Creativity, Tarot, The City of Words and Gilgamesh

Eight years ago when I began to seriously study Tarot, I saw creativity as being naturally and directly connected for many reasons, and has increasingly been affirmed to me as being a perfect fit, especially as an artist.


 Primarily it's necessary to have a creative, intuitive perception for both pursuits. Consciousness and the unconscious are also involved with execution of both these creative arts and skill. This instinct and ability is certainly not exclusive to certain individuals, as we all possess this instinct and creative ability, but they must be nurtured and practiced in order for it to increase.

 C.G. Jung stated  'the collective unconsciousness is the "soul of the world" and it is in that 'soul' that our shared symbolism of the archetypes dwell. An archetype is a universal human behaviour or pattern. Tarot and art help me to tap into the universe's unlimited creative energy through archetype.

Tarot has long held the human imagination for ages and shows no sign of disappearing. Art and creativity do the same. Both reflect story telling, and a self-knowledge of the soul. Tarot imagery is fundamental and exact in describing the multi-coloured working of the inner psyche that spring from the imagination spontaneously, in a poetic language that tells the story of the archetypal life journey. This language of story is found on many levels and in countless creative outpourings over the millennia.

The use of the Mythic Tarot deck has allowed me to study the images of the Greek Gods so beloved by the Renaissance artists and writers that formed art and literature, the cultural underpinning of the whole western world.

 Currently I am reading a fascinating book given to me by a good friend, by Alberto Manguel, entitled The City of Words. His book suggest that perhaps through "the stories we tell, these hold secret keys to the human heart. "
He encourages us to look at the artists and other visionaries who can help us change our hearts for the better and build a better world through myth and story.

Like in the story of the ancient epic poem Gilgimesh, we can learn to live life and to love well.

Gilgamesh Morns Enkidu

Opening This Week At The Art Lab Parrsboro Nova Scotia

The Empress/Demeter/Earth Mother/The Red Tent-Egg Tempera on Porcelain Tile, 6"x6" 2015 - Catherine Meyers

It's been a bit of a whorl wind this month, and I've been trying to avoid getting my underwear in a big knot, working on new pieces for this exhibit. My Tarot series of 22 Major Arcana paintings are coming along, and I'm in a creative groove. There will also be older pieces in this show that some folks might have seen before, others whom may have not.

I am very excited to be part of a thriving creative community of artists in the Parrsboro and surrounding areas.  

The professional development of artists and the creative economy contributes greatly to our quality of life and will continue to do so. Please come out, and support our local artists.

Opening this Weekend Sunday August 23 - 2pm Associate Artists Catherine Meyers and Helen Wasson-Graham Catherine Meyers

Helen Wasson-Graham Please join us at 2pm on Sunday in celebration of the work of these two Associate Artists Catherine Meyers Catherine Meyers was born in 1953, in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada. She grew up in Ontario after her parents relocated when she was six months old. Her family returned to Nova Scotia in 1968. After attending the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design for four years in Halifax, during the 70s, she returned to study art again at the age of 56 as a mature student, at Mount Allison University, in Sackville New Brunswick, where she recently graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, receiving the Catherine Arsenault-MacDonald Memorial Award. This award is given to those mature students who exhibit perseverance and determination in achieving their degree. During the period in between her art education she has worked as a Youth Care Worker for many years, as an Apprentice Welder and an Equestrian. She has had a varied and colourful life of experiences, from baking bagels at the Wild Cat Cafe, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to teaching Middle Eastern Dance (Belly Dance) to fishermen' s wives in her small village at the local community hall. http://catherinemeyersartist.blogspot.com Helen Wasson-Graham Helen Graham is a native of Parrsboro who for many years worked in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario before moving back to her hometown. She comes from a long line of seafarers. Her grandfather and father both worked on the sea with her grandfather, Capt. Walter Wasson owning many well-known Parrsboro schooners. Helen has a sharp eye for color and detail, as illustrated in all her art work. She is a master quilter and in this medium too, her eye for matching colors and detail makes her work highly desirable. “I love putting colors together to achieve an attractive theme in both quilts and paintings,” she says. Helen particularly thanks her mentor, Arlene Collins for first putting a paint brush in her hand. “She inspired me to take my painting seriously. As you might expect, I'm very excited to have a show at the Art Lab. I hope friends and acquaintances will drop in to see my work.” The Exhibition runs August 23 - Sept 12   Art Lab Resident Artists - Krista Wells, Jill Langford, Krista Odlin-Levy , Michael Fuller