Crayon Papers Give-A-Way

Early in January there was a post on Facebook about how I could get a free piece of art from an artist friend of mine, Claire. I made the requisite comment to her post, re-posted the offer on my own facebook and got 7 replies. To these 7 people - and you know who you are - I now offer these images from my exhibit at the Rockport Library. Crazy, I know. But very fun to do.

So, you seven: First-Come-First-Choice: Comment here, or email me, or facebook me: give me your 1st and 2nd choices and I will send you an original piece of my art at the end of February when the show comes down. O.K.?

The names are on the left side, above the stitched and beaded papers.

Oh! and thanks for playing!
Yes: (goes to CW)True BlueSeashore (shown sideways)Sacred Journey (going to BJS)Meditation (this goes to AM)Garden Grow (this goes to GL)Daily Practice (claimed by CP)

Crayon Papers: The Exhibit!

After working on my crayon papers for months now I have been invited to exhibit them at the Rockport Library! Please come to the Open House on Wednesday the 26th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM to view them in person. (The detail is luscious.)

I will also be teaching a workshop on Saturday the 29th from 1:30 - 3:00PM. All materials provided. And it is easier than it looks: coloring brown paper with crayons. But then there are a few twists to make it interesting. (There's ironing and crumpling, embroidery, and embellishments with buttons, papers and beads...)

I am so looking forward to seeing you there!

Bible Studies...

Hokey, Dokey: I have a question for you all: What is a Christian?

Did I tell you that I am taking a Bible course? Well, as one might expect, I am getting more, not less, confused. The one that came up this week for me was this one about who - or what makes - a Christian.

I am only reading the Old Testament just now, and I will tell you that the prevalence of rape, and pillage, and murder in our world is no surprise when you read about the behaviors of YHWH. That is one violent god. (If you think that I am out of my mind: comment below and I will tell you how the New Oxford RSV translates it. I am totally shocked.)

So I got to wondering why there is this big story of a loving god. Well, YHWH sings his own odd little praises in Exodus, but... do Christians actually believe that about YHWH?

I started looking at all of the folks who call themselves Christians and I am just at a loss as to what the common ground is. I mean in New Mexico women pray to our Lady of Guadalupe, in New York prayers get sent to any number of saints, and in Georgia men pray to Jesus who is their personal savior. Now the Hindus and the Hopi have multiple divinities too, and I have no problem with that, but why is Christianity called a monotheistic religion? In any state there are Christians who either regularly or pretty much never go to church. In any city you could get a really good argument going over whether Jesus is or isn't a god (again: back to the monotheism question.) Inside the membership of many churches there are lots of different interpretations of the Bible including whether or not God, Moses or the J, E, P etc. sources wrote it. And no matter where you go there seems to be this ferverent urge to chit-chat about original sin and what a bunch of loosers we all are. Is that really the link: that the Christian notion of god is a guy who makes wrong people?

No. That cannot be it.

So I keep thinking about who call themselves a Christian. There is the lovliest minister at the church where I am taking this class. I love to hear him preach about how he brings various theology to bear as he walks through the lives of his community and his family. It is hard work to be a loving person and he doesn't shy from the hard tasks, nor from the delight he receives as he gets support from the god of his understanding. It is an inspiration to listen to him.

But then I looked up Hitler in the encyclopedia. He was a Christian. He actually thought a lot about how his murder campaign was doing "God's work". (You can read about YHWH's cleansing campaigns in Genesis either in the Noah story or in the Soddom and Gommorah story. Or various other stories.) And Robin Hood was a Christian. As was Richard the lionheart. Which is why they both went on crusades to cleanse Jerusalem of the Muslims.

Teresa, and my mother and my father were/are also Christians. So are most of my neighbors I think. So are Southern Baptists, the Amish, Episcopalians, and Catholics. So are the Quakers, who won't fight for religious reasons and GW Bush who started two wars and has the blood of hundres of thousands of Iraqi's, Afghani's, Europeans, Australians and Americans on his hands. And so far my list shows no glaring resemblances.

My big question this week was about whether Christians worship YHWH. Or did the notion of god change by the time Jesus was teaching? (And has god changed more in the last 2000 years? Is god different now?) Because YHWH kills in the OT. A lot and often. He threatens harm and disertion too. And don't even get me started on the cutting babies in exchange for stolen lands deal. Eeew. So how many Christians think that all of this murder and pillage is OK? These teachings seem to be taking their toll on our modern times. Ask Ms. Giffords.

Because I'd say that none of the folks at this class I attend kill or steal anything. They all work daily to be hard working and compassionate people. They sure are being kind to me as I stumble and throw-up my way through the Pentateuch.

Clearly, I have a point of view, but comment to me. What is a Christian? I will stand educated.

Moving

Hello Gentle Artists.

Well, I am here today to make an announcement: I am moving my studio back home. This studio on Route One was in many ways a dream come true. And yet, the timing isn't quite correct.

