Just back from the Folks Fest in Lyons Colorado- 3 days of camping with loved ones along the river & listening to great music- my favorite “new to me” band was “Girly Man” While at the Folks Fest, my friends & family kindly posed their eyeballs for me to support my new interest in eyeball portraits.

Each eye is unique & beautiful. There is a woman who has been coming to the folks Fest as long as I have- 18 years- one side of her face is disfigured and the other side is very pretty. It got me to thinking how if we were only judged on our appearances by our eyes that everyone would be considered beautiful. If beauty is seen in the eye of the beholder then is beauty in the EYE of the beholden? (is that a word?- the one that is beheld?) Beauty is defined by the way all the pieces of our face or body goes together. Yet, taken individually or out of context each piece can be seen as beautiful. I am thinking it would be interesting to take eye portraits then nose portraits then lips, feet, hands etc. and show them all over a big room where the viewer can map out the beauty.Meaning shapes seeing. And there is glitter eyes…

I’ve decided to take photos of my friends eyes only at parties this year, next year I think it will be ears or noses or feet? what do you think? after all the eyes are the window to the soul.

Don’t ya make my brown eyes  blue

eye on heaven laughing eye

Did y’all happen to catch the “Next Great Artist” reality t.v. show on Bravo? It offered really great insights I thought, into the making of art and what contemporary gallery owners & curators are looking for in art.

I don’t know if it is a Libra thing or a human “thing” but I always feel like I am juggling to find balance in my life. Winters in Estes are almost too quiet socially but are filled on my days off from work with time in my studio. Summers it is one social activity after another- sometimes there are 2-3 events I want to do on the same day and then there is the gardening that I love to do and the weeding that I don’t but is a necessary evil of gardening, the company that visits in the summer when the weather is glorious and my day job intensifies with 26 employees versus the 4 I have in the winter and then I try to fit in time for exercise, reading, solitude and a social life- plus occasionally cleaning house, grocery shopping, paying bills and ART.

Last weekend we went to the rodeo on Friday night- with it’s lump- in- the- throat patriotism:

cowgirl bling:

rodeo princesses

bucking broncos

goofy, politically incorrect rodeo clown humor

trophies bigger than the young kid “Mutton Busters”

mama horses and their babies- raised for their buckin” skills

and the romance of cowboys and the west…When I first moved to Estes in my twenties and fell in love with an adventurous western man I made this stained glass window- dripping with the romance of the west- She is pulling back the white lacy cabin curtain as he rides up on his white stallion as the sun sets behind them. One of the things about experiencing life and being an artist is that the art work often reflects those experiences. My art is not nearly so romantic any more…. seeing shapes meaning.:)

then on Sunday off to the opera, “Madama Butterfly” by Puccini in Central City- what a tear jerker it is!!!

Joe & I got a kick out of the wide range in cultural experiences the opera and the rodeo represent and how much we enjoyed both!! So my social life is in balance but I am missing that studio time. How do you find balance- or do you struggle like I do?

invention: idea in, vent out.       I’ve been thinking about portraying heaven & hell -do they exist?- what do they look like?- where are they located? how does one get in? or out?

A vintage postcard that I have in my collection:

It says:
“God made the world, and rested seven days
God made man and rested seven days
God made woman- and neither God, man
nor the devil have rested since.
Here’s to Woman”

Not exactly politically correct -what is these days as far as portraying heaven and hell through ART?

Symbology in art- meaning shapes seeing-I am not sure why there are bags of money around the globe holding the candle next to the man wiping his brow- do you?

About a month ago I was out walking & thinking about 3 close friends & the pain they were all in, in different ways… one with an illness and the the other two with tough stuff in relationships. As i walked, I thought about the few times in my life when I felt I was in the darkest depths of my soul-  which then led me to reflect on how to create a painting inspired by these thoughts & what would it be about? I decided the best thing during these sorts of time is to nurture the soul- so, I created this painting: “Nurture Your Soul, My Dear”.

It has a lot of depth to it- the words “nurture your soul, my dear”  are collaged on the background & then covered with a thick clear gel medium, that was then painted on in areas so that the words do peek through, then there is a layer of painted crackle medium with other images on it and our guardian angels flying around her head.

She is tenderly holding the plant ( represents the soul- meaning shapes seeing) which blossoms in the vintage postcard at heart level.

On the postcard there is the poem:
“In the desert a fountain is springing,
In the wild waste there is still a tree,
And a flower in the old garden blooming
That speaks to my spirit of thee.”

I take the thee to be hope, the light at the end of the tunnel, God.

