I made it into the "Golden Ticket" group show at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center.  It opens Saturday September 11th.  I've decided to design new business cards to put out... business cards with this blog address on them.  I guess that means I need to light a fire under my... self and upload some images so this blog doesn't look so bare.  A co-worker of mine teased me that I journal nearly 10 pages a day but can't seem to blog... yeah well, I suppose I'm quirky like that.

Do my biddings

I just spent more time in the studio trying to convince artificial ivy, a shattered violin and two top heavy seed pods to do my bidding... who knew that artificial ivy would cling just as much as the real thing!

I'm putting up this rather vague image that I'm working on just because I hate that I don't have any images up yet.  The pieces of the shattered violin are held together by the red ribbon and the seedpods are sticking out of a hole in the violin.  This is just a "working out the problems" photo.  The actually drawing has all of the violin will be in pastel and have a figure holding the violin out as an offering... at least that's the concept I have right now. 

     I just sent an email to an art friend of mine commiserating about our fear that our art doesn't say anything, might not be good enough and a host of other fears that really don't have a place in the creative process.  What does it really matter if someone else (or even we ourselves) think it's not good enough?  What IS "good enough"?  And good enough for what?  We don't make it for other people.  We make it because we have to.  Because we can't not make it.
      I sent him this email quoting Martha Graham, saying that I used that same quote to start my blog, this blog, that I've been dragging my feet about publishing. Hesitating and questioning and doubting for the very same reason I've been dragging my feet about a new series of drawings which I have been talking about but not doing... I'm afraid.  Afraid it's not that mythical undefined "good enough".  Well if I'd taken the Martha Graham's quote to heart, swallowed it down, breathed it in and consumed the flesh of it, I'd have published this before now.  I suppose today my hunger is more than physical maybe it's metaphorical as well.  Today I publish.  Here's the Martha Graham quote:

     "There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."


from The Life and Work of Martha

Forest Adventurous

Joseph Campbell said that the "Forest Adventurous" is where you go to meet your adventure when you're ready.  I spend a lot of time looking at trees, not seeing or entering the forest.  I'm ready.