So here are some of my plans:

***To continue as an art party and retreat planner. Please call me (207-323-1629) and we will work out something wonderful for you.

***To continue teaching classes at community and retail venues in the area.

***To get back to writing books: craft how-to books.

***To re-engage my etsy.com presence.

***And certainly to keep blogging. :)

I liked working with all of you who came to the Studio very much. That was fun and something I hope to do again someday. The short answer is that I need my schedule to be dictated by my homeschooling demands. Blessed Be.

Art Journal 1231

I worked on binding my journal for Dawn Sokol's 1231 journal making class over the weekend: I was able to work out the math for a cross stitch binding for both of the journals. The blue one had two signatures...

and it also has all of these great flip open pages. Lots of room to work.

The green one has three signatures, and I wasn't sure that I could make the stitches work, but they did. Yay. I like how they look. The spines are structured with duct tape - DID YOU KNOW that Wxxxxxx (THAT store) has a zillion (OK, like 15) colors of duct tape? I never imagined! Flourescent colors, and teal, and bright red, and hot-rod-flame and even a tye-dye pattern. Now I have to go check out the local hardware stores to see what they have...

The covers of the big green journal have modeling paste/spackle stars on them. I painted them gold for the long winter nights ahead.

Oh! And we have a new benefactress: she brings us wire spools. They are free and you are welcome to come stake a claim on one or two. Tables? Chairs? Bookshelves in the round? A spine for a book or a scroll? What would you do with one??

And I am thinking of making a Knitting Spool with the cardboard tube. Make hats, or blankets...

Did you know that Sunne Spot will be open all during Thanksgiving week? (Except the day itself.) Sunne Spot can also be rented for parties, and even inpromptu gatherings. What are you doing with your in-laws all week? Call me. We'll set up a couple of hours for ornament or present making: 323-1629

Homeschool News

We had a lovely bunch of homeschoolers at the Studio today. One child took a look at the paper chains hanging from the ceiling and directed us hither: so we spent some time figuring them out.

A colorful tabletop of bits and pieces: A lavender and violet chain:

In the top photo, the red-green-lightblue chain belonged to the boy who's interests we were following. I love working with other people. We all have our own perspectives (of course) and when I work alone I can go some distance before I reach the end of my view, but still: I can't push any further than what I can perceive from where I stand. None of us can. Its only natural. So then when you all come into my studio and you are working from your point of view, if we are paying attention (and I mean that spiritually and emotionally, as well as intellectually) then I get to travel to your horizon.

Teaching is often portrayed as one know-it-quite-a-lot pours facts into the brain of somebody less knowing. I keep finding, both in homeschooling my own children and in opening my studio to others, that if I make it more like a walk that we are taking together then I get gifts to take home too. Plus, you are sooo smart, and creative. I love learning from you.

So the boy who took us all on this paper chain walk today put one of his almond/mandorlas on the side - which looked cool, but set the construction of the chain askew. I knew that there had to be a way to reconfigure the link. I used up a few little papers (as Thomas Edison would have said) figuring out how not to do it, and then I figured it out. We worked it into his chain and when he was setteled, I went off to personally test the properties of this new link.

When I had a few pieces tucked into a chain I held it up to show everyone .. and then it slipped out of place .. and into this marvellous curve. Check it out:

Oh. My. Heavens.

A whole new Point Of View. Thanks, J!

The rest of the room was working on crayon paper. I wish that I had had the presence of mind to take a second picture of the later stage of this mother-daughter picture. The part after the acrylic wash and crumpling. But here, earlier, it was already an intriguing piece. Maybe they will bring it back next time they visit the studio to show us. Yum.

So. I am blessed by your presence. It was a good day.

Catch Up

I have been at work on a couple of different projects. I am in Dawn DeVries Sokol's 1231 Art Journal class again this year. Making journals to get us through the end of the year. Here are two sets of the collaged and painted covers. A small one in blue: And a bigger one in green:

Binding is actually done on them and next come the signatures...

I also wanted to show you how the big crayon paper piece is going.

Golden beads:

and some blue seed bead filler:

A different kind of bead filler pattern:

I have a great little fringe going - I will have to get some process photos to show you.

Hey, I have a question: I want to try using corporate publishing (rather than self publishing) for my next craft how-to book. Does anyone out there have information on how to find an agent? I will appreciate any suggestions on how to cull the Google possibilities.

Thanks.

a morning of color

Good morning for painting at the Studio. Please do come share in the fun. It is all play - to shake the sillies out: I have been beading all week. :)

So: 461 Commercial Street - that is Route One. I am upstairs in the red, big, Cheese Co. building just up from Fresh Farm. 8:30 - noon.

Come play. This is good for us to look at color for a while.

Inanna

I have been working on a couple of projects ...

