Friday, December 31, 2010

2010: On this note......

Words can travel across thousands of miles. May my words create mutual understanding 
and love. May they be as beautiful as gems, as lovely as flowers.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Zen Master


May my blog and art do the same next year. 
Marilyn



I'd like to get one more post under my belt before this year is officially over. Oh, and use some unused shots from my August visit to the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  My 2011 calendar is providing the inspiration and words. 
Should I resolve not to plagiarize in 2011?

So on this final day of 2010, and for the New Year, lets:

Embrace Joy
Inspire hope
Cultivate love
Build intimacy 
Celebrate life.


HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!

2010:  It's a wrap.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

My New Voice for 2011

I've started putting together my list of goals and to-do's (I'll call them "ta-da's") for 2011. In the process, I just happened? to find the lecture below by Brene Brown on TED. I've watched this several times. It touched a few emotional chords. I truly want to go into no-hold back, new territory mode to grow artistically, emotionally, personally and professionally next year. To do that I have recognized:   The Power of VULNERABILITY.



So my 2011 voice has verbs and nouns and enough to get me going:

V: Vulnerable, Visual, Verbalize
O: Originality, Organize, Openness, Overtures
I: Innovate, Initiate,Inspire, Internalize, Imperfection
C: Communicate, Create, Collaborate, Courage, Connection, Compassion
E: Embrace, Energize, Expose, Expand, Excite, Externalize, Express

Like an onion, I'll peel back some uncomfortable layers, maybe shed a tear or two, let go and allow myself to be a tad more vulnerable.  Especially when it comes to social media, writing, and pursuing my creative goals. So I'll just continue writing and perfect the imperfect. The new year doesn't start for a few more days.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Going from RAW to Absolutely FAB

Last week I had "planned" to attend a jazz concert at Orchestra Hall to hear Regina Carter and Esperanza Spalding. Two days before the concert I was presented with an opportunity to participate with several other artists from the Ravenswood Artwalk (RAW) and Blackbird Gallery in free studio space in the Fine Arts Building (FAB) for their open holiday show throughout the entire building.

A little background: The Fine Arts Building houses all the arts: writers, painters, musicians, dancers and vocal instructors. It is a landmark building and culturally rich.

Okay, what would you do?

Welcome to our space:


The artists:

Bill Moran, painter, who along with artist and past 
RAW President Laura Engel, put this together in 3 days!!

Fernando Mastroianni of Blackbird Gallery, 
with some of Bill Moran's artwork in Fernando's custom frames

Zofia Tomala Ceramics
I still have my eye and heart on the Buddha in the back on the left.

Ala Jaron Jewelry


A vocal instructor in the building who serenaded the studios.
Kathleen Toledano, friend and fabulous collage and mixed media artist

My Girls! Don't these look better on a wall than on a gym post?

Two of the many admirers in total awe my work. ; )

 Existential art!
(I couldn't let this go!)
 
 Bill Moran (we stopped counting!!)
Here's and Cheers to an art-filled life and a wonderfully unexpected evening!

To sum up this evening, it was FABulous!! I sold a lot of my work. It was so well received and appreciated. Even if people did not buy anything, the compliments and exposure was worth it and VERY validating. This venue proved even more to me how environment influences how art is received and perceived. On a lower note, my beverage of the late evening was wine and the photo of me was not very flattering. So sans photo.

So what's next.. The new ideas for my website are in place. I'm working on taking my art to another level and wherever these winding stairs take me. I won't make a lot of plans.

Stairs in FAB building.




Sunday, December 5, 2010

Liberation...Wrapping up 2010

To create one's world in the arts takes courage.
Georgia O'Keefe


I began this year disillusioned, disconnected and somewhat defeated when it came to my art and creativity. Eleven months later, having worked through some of my creative blocks and mental limitations, I am letting loose and saying "Get me outta of the box!"


I am less afraid now to have more of me reflected in my work. Less projection and doubt of will it sell before I even get it out there, which I do, and why I have a tendency to hold on to some of my work. It will require different and more marketing and experimentation as I change my direction. If not, I will continue feeling bored, stale and stagnate. So, I have my artistic voice. I'll find my audience. I'm working on ideas and changes to my website.

Some totally random thoughts and musings I wrote to get to this level of liberation:
  • With age comes..um... more age.
  • As I clean my apartment, I remind myself to collect more experiences and less "things."
  • Magic word today is Boundary. There is joy to be had in setting boundaries.
    It also took yoga, music, artists, books, a new job, a Shamanic healer/reader, and photographer Jeff Phillips of Crowdspotting, who took the picture of me that you see above along with some others, during the Ravenswood Art Walk show. There was some playtime to be had :( He gave me creative license to play with the pictures. Hence,the box. See, I am a multidimensional person!

    Thinking and working outside the artistic box takes time, patience, internal and external help. And yes, Georgia, courage indeed.

    Now is the right time.
    Lotus Sutra