Solstice

I recently found these words this song I had tucked away, by the Wyrd Sisters. The words sum up my feelings at this time of year.

 Solstice Carole

A Fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome here
We'll dance'neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of solstice
Is still  living here

We'll  count all our blessings
While the mother lays down
With the snow as her blanket
Covering the ground
Thanks to the mother
For the life that she brings

She'll wake us again in the spring

The poor and the hungry
The sick and the lost
These are our children
No matter what the cost
Come by the fire
The harvest to share
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here

A fire is burning
The long night draws near
All who need comfort
Are welcome by here
We'll dance 'neath the stars
And toast the past year
For the spirit of solstice
Is still living here

The spirit of solstice
Is still living here

By The Wyrd Sisters


I have spent the last few weeks offline. Not by choice, but circumstance, always finding this is a time of deep reflection for me, especially in Winter. Not to say it can't be challenging and even difficult, as I live in a rather isolated rural community, and as of late due to in-climate weather have been often snowed in. It is a good thing I, for the most part enjoy my own company. But I am filled with gratitude for so many blessings.

As the New Year fast approaches, I've contemplated the losses, and events throughout the year. In particular I was struck by the deaths of  Maritime musicians, and beautiful human beings, Rita MacNiel, Stompin' Tom Conners, Rayleen Rankin and lastly the death of Nelson Mandela. When Nelson Mandela died, I listened  intently to so much coverage on CBC Radio about the man, and what an inspiring example he was. How of the power of the individual can help to contribute, to change in the world in spite of the odds and the obstacles. All these folks I've mentioned did the same in one way or another. It is what we are called to do on this earth I believe. To live as wise people through knowledge, contemplation, and reflection.

Rites of Passage

 

 

 

I was asked to write a guest blog post for my gracious, beautiful and very talented friend Julia Speer , who has a wonderful site, Sage Soul Sisters.

 

Having reached the age of being a Crone, I decided to write a post about rites of passage, and examine what the term means to me personally. I believe it is about transitional change.  I continue to learn what this means to me, and hopefully I will always welcome change with courage.
 In particular, I strongly identify with traditional First Nation people's outlook, and philosophy regarding rites of passage.

People are always changing. We are either moving forward, or regressing, regardless of  the pace or situation. The one thing that stays the same, is that life is always full of transition, from birth to death.
 My life transitions are particular to me of course, but like most folks, many did not come easily, were beyond my control, and some were of my own choice, and decision.

I don't think it much matters what my experiences were, so much as what my attitude was when they happened, and what I gleaned from these rites of passage. The lessons learned, helped me to become a better human being. I always reflect and paraphrase what I heard Angela Davis say during an interview, when asked about her time in prison; when you go through difficult times she stated, these times either break you, or you get stronger.

My attitude toward rites of passage was, and is everything. I had to find the positive, courage, faith, and trust. When I couldn't find these within myself, I borrowed them from some one else. I had to leave put my false pride aside, reach out to others for help, and put my faith in God.

I certainly understand that much of my behaviour was already hardwired in my personality due to my parental upbringing that determined in part, who I would become as an adult woman.

I have had many rites of passage, and I am still connecting these to myself, as a spiritual being, having a human experience, who has recently transitioned into being a crone, now reaching the age of sixty. When I think about this, it causes me to reflect over the course of my life up until the present, and to take a kind of inventory of these rites of passage.

I have listed the most significant rites of passage in my life.

•  The first transition in my life came at the young age of five, when my brother developed multiple sclerosis.
•  I would be directly effected by two diseases. MS and alcoholism.
• At the age of 13 my father left my family, and my brother had a mental breakdown at the age of 23.
• My mother and I returned to Nova Scotia without my brother, and this point I began to get more seriously involved in substance abuse.
• My brother returned to Nova Scotia. I quit high school, and went to vocational school in order to help me get into art college. I decided I wanted to study art.
• At 17-18 years of age I moved out of my mother's home and lived on my own for a period of time in Halifax.
• At 21 I got accepted into NSCAD ( Nova Scotia College of Art and Design ).
• In 1981 I married the love at my life. Four months later, he was dead from a complications from schizophrenia and brittle diabetes, that tragically took his life in 1981 at the age of 26.
• I married again to an abusive, alcoholic man in 1986.
• I got pregnant twice, and miscarried both times.
• In the late 80s I re-united with my father after having no contact with him for 26 years.
• Joined Al-anon in 1988, found myself in Transition House, and divorced in 1991.
• After meeting an Art Therapist, and she introduced me to The Artist Way. I quit my Youth Care Worker profession to go riding horses at 40  for  a period of approximately two years, and I got sober.
• In my second year of sobriety my mother died. My father and mother came to my first year  anniversary.
• Suffice to say, without going into the messy details, I was out in orbit for the first four years of sobriety, until I started to work the 12 Steps, and then things began to improve. I truly had turned my life, and will over to the power of God as I understood.
• I got involved with Mediterranean dance ( Beledi )  which means folk dance, or commonly known as belly dance.
• My father died eleven years ago, and two months later, MS took my big brother and I was a mess, but I stayed clean and sober.
• At 56 years of age, I went back to University and graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Art from Mount Allison University in 2012.