Today I want to show you how Inanna turned out. I decided that the stacked painted papers that I had been working on looked like jewels to me, and my Bible class had been getting me into thinking about the royalty of Heaven ... So I decided to paint the former Queen. I'd been curious about who everyone was worshipping before Adam, Abraham, et al, got the idea to worship just one god. Nobody seems to have ever thought of that before. For the 35,000-plus years before that, all cultural artifacts seem to point to a many starred Heaven. I figured that if I painted the Queen I might begin to understand more.

Firstly, I finished layering and sewing my miniature collages. I hand sewed them together, using my sterling and goldfill beads to add a little bling. This was all going to be for the Queen of Heaven and Earth after all. I sampled an arrangement of how they would look around the edge of a canvas. I measured the result and went down to the art store for a 24" x 28" canvas.

Meanwhile I had been practicing my drawing of Inanna

Did you know that about 1000 years before they say Lilith and Adam and Eve were, uh, made that there really was a drought? That a whole lot of the world had been greener and much more lush, but then the Atlantic currents changed, temperatures dropped, various things happened - and not just in the Middle East, but in the Americas too. The monsoons in northern Africa, for example, slipped south and the Sahara region which had been forested became a desert.

Thus the background colors for Inanna's painting.

So was there really an historical weather event that booted some folks from an Eden-like habitat? And I wonder: if I was the "recent" inheritor of a much harder lifestyle would I too wonder if my tribe and I had done something wrong? Would I too dream and be wooed by a god who promised never again to leave me and mine "in the desert"? Would I, like Abram, think strongly about the offer of settling down in "my own land", no matter what violent crimes I had to commit to get it?

As I am now, living in the lush environs of grocery stores: nuh-uh. No way. But if my recent ancestors had been scratching it out with the sheep in the wilds ... maybe so. (And I read somewhere in the internet that Adam and all of Abram's Semitic ancestors were maybe, probably, desert shepherds in the time before Abram and his family were living in Sumer, the Fertile Crescent, between the rivers.)

So in curiosity of these times, of this prior culture surrounding the decisions of a few famous men and their visions, I transferred the drawing to the canvas and painted this Lady. The daughter of the Moon God who visited her sister, Queen of the Underworld. Who died and was reborn. Read one version of her story.

I gave Her the seven attributes of civilization that She relinquishes at the seven gates to the Underworld, including her dress or breechcloth which I made by laying on pleated tissue paper and lightly painting over it.

And Her golden hip girdle and crown which I made by covering paper cutouts with candy wrapper foil. (It is gold on the other side.)

So here you see her laid out with her breastplate, her measuring rod and line, and the paper medallion jewels.

I backed the layered papers with sticky-back craft foam after I sewed them. It gave them a little heft and made them seem like pins - that's when I started thinking of them as jewels. Little treasures of story.

The etymological root of the word "bead" is the Old English word gebed or "prayer".

Were the stories and prayers told to Inanna very much different from those told to Adam's YHWH?

And here She is: this Queen of Heaven and Earth who was one of the Heavenly Community listening to our stories before Adam heard YHWH.

With Her magic and lapis earrings.

And what I still don't know: what did Inanna demand of her people? Was she a jealous goddess? Or was the abundance of the Fertile Cresent a training in divine generosity? Did she graciously accept the altar offerings from her shepherds? Did she ... well ... is the god that the Christians worship now the same as the one Abraham struck a deal with 4000 years ago? Do the Episcopalians and the Baptists believe in the same divinity?

This is a 4 year course: I suspect that there are a few more paintings on the way.

Birthday Party Art Village.

Oh! Yay! It was birthday party time today!

Sunne Spot was invited to provide the entertainment for a lovely 8 year old's birthday party today. Her mom chose the Art Architecture project. At the end everyone gathered the houses into a fabulous little village of the coolest and most avant garde architecture that you have ever seen.

There were roof-top star gazing platforms, origami wallpaper, and one clothespin person got wings!

Below you can see a balltop tree, a lovely pin doll with naturally curly blue hair, a spinning silver ball hanging from the ceiling, a front door jingle bell, dollies with pink tissue paper skirts and metallic tops, and glass bead stepping stones leading to second floor stairs.

Down at this end of the village one house has a bejeweled rooftop, and a chimney with smoke coming out of it. Blue carpets and glass drops on the stairs furnish one house and just on the left edge of the photo you can see how the Birthday Girl hung a star from the peaks of her roof.

Oh, there is the angel next to his second floor ladder.

In the back left of the first picture you can see the armoured castle and below is the back where there is a ladder that takes one from floor to floor.

What a champion collection of child architects and their artistic parents! Everyone came up with such wonderful ideas for their houses - and each house was such an excellent voice for these parent and child teams.

Thanks to the mom and her daughter. Love to you! A good time was had by all. :)

If you ever want to throw an Art Party, just let me know. Visit the link at the top of this post or email me. (We discussed how this would make a great grown-up party too!)