I adapted a fable called “Feeding the Right Wolf” from Pema Chodron’s book “Taking the Leap”, as fabulists are wont to do & made it my own called “Feeding the Beasts”:

“She came to me in a dream, her bronze, flower crowned, figure both youthful and ancient, exuding wisdom. I was crying, collecting my tears in a chipped green enamel cup. “Why, oh why, is there still violence & cruelty in this world?” I asked her. She said it was like the 2 beasts fighting in her heart, one was kind and had an open heart and mind with natural intelligence; the other was filled with anger and judgment, with no interest in expanding it’s heart or mind. “And which beast will win that fight in your heart?” Softly she replied, “The one that wins will be the one I choose to feed.”

As you can see she is feeding the Kind Beast a beautiful heart:

and the Angry Beast a piece of rusty chain:

The heart represents loving kindness and the chain represents the chains that bind us when we practice destructive patterns. The Angry Beast is fading into the rusty tin and is not as visible as the Kind Beast because that is the one we choose not to feed. Once again meaning shapes seeing!

When Joan showed up at Book Group with the most awesome vintage, black & white pinwheel, “Made in Spain” bathing suit cap that I have ever seen & then gave it to ME, I knew that my Halloween costume design had begun! (that’s it on top of the dress)  A few months later when I was at Burning Man & a black & white sequined dress was put out for grabs at the Costume Camp- I knew the Halloween goddesses were looking out for me!! A Halloween theme began to emerge- black & white. People always ask me what I am going to BE for Halloween- I like going with more of an abstract concept rather than a known character (meaning shapes seeing). Was it a synchronicity that I had a “too small to fit me” pair of black shorts with white polka dots sitting in the take to the Thrift Store bag along with a black & white bandanna?

I gathered up my most favorite costume making tools- scissors & a glue gun (I HATE to sew on a sewing machine!!)- and I had my Project Runway experience-I made the sketch, laid out the materials & went at it with a few moments of angst followed by elation!!

On the back I made a big bustle  & stuffed it with bubble wrap- should make an interesting noise when I sit down!! :

I copied the bathing cap pinwheel motif:

The front:

I think I’ll paint up my face & chest white with some black elements- right now I am leaning toward a skeleton face to tie into Halloween & my other favorite upcoming holiday: Day of the Dead. I’ll post a photo of me in the outfit next week.

I am wondering if I am getting side tracked in my blog by writing about my experiences that are not directly related to my art making- but then again isn’t that what art making is all about? …our life experiences- so, it all ties together in the greater cosmic creation experience- right?

The title of this one refers to my blog of 9-13 which I wrote just after my return from Burning Man where I pondered the question “Am I- as quantum physics & some new age & “old” age philosophies state- the creator of not only my art work but my world?” This time I am returning from the Magical Kingdom of Disney World.

Here’s Concourse C at the Denver airport where they suggest that travel equals Indiana Jones type adventure with this depiction of overgrown architectural ruins from a “lost” civilization. Is that your travel reality?

We arrived at the Magical Kingdom where I immediately realized that there is a certain sense of fashion (just as fun fur, nudity & parasols are hip at Burning Man) that I haven’t seen else where.Of course the Mickey Mouse Ears are everywhere- here with New Age spiral:

the leopard print ears:

the badge collection of Disney ephemera for both women: & men:

the fantasy costumes:

and the bouffant hair do -seriously!-which I immediately tried to create so that I would blend in & not appear as a Disney newbie:

Disney does a superb job of recreating a time & place-the fruit bats of Asia hang among tattered Prayer Flags- the Disney twist being that the Prayer Flags have animal images on them rather than traditional images & prayers. As inspiration it reminded me to take what I see & find inspiring & to add my own unique “twist” to it.

The Chinese Pavilion at Epcot under the full moon looks straight out of China:

The giant Tree of Life made of concrete bark animals & fake leaves is truly amazing:

This is a candy gummy worm being pulled on by a real bird- it made me laugh!! A fake worm that looks real but still tastes good being pulled apart by a real bird that looks just like the fake birds that Disney uses in so many settings!!

The beauty of Epcot at night:

Dogs made of Legos!

We did the backstage tour of the Disney greenhouses where they use hydroponics & perfect growing conditions to grow an abundance of fruit & vegetables in a small space. The eggplant tree:

Mickey even gets involved here- they put a plastic Mickey Mouse shape around a growing eggplant so that it grows up to be that shape. Meaning shapes seeing.

So….back to the question- did I create this holographic world? or did Disney? or did I create Disney so that I actually created Disney World? enough- I know it all sounds crazy & it is making me crazy…I think I will just go back to creating in the studio and leave it at that!!!