I hesitated a bit in making this list, as part of my post being so personal, and to some may seem very negative. Yes it's true, much of it was negative, but in retrospect, all of these experiences, and events have helped me to become, and to accept who I am mind, body and spirit. I choose not to let my rites of passage define me in a negative way. I became a resilient, whole person, that learned to take responsibility for my own health and happiness. I've learned to accept the things I can not change, to change the things I can, and to know and discern the difference.
I am grateful for each, and every day of my rites of passage, for my contented, happy, sober life. Especially I am forever grateful to those who helped me along the road.

                                            Self-Portrait/ Artist As A Crone



 

"Good Writing Is About Telling The Truth "

                                       Digital Art by "Nick" at artflakes.com

This morning while sitting at the computer, I casually picked up my copy of Anne Lamott's, Bird By Bird. Leafing through the first chapter. I read, the first thing she tells her students is, "Good writing is about telling the truth." This statement sure resonated with me.

Then I came upon this. It made me laugh, but at the same time, I considered it to be a serious message, because I identified with the feelings reflected in this poem by Phillip Lopate. His poem very truthfully conveys that all too familiar script of the unhealthy inner critic, that artist's often confront, and have to overcome.

Anne Lamott states,  " You can be defeated and disoriented by all these feelings, I tell them, or you can see the paranoia, for instance, as wonderful material. You can use it as raw clay that you pull out of the river: surely one of your characters is riddled with it, and so giving that person this particular quality, you get to use it, shape it into something true and funny or frightening."

We who are
your closest friends
feel the time
has come to tell you
that every Thursday
we have been meeting,
as a group,
to devise ways
to keep you
in perpetual uncertainty
frustration
discontent and torture
by neither loving you
as much as you want
nor cutting you adrift.
Your analyst is
in on it,
plus your boyfriend
and your ex-husband;
and we have pledged
to disappoint you
as long as you need us.
In announcing our
association
we realize we have
placed in your hands
a possible antidote
against uncertainty
indeed against ourselves.
But since our Thursday nights
have brought us
to a community
of purpose
rare in itself
with you as
the natural center,
we feel hopeful you
will continue to make unreasonable
demands for affection
if not consequence
of your disastrous personality
then for the good of the collective.
                                                       -  Phillip Lopate

Baskets and Biscuits

It's very cold out, here in Nova Scotia. Makes me very grateful I don't have to drive any where. So I'm hunkered down, with hot coffee, my CBC radio on, the wood stove roaring, biscuits and baskets on my mind. Perfect combination for a late Fall day.
Here are my last two baskets I made yesterday, and my biscuits I just pulled out of the oven.

 

 

Keep warm and have a lovely handmade day!

The Perfection of Life's Messes

I have never exactly struggled with perfectionism, but rather with guilt, and I'm certain the two are directly connected, and for me, it is simply another one of my 'isms, joining the others I seem to have had for longer than I can remember. I'm not complaining. It's who I am, and I've learned to thrive not in spite of, but because of these challenges.

When I was a student I took a course called, Personal Philosophy, at the University of Prince Edward Island. We could pick a topic of our own choosing and interest, that we wanted to explore and construct a paper and present it to the class. I chose the topic of guilt, and I read a book by C. Allison Fitzsimons, Guilt Anger and God - The Patterns of Our Discontents.

This book helped me to understand the where, what, why, when, and how these attitudes and feelings occur, which in turn helped me too overcome the power they had in dictating much of my unhealthy thoughts.

When it comes to writing, I do it because it makes me feel good,  can't seem to help but write and writing makes sense of life's messes. If my writing helps another feel good, well that makes me feel good too.

Having kept journals as far back as 1970, I have had the pleasure and dismay of looking look back on my life's messes, and often have some good laughs at the young girl I was, and in some ways I still am. I have always been an observer of people, and of life. I like to know what makes people, including myself, tick. I have an analytical personality.

One of the reasons I am so attracted to Anne Lamott's writing, is because she seems to understand herself with all her character defects, her messes, and does so with gracious acceptance, humour, and humility, apparent in all of her books. I think of in particular, her book, Bird By Bird  where she gives a clear demonstration and outlook on  her attitude toward life and writing.

" Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft."

 " I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it."

“Clutter and mess show us that life is being lived...Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation... Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. What people somehow forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here.”  - Anne Lamott

I especially love this last quote. It makes me feel wonderfully happy, and makes me want to celebrate life's messes! Lets dance!

Not Quite Busy As a Beaver

I have been slowly and labouriously working at my wood pile and doing a detailed embroidered project for a friend the past month or so, and haven't been painting. This is about to change shortly, as I have a new series to work on, over the Winter months.

I have continued to work on my baskets over the Summer, and have been trying to get some inventory built up for the Christmas Down Shore Market. I've posted a few new creations.

 

 

Some one else has been busy with woodin' too, my resident beaver!

 

 

 

 

Theaster Gates

Here's an artist with a social conscience were action is his work. Theaster Gates I learned about yesterday on Q. He's my kind of human, my kind of artist.

 

Fabulous Fashionistas - “Having an identity beyond old lady.”

My mother was born in 1912. I was born in 1953. She was 41 years old when I was born, an older mother. Thing was, I never considered her "old". She was ageless to me, because she was comfortable in her own skin. She saw herself and others as people first and foremost, never their age, skin colour, denomination or religious belief, etc.
Sarah Helen, my mum, loved  and cherished life, had wicked sense of humour, a strong sense of wrong and right, believed in God, and was full of courage and strength of character. She taught me many important lessons.

