03.27.08
I’m outta here!
I am anxious to leave in the morning and re-visit the Mary Anderson Center in southern Indiana. It is a wonderful retreat, a haven for renewing, creating and spending time focusing on art. My last two visits there I was the only artist in residence for the majority of my visit, this visit there are four artists staying there. One, a dear friend, will be there working on her writing during part of my visit. I am curious to see how having other artists around compares to the solitude I’ve experienced in the past. Today I am hopping around from one thing to the next, tying up loose ends here at home, gathering items I want to pack, brainstorming on what art projects I might create…my mind is going a million miles an hour! I posted a poem below that I wrote a few years ago, it came to mind as I was thinking of my retreat. One thing I am going to add to my list of goals for my trip is figuring out how to post a picture on this site! I got a tiny, little one on the very first post am I’m not even sure how I managed that. 
I’ll check in soon….
IDEAS (a poem)
Fragile shoots of creative inspiration creeping from between the cracks in monotonous everyday life. Some struggle tenaciously for existence most wither quickly, life choked from them suffocating in the climate they were born.
Those that endure the harsh beginning required to grow without nourishmentpushing past smothering layers of daily tedium. Cautiously they proceed, death waiting, grasping, determined to wedge them under layers of unimaginativeness.
Scarcely any will survive the journey despite their most valiant efforts. Their route chaotic with sights & smells The dead, decaying predecessors strewn recklessly along the way A frightening path, even for the resolute.
Struggling to outrun the stench of failure the most resilient push forward, hoping that the next layer, or perhaps the next,will release them from this nightmare. Slowly, tentatively they surface grasping their hard earned freedom.
Fresh air & sun caresses them they are few yet they sprout and blossom a furious riot of brilliant colors. A kaleidoscope of leaves and blossoms fed from the flesh of dead ancestors lying beneath the uncaring layers of life.
Tiny seeds drop working their way slowly down below the tiers of dullness and predictability, dormant. Waiting in dream-laced limbo flashes of life-giving inspiration ignite them beginning another perilous journey upward toward the warm, inviting rays
03.13.08
Goals
I’ve started the process of rethinking (or at least fine-tuning) what goals I have for myself as an artist and as a person. I suppose I should say I am continuing the process, it is a never ending one (or at least it should be)! It’s been a while since I’ve given much thought to what I am all about and I know that I have been through many changes in the last few years and I expect that my goals have changed some as well. I’m in the early stages of working through “The Top 10 Exercises for Establishing Your Life Vision and Mission”. (Or as they put it: My Big Dream and What I’m Going To Do About It!) At the same time I have been reading a wonderful book called “Making Room for Making Art” by Sally Warner which has, thus far, had a lot of insight and helpful suggestions for my artist-self. Between both these sources I hope to gain some clarity and purpose to what seems to be my ‘meanderings’ of late. Of course I have found some quotes for inspiration to help me along the way. The first two are good, but when I discovered the last one the accuracy of it seemed as if someone had peeked into my life!
The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want. (Stein)
Failure is not reaching your goal, but in having no goal to reach. (Mays)
In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia. (unkown)
I will try to post some updates on my progress as I continue, but not to the point of boring you with each little detail and insight! Speaking of updates…I should mention that the huge “to do” list I created back in January is complete! Of course there are always items to do but the ones that had been hanging over me for many weeks/months are at least off my plate for now – which feels wonderful! And I have established a schedule for each month to keep some of the paper work and bookkeeping chores current so I don’t have to catch up on a years worth all at once. Sounds like something to add to my goals, doesn’t it?
03.05.08
Updates…
Just touching base with my little blog, don’t want you to think I’ve forgotten! Honestly it seems there isn’t a lot going on right now and I’ve been busy with other life details as well. We’ve had family members in the hospital, bouts of the flu here at home and, sprinkled in there somewhere, a short trip out of town to soak in a little sunshine and warm air. Aaah!
As far as my art I have been sorting through applications for shows, competitions and residencies – trying to balance keeping myself moving forward and not rushing headlong into too many things at once. It’s an interesting rope to walk and I tend to fall off one side or the other quite frequently. I did get notice back from the first exhibit that I entered and I had one piece accepted for display. It will travel to North Carolina to be part of “Watermark ‘08 – Works on Paper” from mid-March to mid-April. Entry for a show in New York went out yesterday and a proposal for a show in Ohio went out last week. This week I’ve been working on two different residency proposals, one for this summer/fall and one for fall of 2009. Seems odd to think about planning things that far in advance (especially 2009!) when life and circumstances seem to change each day. On the other hand, if I didn’t plan ahead not much of anything would happen!
I finished my pottery class last week, ended up with four completed projects. I have two back already, the other two are being fired. I really enjoyed the class but there is still so many other things I want to do. I am planning on signing up again when he teaches in April!
Last week I started going to the pool and swimming laps as part of my “get fit” agenda. I really enjoy swimming and being in the water and, wow, what a workout that is! Normally “going to the pool” is about getting some sun, splashing a bit and being social. Swimming non-stop for 40-45 minutes is a whole different experience. But I like it! It is hard for me to 1.) get motivated and 2.) find something I enjoy doing in the winter months so this seems like it will work well. I’ll go walk on a treadmill if I have to but it’s nothing I really enjoy. Walking outside when the weather improves will be a big improvement!
I hope all of you are staying healthy and sane as we wait for spring. Take care!
