DATE: 11/21/2007 10:16:57 / MOOD: full of life
I'm feeling the urge to say thank you to every artist who has ever had the courage to express from the deepest truest depths of their true nature. For all those who lived before me that have laid the path with a bread crumb trail of inspirations from the cave painters to the plain's basket weavers and the potters gathering soft wet mud along the river banks. To the petroglyph carvers and the cathedral masons, to the anonymous voices rising up since time began following the inner voice to 'take a line for a walk' and to collect the berries, stones and ores that became the colors that we treasure yet.
I'm so over-flowing grateful to be able to follow this path and to share our hearts and rub shoulders with such a grand contemporary community of maverick souls. Artist souls willing to risk being no-part of the main stream and leaning into the real reason they have been born instead...to create create create in a way that may not ever have been seen before...and which, we trust, will act as inspiration for those young artists who follow...breaking their own rules and creating their own view of the world...what a grand tradition.
Thank full I am.
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DATE: 11/03/2007 17:30:10 / MOOD: full of life
Just stepping on board and looking forward to sharing the wonderful world of working in the studio with the wee ones.
If you are an arts educator I would so enjoy swapping stories and ideas.
This morning in 'Saturday in the Studio' at the contemporary art center my 6-8 year olds explored different ways to relax the eyes and the mind before beginning a creative project. They loved learning to visualize and 'see' from behind their physical eyes.
Their anticpation was palpable as they quieted down, rubbed their hands together unitl good n' warm then covered their eyes to 'see' the world within. We visualized the home, the bird, the fruit, the dessert that was theirs alone to see.
We also played a favorite game: 'I Spy with MY Artist Eye' something I've developed to help them learn to break what they see around them into the basic elements of nature as shown through Leonardo Da Vinci's notebooks.
The sparks fly, the ideas percolate and the joy is electric as they begin to apply what they've learned to the days focus of drawing a still life.
These are children filled with life force and a most healthy outlet...no better place to be.
So do you recall the early years when your creative voice sang loud and clear and full and rich and joyfull? I will always be grateful that I was enrolled at Saturday classes at our grand art museum...Many years later reading Louise Nevelson's great autobiography Dawns and Dusks I was thrilled to hear her say that she knew that she was born an artist. I make certain that all of my kids working with me in the studio have the opportunity to accept that gift into themselves.
over n out.
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Sunday Nov. 4
Working with children inspires me greatly. Whether designing a residency where I will work with every student from K-5, as I currently am, or facillitating an after school studio at the contemporary art center, the vitality and enthusiasm that gets exchanged is priceless.
I'm looking for artists who have ideas for combining materials in interesting ways, i.e watercolor oil pastel resist on heavy stock. texture texture texture...new ways to help children discover layers using simple non toxic materials. send me your thoughts and thanks in advance.
over n out.
Tues. Nov. 6
I met a most amazing person on line today, Beth Kanter http://www.bethkanter.org/ when I took part in her online conference for personal fund raisers...new territory to explore.
She is a master at blogging and all manner of computer savvy approaches to 'getting the word out' and networking.
She is encouraging and inspiring and amazing in her ability to make it happen. Please visit and learn what she can help you do for you and your work in the world.
over n out
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