When I saw this video I immediately thought of my mother, because these beautiful women, also have a wonderful attitude toward who they are, love life, and defy any sense of ageism. Oh if only the world could truly take a lesson from these women that see past age, skin colour, creed and gender. They truly define what it means to be a woman fully alive until we finally leave this mortal coil.
 

A Moveable Feast - Running From Crazy

I finished A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway this week, and happily returned it to the library. It wasn't anything like I thought it would be. I expected it to be full of scenes, situations, and conversations among writers, and artists in Paris, during the 1930s. It was rather dull, and full of descriptions of drunken episodes, and I really don't remember a whole lot else about it except his friendships with Gertrude Stein, and Scott Fitzgerald. As well, the description of how he lived so poorly in Paris with his wife.
 Perhaps my expectations were just a little unrealistic.
That said , I don't doubt Ernest Hemingway's creative ability to write, after all he did recieve a Noble Prize for Literature, and the Pulizer Prize for Fiction. He was indeed a very creative man, and I think especially, when he was sober and well.

 Being a recovering alcoholic myself, I found as was reading his book, I was becoming preoccupied with how many times Hemingway talked about drinking, and what he was drinking, in each chapter, and page. I was beginning to think I was counting the times booze was mentioned, like the way a family member of the alcoholic is always preoccupied with how much the alcoholic is drinking. This is due to my own past obsession with booze, and other people's drinking, which I often take note of. It's why I became a member of Al-Anon in 1988, I was addicted to the alcoholics in my life.

 Truthfully, I didn't find the writing in A Moveable Feast engaging. It impressed me as being disjointed, perhaps because it was a sketchy memoir, that was put together three years after his death.

 I'm certain his writing was affected by his alcoholism, his bi-polar mental illness, and his experience in the war, which I'm certain left him with post traumatic stress.

Hemingway interests me more as a person, than as a writer, not in spite of his troubles, but because of them.
I will attempt to read another one of his books in the future, but in the meanwhile, I'll finish off my books by Eudora Welty and Walker Evans and James Agee, Now Let Us Praise Famous Men.

Today I listened to an interview with Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter, Mariel Hemingway ,which was very interesting and very hopeful. A testament to how we can change our lives. I am very happy that she has been able to turn things around, and breaking that cycle of illness and addiction by speaking out.
 I hope I the chance to see her film, Running From Crazy.

Poverty - I Want To Get Something Off My Chest...

There is something I want to get off my chest. It relates to my last post , in that it has to do with poverty, and the feelings of dis-empowerment that can rise, due to one's lack of income. I hope that I might be able to help others in a similar situation.

While writing this post, I found this amazing animated film, about the history of poverty, and it helped put things into perspective for me. The site whypoverty.net has many similar such films about this important issue, that affects us, in one way or another, artist or not.

No statistical discourse, relaying data on how poverty affects artists is of little interest to me. As an artist, I am well acquainted, and have learned to cope, and adapt with both the effects, and affects of poverty. I really consider myself to be very fortunate, and am very grateful for all of my blessings in life.

What is most troublesome to me, is how more often than not, the lack of income immediately puts a person into a position of dis-empowerment, and can be a downward spiral, especially when compounded by other problems such as illness.
It is however, up to me how I respond to my situation, to the attitude of others, who will often ignore, demean, insult, and put your concerns at the bottom of the list.
 I am grateful to be able to express myself in an articulate manner, improve, even resolve my problems, or circumstances that frustrate, and burden me. But, it can still be a challenge to advocate for myself.

We live in a time when it is almost impossible to speak to someone directly over the phone, playing a constant game of phone tag, including a plethora of unanswered messages. It's enough to drive a person over the edge. It's a covert and sometimes overt message, that you are not important, and you just don't matter, especially if you are poor. Many folks just give up trying to advocate for themselves, or don't have the wherewith all to do so.

There is a history of blaming the poor for their circumstance. I suggest it is a carry over from the Protestant Work Ethic, that perceived poverty to be a moral issue. The poor were seen as morally defective and lazy, being quickly dispersed into work houses.

According to the Protestant Work Ethic, if we work hard enough in spite of our low remuneration, we will be rewarded. Unfortunately, are we are not often rewarded, but mostly taken advantage of, and those who work less, in high paying positions, are often rewarded, praised and held in high regard within our North American society. My dear grand dad would always say, "The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer". I believe he was right. And B.F. Skinner was wrong, we are not always rewarded and punished accordingly for our behaviour.

If you are ever in the position of being hungry, worrying about not having enough food to eat, one's attitude is adjusted to one of empathy, understanding, and hopefully compassion, toward another less fortunate.

The best antidote to worry, is action, not procrastination, I have learned .
Best definition of procrastination I ever heard was this one. "Procrastination is like masturbation, the only one you screw, is yourself."

If you know someone who is having difficulty advocating for themselves, that needs help, give them a hand-up, share with them what helped, what you did, what enabled you to regain your sense of self-empowerment.

If you find constant obstacles blocking your way to advocating for yourself, don't give up, persevere. Persistence, along with trust, and prayer, really does go a long way to help you cope with those overwhelming crazy makers.

I did this today, contacting the head office of a company with my complaint. I could have chosen to do nothing but procrastinate, complain, worry, and continue to feel frustration, resulting I'm sure, in the rise of my blood pressure.

I feel better now. Thanks for letting me rant.

Does Art School Doom Graduates to a Life of Unemployment? Are TED Talks Lying?

