 1930 recipe book, Davis Dainty Dishes
 

​" Charlotte Russe " Egg Tempera on ceramic tile, 6' x 6", 2014

Charlotte Russe was mentioned on the BBC series " Downton Abbey " as being a " lovely pudding"

" Carrrington Mould " Egg Tempera on ceramic tile, 6" x 6', 2014

​" Pavlova " Egg Tempera on ceramic tile, 6" x 6". 2014

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How does my work differ from others of its genre?

There aren't many painters around using egg tempera these days. I expect because there are few people that are schooled in this technique.

Why do I write/create what I do?

Writing for me is an essential part of my creative process. It greases the creative wheel so to speak. and keeps the creative flow going writing taps into the intuitive source, involving the mind, body, and spirit. It is very much a meditation, contemplation, reflection, prayer and a clearing away the psychic rubbish in my mind, so I have a clarity of thought and open channels to creativity.

I have been journaling long hand for over 30 years.

Primarily my work subject matter lies in exploring the Wild Woman, the Crone, based on story telling, and cultural myths. I also like to just have fun with my subject matter incorporating humour.

Wolf Woman - 12" x  8" egg tempera on wood panel 2011-12

Wolf Woman - 12" x  8" egg tempera on wood panel 2011-12

Wild Woman - Singing Over The Bones, egg tempera on wood panel, 2011-2012

How does your writing/creating process work?

My writing is a three page journal entry consisting of random stream of thought. I usually write first thing in the morning, long hand and then I blog online which are specific posts about art, artists and creativity.

My art blog I began in 2008, as an exploration of what it means to me to live creatively.

 I am primarily a painter, using egg tempera medium.

 I graduated as a mature student with my BFA from Mount Allison University in 2012 and attended the Nova Scotia College of  Art & Design for approximately four years in the early 70s.

The two other women I have chosen for this blog tour are Julia Speer who I met online some time ago. She is a wonderfully gifted and passionate artist, art educator and teacher. Julia facilitates women's retreats in Georgia USA, and is a deep kind of thinker.

Judith Joseph is a remarkable artist, who is very versatile and her specialty is intricately detailed Ketubah ( Hebrew illuminated marriage contracts, that are illustrated using calligraphy) for Jewish weddings.
The blog tour is open to anyone, but personally I have a great passion learning about other women artists, as I find them inspiring as women and as artists. I hope you enjoy these blogs written by these three women I have linked too, as much as I do.