87 Steps

87 steps

(that’s how far it was from my cottage to the beach)

i sit down

look out across the lake

what was a dark veil

breaks open

and the light sneaks out

i’m catapulted

in a raw crescendo

to the edge of being

and the brink of tears

 for life

for time

for humanity

for those who have walked before

and for those who have yet to walk

for this moment.....

 my soul feels full

pregnant

ready to burst forth

into a cascade

of iridescent bubbles

or a blast of fireworks

words and emotions pour forth

bubbling up and

foaming over the brim

 

did you ever have an experience that feels defining?  like in a particular moment your life has been leading up to this point?  and like forever afterward things will refer back to that point?  and like in that moment everything is there.  nothing is lacking.  and your heart feels physically full.  like it might just burst.  and like you want to keep repeating that moment, but you know it’s impossible.  and then your heart aches because it’s beautiful and terrible all at the same time.  probably not doing justice here with words because there are none.  but just hoping maybe you can relate on some level....

Creativity Unleashed!!

photo mosaic

i have lots to say about my recent trip to michigan….  and i’m going to start here.  my purpose was 3-fold:  i wanted to reconnect with family and friends, spend some quality time at lake michigan and get a good dose of the amazing experience that is artprize.  of the 3, i think artprize got a little shortchanged, but then it’s tough to fit everything in in just 5 short days!  with 1,582 entries (from 41 countries) in 164 different venues, i really felt i only touched on the very tip of the iceberg.

4 seasons

fooling around with my brother

 i did see enough to get a flavor for things, though, and to be thoroughly impressed with what i saw.  i wrote about artprize last year (2^nd annual) here and it is growing.  over 400,000 visitors last year (including lots of kids and students!) …  it is a complete, massive whole-city adventure that is completely unique and is putting the city of grand rapids (where i grew up) on the map.  

giant praying mantis

whimsical paper mache piece

 as you walk around the city and into some of the venues, you cannot help but be impressed by the level of diversity and creativity.  (where do these people get their ideas???) some of the entries are gi-normous, even building-sized.

building mosaic

wall-sized "power of women" drip painting

 or took ridiculous amounts of time to produce…..

gorgeous, gigantic piece produced entirely with ballpoint pen

giant belt made of belts

 or are made of incredibly interesting materials.

like bb's

or toothpicks

or postage stamps

 

or leaves

 .

some of the pieces were interactive.....

and many of the artists were on hand to discuss their pieces

 all i can say is that i love artprize and hope that it will be around for a long, long time!!

grand rapids

Lake Michigan

it’s always been one of my favorite places and by the time you read this i should be there!  growing up, it was THE place to go.  to cut classes (hey, i only did that a few times!).  to go camping with the girls.  to troll for summer parties.  and best of all, to go for a romantic beach walk or bonfire with a hot date.

the dunes

dune rides

for years we made a pilgrimage of sorts all the way across the country in our motorhome.  after spending time with family, we took off for the northern lake towns.  petosky.  frankfort.  charlevoix.  so in love with these places (in the summer, of course!)

Little Sable Point Lighthouse

 now i usually make the trip by myself.    every time i visit my family and friends in michigan i figure i’ll be able to spend some time at the lake… but somehow it rarely happens.  so i decided to do things a little differently this year.  instead of moving from place to place and living out of a suitcase, i’m renting a little cottage on a bluff right above the lake!  that way folks can come out and visit me at “my place”.   i think it’s going to be a fun time!!

painting by my dad

p.s. not expecting much sunshine while i'm there, so my pics likely won't look like these!

Big Trees

I never tire of gaping up at the Big Trees,

Head tilted back, jaw dropping open

In a silent or audible “Wow”,

Eyes journeying up, up, higher up

The soldier-boy still, straight trunk

To where the gently swaying top

Lightly featherdusts the blue beyond.

These stately grandfathers seem

Genetically unrelated to

Their spindly younger relatives,

In a class by themselves,

Quiet gentle giants

Unfazed by generations of

The scurried comings and goings

Of awed admirers,

 In which club I claim for myself

Permanent membership.

For I hope I never lose the

Breathtaking thrill I experience

Each time I have the blessed opportunity

To raise my eyes heavenward

In pursuit of the top of a Big Tree

(Loeb State Park, OR and Redwoods National Park, CA 8/2011)