                                                                                                            

  In my adolescence, I decided art school was the best choice for me, not because I thought it would help me find employment, to obtain my financial security. But because I knew academia was not where I felt or believed I fit, as my experience within the public school for me was an abysmal boredom, failure and most unpleasant  to say the least, although in spite of all this, my thirst for knowledge always remained, thanks to my family and peers.

Art was what I felt I was good at doing.
Later in my young adult years at art school, it became painfully apparent to me I was not headed for financial independence. I did however develop a resilience, a resourcefulness to find work, in whatever field I could, and managed to get by to make ends meet.

Gradually through hard learned lessons I began to value my work both aesthetically and monetarily, in spite of the challenges faced in an society and economy that certainly wasn't a creative one, with real integrity, but simply serving the top one percent, corporate, mostly self-serving class. Thomas Frank speaks about this in his article, Ted Talks Are Lying To You .

 Most working artists are not wealthy.The average artist's income is well below the poverty level, from what I can tell, and we more often than not, fly by the seat of our pants to pay the bills, support ourselves, and families.

It was told to me during my art education, this quote by George Bernard Shaw. "He who can does; he who cannot teaches". I love teaching and love creating art. I've never believed this adage. Teaching and creating art can be done consecutively, if not simultaneously. Many artists/teachers that I know and respect, do it very well, and are passionate, disciplined and committed to both.

In  Daniel Grant's item from the Wall Street Journal , I read today..."Artists can have good careers, earning a middle-class income," says Anthony Carnevale, director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. "And, just as important and maybe more, artists tend to be happy with their choices and lives."

I find this hard to believe the median income for artists would be $42,000!? Certainly not the reality in Canada! Nay, Nay I say!!!
I whole hearted agree that artists are happy with the choices they've made, and their lives, because art makes them happy. Most artists intrinsically understand money does not bring happiness.
That said, if I ever could actually making a sustainable living as a full time artist, not any where near 42 grand mind you; you can bet, this would definitely add to my happiness, greatly lessen my stress, and I could refrain from eating dust sandwiches from time to time!
 

Post Script Quote from George Benard Shaw: "A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry. Hence University education."

 

 

"Hope Blooms"

http://youtu.be/Ix2rPMz-Tz0

Now here is a reason to believe!!!

I was SO excited and happy to hear this wonderful news!

The Dragon's Den loves Hope Blooms !

"Can Art Make Us Care More?"

I've always thought the answer to this question would be an obvious, yes.

Being an artist I have looked at numerous works of art over the years. I can specifically remember the many occasions I was greatly moved by a particular work of art, and how I felt overwhelmed with the subject matter, and the artist because they touched me deeply, on a human level. I was compelled to care more.

Art has a way of doing this. I often look for it from other artists, as I identify with that kind of art, with this kind of artist, because hope is imparted to me for change, and inspires me to want to be a better person and artist.

It is certainly an important matter worth consideration.

 Art reflects life. Compassion, is a such integral part of life. If it isn't, well, I am not a person that is fully alive in my opinion.

http://hyperallergic.com/88353/can-art-make-us-care-more/

A postscript to this blogpost The Lives of Others
An amazing movie about hope, compassion, change and art.

" Testaments of Honour "

Last night I was invited out for supper at my artist friend's house and joined a group of lively individuals with good discussion, great food, candle light and a warm wood fire. I felt very grateful and happy.

Being Remembrance day tomorrow, I've been thinking a great deal about war, veterans, soldiers and peace, over the past few weeks leading up to this time.
 After supper we were talking about Alex Colville, and the effect his war experience had on him personally, and on his art work and practice.

I had mentioned to my friend how Alex Colville had donated the gift of his silk screened renderings to the Owens Gallery at Mount Allison University, not long before he'd died, where he had once been an art student and a teacher.

We talked at length, and then she brought out a printed excerpt from the book, " Testaments of Honour ". This book by Blake Heathcote is a compilation of personal histories of Canadian war veterans.
In this print out, was Alex Colville's personal testament, which my friend lent me to read. He had served in the Royal Canadian Engineers Regiment in North Western Europe, as a war artist, during the Second World War.

 I had more of an in depth perception of who Alex Colville was, upon reading about his own insightful thoughts, and experience of the war, how this shaped who he was as a person, and an artist.

Gabrielle-TIFF

After hearing about Gabrielle being the latest Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film, written and directed by Canadian film maker Louise Archambault; her film certainly sparked my curiosity and interest, because of a subject that is close to my heart, examining the so called "handicap".

 Most Canadians don't have a clue about Canadian film. We can't think of many by name, and have misconceptions about what a Canadian film is like, and often can't imagine why on earth we would be even interested.

Searching to find out more about this film, it lead me to a link of a trailer from Maple Flavour Films (2008) giving a great overview, that points out poignantly and succinctly some of the problems surrounding this lack of knowledge and interest in Canadian film.

I have long had the opinion Quebec supports the arts much more so than the rest of Canada. I suppose there are numerous reasons for this, and it is a somewhat painful and shameful reality for artists in the rest of the country I believe. Not the shame of the artists, but of the powers that be including, social, economic and political climate in our Canadian culture.
Quebec's rich and versatile arts culture is reflected in the world taking notice of such artists as Louise Archambault and Robert Charlebois .

In spite of this, I do remain hopeful. I look to places such as Quebec where artists like Louise Archambault are a wonderful example of how artists can be powerful forces for hope, for changes in misconception, in attitude, and in this troubled world.

