Venturing Revisited (part 1 – the GRANT!)

you might recall that my word-of-the-year is “VENTURE” – you know- stepping out, trying new things, taking risks, etc.  i’ve kept a venturing journal to document ideas as well to list the venturing i have actually done – both big and small things.   it’s november and 2 things have happened this week prompting me to realize how my little venturing efforts have unfolded….  

 early in the year, i had an idea for what i called the inside out project (“discovering what’s inside and bringing it out.”) my goal was to get art journaling kits into the hands of women who were dealing with difficulty and to help them in getting started with this potentially healing activity. 

 i really had no idea how to go about this.  i bought some simple art supplies and put some journaling kits and prompts together.  i did a workshop with some teens in a homeless shelter and gave them the kits.  somewhere along the way i discovered (actually a friend tipped me off at exactly the right time!) that there was a grant available that could fund a project like this and could actually PAY me to do it!  that was in february and i submitted my application in march.

 after a loooong wait, i found out yesterday that i GOT THE GRANT!!!! starting in january, i will be teaching art journaling to a group of women veterans living in a transitional housing unit not far from here.  wow.  i’m humbled, honored and, yes, a teeny bit nervous as well.  it runs for a whole year…. i’m sure i will be learning right along with the group.  looks like another year of venturing may be in store!!

 i realize these pics don’t have much to do with the subject…. except they represent another VENTURE and that is instagram (all edited with iphone apps) 

 stay tuned for part 2…

Mary Oliver

something whispered something

that was not even a word.

it was more like a silence

(from: who said this?)

ever since last year’s “creative practice” retreat i have been engaging in the practice of poetry reading in the morning before i start working with my to-do lists.  mary oliver is one of my favorites – no surprise as she writes primarily about connecting with and learning from nature. 

i will often run across a segment of one of her poems that i resonate with and highlight and often, the words will seem to have a direct link to photographic images i may have in my archives.  so today i share some of her words matched with some of my images.  connecting words and images is, for me, one of the most meaningful and satisfying forms of creative expression.

heart,

i implore you,

it’s time to come back

from the dark,

it’s morning,

the hills are pink

(summer morning)

  

i wouldn’t mind being a rose

in a field full or roses.

fear has not yet occurred to them, nor ambition.

reason they have not yet thought of.

neither do they ask how long they must be roses, and then what.

or any other foolish question.

(roses, late summer)

by the time summer

opened its green harbors

the field was nothing but flowers, flowers, flowers,

from shore to shore.

(prince buzzard)

what i want in my life

is to be willing

to be dazzled –

to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even

to float a little

above this difficult world.

i want to believe that the imperfections are nothing –

that the light is everything – that it is more than the sum

of each flawed blossom rising and fading.  and i do.

(the ponds)

 

nothing but light – scalding, aortal light –

in which we are washed and washed

out of our bones

(white owl flies into and out of the field)

seriously, i could go on.... i could do this all day, but alas, duty calls, so until next time....

Little Pieces

The Great Sea

oops - i had another post written and ready to go.... just one problem.  it details all the steps i go through to create one of my mixed media pieces.  i actually remembered to document the steps with photos this time - except for the final result!  i accidentally hung it in the gallery without photographing it first.  so until i get that done, i thought i would post some little pieces i have been working on lately.  they are just 4x4 and 4x6.  each one is completely unique and they are super fun to make!!

Home

 

Gift

 

Dream

 

i'm a little behind and have a busy weekend.  i have a couple of exciting things brewing that i hope to be able to share in the next week or so.  thanks for visiting and i hope to catch up with you soon!!

Monday Morning

yes, it’s monday morning and here’s what i want to say.  i’m oh so grateful.  my heart is happy.  it’s been 3 and a half years (!) since i lost my teaching position and that was a messy and difficult transition.  but here i am now looking out my window on monday morning trying to choose which of the projects i am absolutely passionate about to focus on today.

i didn’t have to get up and rush out of the house into traffic with a gazillion responsibilities and anxieties marching around in my brain.  no, i’m here at my desk.  i don’t have to go anywhere today.  my projects and my studio await…. and i am filled with joy.

i do not take this lightly or take it for granted.  i realize every. single. day. how fortunate i am.  i realize that things will not always be just this way but, for now, in this moment, i appreciate my life and everything in it that has led to this moment....

another reason i’m feeling particularly grateful today is that my creativity unleashed workshop has been completed and (after a very shaky start) totally exceeded my expectations....  details are here.  thank you for stopping by!!

(pics from oregon)