Alex Colville's Gift

I was unable to attend this special event last Saturday evening at my Alma Mater, Mount Allison University. This was on CBC TV and I wanted to share it. Very exciting and a wonderful gift! Thank you Mr. Colville for your work and for your life!

“Art holds out the promise of inner wholeness"

The recent tragic and brutal death of Harley Lawrence in Berwick, Nova Scotia was very disturbing to say the least , made my heart ache and sick. It wasn't only because it was Harley. I did not know the man. But, because I have known many like him as a worker with troubled youth at risk, post-psychiatric patients, mentally challenged folks and working with both adult and young offenders.

 I understand with first handed experience, these struggles, after seeing my late father, brother and husband throughout the years, suffer with addiction, mental illness and living on the street.

This kind of tragedy, sad to say, does not surprise me. It often makes me feel helpless, and sorrowful because of the kind of society and world we live in. The harrowing trials that so many marginalized folks experience, falling through the cracks within a broken system and government that seems to heartlessly chew and spit people out, especially if you don't have the wherewith all to advocate for yourself or no one to give you hope.

I am blessed to have a faith in a God of my understanding, that gives me many reasons to be hopeful, and filled with gratitude for everyday. Art and creativity from a young age, always was my great tool I used throughout life, enabling me to cope. It was truly my therapy and gave me solace, when I felt the world chaotically falling apart within and all around me. It is often difficult to know how to express this in tangible words. I intuitively knew art helped me, in ways I didn't understand, but I knew it worked. As I grew older I came to understand why, though I still can't explain it succinctly.

This article from the book by I found yesterday originally posted via Agora Gallery blog update via a post from a great site, Brain Pickings, featured the book Art As Therapy by Philosopher Alain de Botton, and Art Historian John Armstrong who wrote about, the 7 Psychological Functions of Art.

After feelings of frustration and sadness yesterday, I intently searched for something, anything related to how art and creativity can shine a light in the darkness. I found it waiting for me in my inbox. It made me feel excited, good and affirmed, because it  puts it all together for me, why I am an artist, and why art is so essential to life. I know art can't solve all the woes of this life in our troubled world but it, certainly can make a difference if we are honestly willing to keep our hearts, and our minds open to the healing powers of art and creativity.


Rest In Peace Harley Lawrence

 

Lou Reed

I was saddened to hear Lou Reed had died. He was one of a kind. I think the passing of an era really.

Artists Dying of Exposure

Here's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.
 I read this morning in the NY Times Sunday Review, a very poignant article, by Tim Kreider expressing much of how I feel about doing work for nothing, in particularly I am referring to creative work.
I love this. I'll file it for future reference to use next time some one expects art work free gratis.

"Thanks very much for your compliments on my [writing/illustration/whatever thing you do]. I’m flattered by your invitation to [do whatever it is they want you to do for nothing]. But [thing you do] is work, it takes time, it’s how I make my living, and in this economy I can’t afford to do it for free. I’m sorry to decline, but thanks again, sincerely, for your kind words about my work."
 

The NY Times article lead me to find out learn about Kevin Boggs and  Sonia Davis Gutierrez, head of the CEAG.

 

 

Photography Portraits of Brandon Stanton

I heard some time ago about this photographer Brandon Stanton, and heard about him again today. Fabulous artist and fellow human, of New York. Here is his blog, Humans of New York.

                                              Brandon, Humans of New York

Transformation

 I've been slow in getting to my blog posts lately, as I've had some computer technical difficulties, been very busy and haven't found much to blog about as of late. It does make me feel good to know I've accomplished my four hundredth post, as of today.

Summer is long over. I have to accept that. Every year it's always the same ; can't believe it's gone, can't believe it's coming; Winter that is.

I recently wrote my thoughts about my simultaneous feelings of joy and sadness surrounding this season of Fall.

Autumn is bitter sweet
First such beauty
Then so bleak

 I think most people experience this. It has been a particularly stunning Autumn with the trees a cacophony in a glorious pallet of colours. Suddenly it's over, and bleakness ensues! Blaaa gak!

Since September I've been involved with numerous activities, have a list of yard chores to do, trying to get ready for the coming Winter, and especially with the seemingly unending "woodin" to do. And so I haven't had much time or inclination to get art done. I have been in the planning stage of a series of new work. I will be starting preliminary drawings shortly. Shortly, being the operative word, I need keep, at the forefront of my mind. In the Fall, I have the nagging feeling I'm always falling short, and can't get enough done.

The coming change in season is the time for me to draw close to that still quiet voice, and take an inventory, when the earth appears to be asleep and even dying. In actual fact it is transforming, and I hope I am involved always in that same kind of transformative process.

Living in the North West Territories for three years, I know, and understand what cabin fever is. This state requires a concerted conscious effort to get out, and participate in healthy social activity. I need to reach out to others, and get outside of my comfort zone. I've found myself doing this over the past few months, and it's helped me to feel less disconnected and in that funk with myself.

 My recent involvement in playing and singing again, at our local Open Mic nights, has given me a renewed sense of self, fulfillment and fun, in being part of a community and fellowship, brought together through music, and it certainly can be a great healing activity for many.

Yesterday an artist friend and I attended an art event in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. The event was " Art in The Hall", which is sponsored by The Parrsboro Band Association. This was the second art event I participated in this year. Over the Summer I attended "Art In The Park".

 

 This community and cultural event brought together several artists within the area of Cumberland County. Some folks I had met in the past, and others I sure enjoyed meeting for the first time. It was a wonderful opportunity to feel a part of a rich creative, diverse and talented group of fellow artists, in a supportive, encouraging environment, along with meeting the public who came and it was great fun!

 

 

 

 

 

                        Wishing you all great transformation along life's journey!

 

The Photography of Eudora Welty

As I had mentioned in my previous post I'd just recieved the book the book by Eudora Welty, One Writers Beginnings from my friend. How excited I was and am to find out about her and especially learn she was a visual artist, in particular a wonderful photographer. I have just begun to read her book and will follow up this post with a summerized review. In the mean time I think you will enjoy this utube clip I found.
 

Ann Dowsett Johnston

As a young person I had difficulty concentrating to read, I wasn't a good student, unless it involved art or creativity. Fortunately, my ability to sit long enough to absorb what I read, has greatly improved over the years. I suspect I was, and still am a little ADHD. Though, when I did read, I enjoyed it, but I missed out on what I feel are too many reading opportunities that I have tried to catch up on and right this situation, as an adult.

 Over the past few years, I have made it my goal and intention to read more non-fiction books, wanting to familiarize myself  with some of the great writers, past and present, such as Scott Fitzgerald, and Michael Ondaatje . I did manage, The Beautiful and The Damned, which I have to say, left me a little flat, as it was rather depressing, nor was it what I expected. I kept waiting for it to pick up, but it didn't and there was no happy ending in this morality tale.That said, it isn't perhaps his best work and want to read The Great Gatsby, which was his most popular.

 More often than not, the book is always better than the movie. I can't comment on this particular version of The Great Gatsby, but have heard a few very good reviews, in praise of this recent film.

 Recently, I have made a request through my local library, for Ernest Hemmingway's, A Moveable Feast, and I am really excited about reading it, because I am enamored, and fascinated with this era of time, and it being a memoir of Hemmingway's experiences in Paris, when so many amazing artists were living, and just hangin' out with one another in the cafes. Oh, to have been a Parisian fly on the wall!
 Who knows, I might even attempt James Joyce's Ulyssess, but I'm not ready for that, but hoping to one day, in the future, I will be!

Rationalization for the decision to read more fiction, was because of my interest in writing, to expand my knowledge, and familiarity with writers who create non-fiction throughout history, up to the present day, and to become more informed of the present day writers. I believe it to be very true, that if you want to learn to write, it helps greatly if you are one who reads a variety, and a plethora of books, if at all possible. I can't say I am making as much head way in achieving my goal, but I am working away at it page by page, one book at a time. It feels great to be excited about reading.

Generally, I have been a reader of non-fiction, self-actualizing kinds of books. Frankly I've gotten a bit tried of myself reading all this personal growth shit, and really wanted a change of imaginative scenery so to speak. I've learned that what you read affects your creativity, and the art you create.

Inspite of, old habits dying really die hard, God only knows, being an alcoholic with 18 years in recovery, I can't help being drawn to non-fictional writing, and I'm always on the look out for new books. In particular, I appreciate subject matter about spirituality, creativity, alcoholism and recovery.  I wanted to share in this post, about someone I've learned of recently, Ann Dowsett Johnston, a writer/journalist, and recovering woman who has written I believe, to be a very compelling and important book, Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol. You can also view this video on Vimeo where she gives an comprehensive interview, on the Global Television morning show.

Okay, well until Ernest's book arrives I'm diving into One Writer's Beginnings, by Eudora Welty, that my dear friend who knows me all to well and the books I love to read, sent in the mail, and it just this hour arrived in the post!
Don't you just love that handle of a name, Eudora Welty? I think she was a beauty!

 

Mosaic

I was recently asked to submit a six by six inch tile to the Mosaic for Mental Health. The theme for this year's exhibition is "Transformation and Triumph"

Kabballah Sacred Tree of Life

I love the Fall. I can even say I love the Winter. The change of the seasons, always make me think of the rhythms of the life, death, and life cycle of our human experience on this good earth. Many believe that this cycle is simply life, and then death. I do not.
There is a world of wonder, mystery, miracle, and awe to be found in life, and in death. I have so many reasons to believe in the God of my understanding, and to have faith, that this mortal coil, is certainly not the end.

 I have a faith that has seen me through much transformation, and triumph in life. I have many to thank for this They have imparted their own faith to me. I am grateful for, and to those whom have given and continue to give, me hope to transform, and triumph over adversity, and difficulties. We cannot have the sun without the rain, nor joy without the sadness. I have come to understand why compassion, and suffering are so directly connected, and essential to happiness.

Vivian Maier

While I was in the middle of canning my tomato salsa tonight, and as per usual, I listened to CBC Radio As It Happens. I was excited to learn of a new documentary,  about to be released at TIFF, entitled, Finding Vivian Maier, by a young man, John Maloof, who has put together, The Maloof Collection to promote the work of Vivian Maier.
In December 2011, I had blogged about Vivian Maier in my post, This Is A Remarkable Find .
I can hardly wait to see this film!

Self-Worth, Value, & The Real Thing

Here it is, September already. Labour Day is behind us, and after a month of not writing any blog posts, I've been putting my energies into my daily long hand journaling. I haven't been contemplating my belly button exactly, nor  having "Deep Thoughts" like those of SNL's, Jack Handy, but being introspective about family and life. I know this isn't anything new, but it is an essential luxury to have the down time to do this in life. A big part of this for me is why I write. It's like going into the woman cave and emerging, renewed, regrouped, gettin' my groove back, which I surely will need in the wooly days of Winter.

Summer has been full of emotional ups and downs, having attended a family funeral, and a wedding within a two week period, experiencing many intense happy-sad feelings, along with very significant deep healing that took place within my family, for which I am very grateful.

I am also very grateful and happy to share with you, that I had some very exciting developments happen around my art work, with the exception of one art experience, that made for disappointment, but not surprize, however another important lesson was learned, hopefully not to be repeated! I will spare you the gory details, suffice to say I read an article, In Search of The Real Thing , written by Meg Wolitzer, from FT Magazine , that helped me to better recognize and come to terms with some of the very unpleasant realities many artists confront within the art world and in living every day.

"It seems that we recognize talent far more easily when it’s accompanied by success. " - Meg Wolitzer .

This simple, yet powerful statement helped to clarify, and to affirm my sense of value and passion for creativity, the work I do, and who I am as an artist.

Last month, I sold two of my paintings, which I was over the moon about, and certainly gave me a great deal of encouragement. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get from selling your work, especially to someone who really appreciates what it is you actually do as an artist. They get you! Simultaneously, it is just as greatly appreciated monetarily, by an artist who struggles financially in a society who much of the time undervalues the artist, and creativity.
These are the two egg tempera paintings I sold, which were part of a series entitled, Women of War.

Following this celebratory event, on August 19th - September 1st, I participated in a group exhibit at the Tourist Trap, located in Musquidobit Harbour, in support of a cause close to my heart, Hope For Wildlife. There were six artists, including myself. They were, Mindy Harris, Anne-Renee Dumont, Kim Dano, Timothy Ediger, Adele McFail.

Crescent Moon Bear

Seal Skin Soul Skin

Wolf Woman

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the opening because of my seemingly, never ending car problems. I had three paintings submitted, two of them for sale, with 60% going directly to Hope For Wildlife. Prints were produced of the original paintings, and all the income from these will be going toward the santuary.

This month I will be submitting two egg tempera paintings on six by six inch masonite tiles. These will be part of an exhibition to be held, in October 17th - November 3rd 2013, at the Craig Gallery, Alderney Landing, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for The 15th Annual Mosaic For Mental Health 2013 Art Exhibition & Sale, with the Theme. Transformation & Triumph. All proceeds toward the support of Social Programs provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Halifax-Dartmouth Branch. For more information  you can visit http://mosaicformentalhealth.wordpress.com/

So now that September has arrived my thoughts are of very fond memories of attending Mount Allison University, and am nostalgically thinking about all the new and returning students as the University year begins. I am however, grateful to have no worries or concerns about pending assignments, and the many stresses related to being a student.

 I am very content these days to find myself settled into my routine of making art and following my passion for the creative process. In between my art making, I work in my garden, and am happily canning my harvest and labour at stacking four cord of Winter wood.

Life is very good as an artist, that I wouldn't trade for the world, inspite of my lack of funds, and lack of so called "success".  I look forward to the Fall, and even the Winter here in Nova Scotia, living one day at a time, in the countryside, putting my talents to good use, today and every day, in the coming year and into a hopeful future.

The Forgotten Relationship-Julia Speer-Guest Post

The great thing about the internet is it enables you to meet some wonderful people. One such very beautiful soul I recently have come to know is artist, teacher, and minister Julia Speer. It moves me to know such an inspiring woman, makes me feel motivated, and hopeful. I feel she is one of my many soul sisters I have been blessed to know, who are so important and vital to my life. She has an excellent website, www.sagesoulsisters.com and blog, http://wildwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

I am very happy and proud to share with you, her guest post, entitled The Forgotten Relationship.

Image By Jade Beall Photography

My new friend and kindred, Catherine, generously 

invited me to write a blog post to share. I thought to 

myself, “If there were only one thing I could say (to 

women), one thing I could share, what would it be?” 

I would say, “You can know just how magnificent

you are.” I don’t mean when; when you lose 10 

pounds, when you get that promotion, when you 

accomplish whatever it is you think you “should” do. 

No, I mean right now in this present moment, you 

can know the magnificence of the beautiful and the 

not-beautiful within you. 

I turn 56 in less than 3 weeks, and if there is one 

thing I now know like I know like I know, it is that all 

that I have ever longed for, searched for, felt was 

missing or just not quite right in my life was 

addressed with one primary relationship - the 

relationship with self. Yeah, I said it. Do you have a 

visceral reaction to it? Do you have little voices in 

your head that whisper words like selfish, 

self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical, narcissistic, 

unattractive, unspiritual, wrong, bad? Tell me how 

did “self” become such a dirty word? It’s like the 

word “no” for women. Nice girls are always loving 

and giving… to others. From the time we are little 

girls we are taught to focus our attention outward 

and away from ourselves toward others. We are 

taught to focus our time, attention, energy, love, 

commitment, generosity, patience, and compassion 

to other. This is done often out of balance and to the 

exclusion of our self. 

How many women do you know who are very 

comfortable with giving to others their time, 

attention, love and acceptance, but feel 

uncomfortable and undeserving when it comes to 

giving that same thing to themselves? How many 

women do you know who are just as comfortable 

with receiving as they are with giving? I have been 

facilitating women’s soul work since 1997, and I 

have met and know a lot of women. I would have to 

say in response to this question, very few. What I 

have discovered is that as women, this is one thing 

we seem to share universally. I don’t think it’s limited 

to the U.S. because women from all over the world 

respond to my women’s Facebook page, and it is 

certainly broader than American culture. The problem with this message and the resulting 

impact is that women disconnect from their bodies. 

This is a grave problem because our bodies house 

our instincts and intuition. Our bodies tell us the 

truth about when we need to say yes and when we 

need to say no. In fact, our bodies will tell us exactly 

what we need at any point in time if we will but 

listen. Sadly, we have been taught to fear this. We 

have been programmed to see our body as the 

enemy. Most women believe that if they listened to 

their body tell them what they need that it would 

destroy them with its voracious appetites. But that, 

Dear Girls, is a lie. Our magnificent bodies are an 

exquisite resource. Most of us have come to believe that if we accepted 

ourselves exactly as we are in this moment, we 

would become lazy, complacent, unmotivated to 

create positive change. We have come to believe 

that our harsh inner critic is what motivates us and 

keeps us from becoming something undesirable. Is 

that really true? Think for a moment about how 

humans thrive. What results would you get if you 

said to a child the critical things you say to yourself? 

Would that child thrive? Would that child be 

motivated to risk, to step out of their comfort zone, 

to learn new things? Or would that child become 

fearful, distrusting, hesitant, lacking confidence? This 

is true of any human. If the inner critic actually 

worked, wouldn’t all we be in a very different place 

by now? The truth is that constant criticism enlists 

our lizard brain, the part of our brain that responds 

with fight or flight. When we are threatened or 

under stress (criticism), our bodies produce cortisol, 

a stress hormone. When the body feels consistently 

threatened or attacked, the long-term effects of 

cortisol can have a negative effect on our overall 

health. The body, when under this constant internal 

stress, in order to protect itself, will eventually shut 

itself down. Depression follows. When a person is 

depressed, there is little motivation. So a deeply 

ingrained pattern of self-criticism is actually 

de-motivating. All that garbage you have been telling yourself all 

these years does not help you. It does not expand 

your life or nourish you in any way. It is counter-

productive, diminishes your health and impedes your 

joy. You deserve joy. Period. Commit to the act of 

Embracing. Synonyms: Acceptance. Approval. 

Agreement. Implementation. Yes, practice it. Get up 

every morning and say yes. Yes to this belly, yes to 

these breasts, yes to these hips, thighs, waist, arms. 

Yes. Look at your body in the mirror and begin the 

practice of loving and accepting yourself right here 

and now, all of you. Reconnect with the wisdom of 

your body. It has so much to tell you. Look into your 

own eyes and begin to build a relationship with 

yourself that is honoring and respectful. The self is not some ugly, anti-god monster. The self 

is our soul-self, that rich, dark fertile soil of the 

psyche. What is there drives our actions whether we 

know it or not. We can live from an unconscious, 

self-defeating place or a conscious loving place. It is 

a choice, but it is not an event. Tending soul is like 

tending a garden. It needs love, nourishment, and 

nurture. When we make that commitment, we get to 

reap the harvest. There is a bounty of joy, 

compassion, peace, freedom, and personal 

empowerment waiting for each of us. It starts right 

here at home, this relationship with myself.

"The Changing Face of What Is Normal: Mental Health"

De-commissioned Willard Psychiatric Center

I saw a Daily Mail UK article posted by an artist friend on Facebook today. It was about a compelling exhibition that has just opened at Exploratorium at San Francisco's Pier 15 entitled, The Changing Face of What Is Normal

Having  experienced mental illness, and disease in my own family, and knowing many friends who have also been directly affected in one way or another, I had to share this information about this powerful exhibition taking place. I hope you will take time to visit this site, and take note of the remarkable artists involved.

Alex Colville-Being and Time-A Free Man

As I listened to the radio morning news yesterday, I felt a sudden jolt of shock, and sadness to hear announced, that Canadian artist, Alex Colville had died. His death caused me to think why I would be surprised, as he was 92 years of age. But I realize in our death denying culture, human beings are often tempted to engage in a kind of magical thinking. We expect some how, some way, that those we love, will live forever, and often we do not want to face our own death. Even if we do not deny the reality of death, it is always difficult to accept. We all experience loss differently, and cope with varying degrees of acceptance, and ways of grieving, often being unprepared.

It is my belief that Alex Colville had a wise insight into knowing how to seize, and appreciate life with integrity, in the present moment, that seems to resonate through his painting, with himself as observer.
Listening to him in interviews, and what has been said about him by others who knew him, one gets the impression he was a gentle, humble, and very grateful man, for everything in his life, particularly his family, and his life as a artist.

In an interview Alex Colville gave CBC Radio in 2005, at the age of eighty three, his philosophy, and unassuming nature is evident. As well a more indepth interview was the CBC Sunday Edition, by Michael Enright.
The 1987 issue of Canadian Art magazine from the archives, there is a very comprehensive, well written article, by Hans Werner, who gave a wonderful poignant glimpse into understanding Alex Colville, the artist, and the man. There is much wisdom to be gleaned form this gifted, and insightful Canadian painter.

I am proud, and grateful to know Alex Colville and I share the same Alma Mater,  part of the Mount Allison University family, and I am very privileged to have been a Bachelor of Fine Art student, involved in it's wonderful Fine Art Department, in Sackville, New Brunswick. I am sorry I never had the privilege of meeting such a mentor, and benevolent human being, that has left a great legacy, who had the courage to truly be a free man.