Last week I had the good fortune to go to the Loveland Museum (Colorado) to see Laurie Zuckerman’s altar show: Memento Mori and to hear her speak about it. Wow- it knocked my socks off!!! The altar’s are beautiful,disturbing, touching and sometimes funny!! Most of the altar’s are personal, domestic altars that Laurie lives with in her home. I was particularly touched by”Donna’s Altar”-

It is a memorial altar for Laurie’s closest cousin, that died in a car accident just 1 week after her fairy tale wedding and for the sister of her father that died in a flu epidemic. If you get a chance see the show!

I was inspired to go home & revamp my own domestic Memorial Altar-I like being reminded of my loved ones who have gone before me! here is the BEFORE shot:

I’ll share the AFTER shot after I’ve worked on it a bit.

Yesterday my friend, Jolee & I went assemblage artifact hunting in Denver.We drove past the vintage Lakewood Amusement Park: We started at a catholic religious store- very clean, white, dust free, everything in glass cases, priests singing a capella on the music system…I picked up a few things there:

Then we ventured into a different neighborhood to seek out Botanica Yemaya- barred windows, a giant scorpion floating in fuchsia liquid, amulets, rows of candles with magic powers, soap to wash away your sins, signs in Spanish…very, very cool!!! there was an obvious catholic voodoo sort of infusion which I asked the owner about. “No, no voodoo- it is Santeria“and she explained her conversion from Catholicism. I bought all kinds of cool things to use in altars & assemblage pieces.

Candles:

The deep yellow one says “AJO MACHO/GARLIC” on it and on the back it says something in Spanish & then this in English:”Marvelous Male Garlic. Miraculous Garlic that was planted on Mount Calvary where Jesus died to give eternal life and protect us from evil, protect me from demons, enemies and those which intend to kill or hurt me. Assure me of the love of those that surround me. Amen” I love this kind of thing!! my only regret is that of the 12 I bought I didn’t get the one that keeps the “cops” from coming around- I guess I need another visit- though I was assured that they ship if I am in need!

Then there was the jabon- soap- hundreds of varieties but I limited my choice to just three: one to keep away enemies, one to clear out bad luck and another for reversal of fortune:

close ups:

I was a bit careful with the amulets- I did not want to bring any bad juju home- so I chose a good luck one- the hunchback- apparently in Mexico you rub the hunchback’s hunch for good luck- sort of like patting the Buddha’s tummy, the owner assured me.

Last stop of the day was the “Unique Thrift Store” where I found the perfect addition to my Halloween costume (I’ll blog on that later) and these awesome little collectible spoon & fork hors d’oeuvre  servers from Italy- each had a unique figure on top- everything from angels to winged lions. Can’t wait to see what assemblage calls out for their use!!

So, I’m off to Disney World with my Mom & my sister to celebrate our birthdays on Sat.- I find it hilarious that I get to go to Burning Man & Disney World within a month of each other!!

I love to garden & am very blessed to have a home that backs right up to Rocky Mountain National Park. Outside of my studio  I have a little patio that looks at Lumpy Ridge- I love to sit there on summer evenings with a glass of wine & soak in the beauty of nature. I have a few shrines back there.

This is an assemblage I made called “Welcome Home”- that is how i feel here- I am home- I am safe & nurtured in my little nest. Neuroarchitecture- see the last paragraph of this blog if you have missed the definition in any of my previous blogs..

This one is a stone carved piece that my sister got for me at the Santa Fe Flea Market for my Jubilee Birthday. It is  from India & has a spider goddess in it- she is the weaver of beautiful webs -the strands of which represent my connection to my loved ones- when 1 strand shakes it effects us all- to paraphrase my Balinese friend, Panji. (meaning shapes seeing- I think when you know why I chose this figure to put in there then it makes more sense)

Joe & I pulled up at a greenhouse one day & they were having a sale on concrete yard ornaments. I spotted the concrete shell shrine (with Mary missing), the price was right & I said to Joe “Quick, please stand here & guard this so that no one else buys it out from under me!” (one person’s trash, another’s treasure) I am going to alter the figure featured here some day- she represents gratitude for abundance.

My backyard Kuan Lin- the Goddess of Compassion that my Dad got for me.

my prayer wheel- Joe made it for me and I painted it with 4 images that symbolize earth, air, fire and water in addition to gratitude for the abundance in my life, appreciation for the mystery of life and it’s beauty, and seeking balance.

This concrete Spirit House is a gift from a Thai friend- it offers a home to the spirits that were displaced when the house was built.

I come home through the garage door most days- these 2 naked, carved guys on either  side of the door make me smile and my old 1950’s portrait of my family of origin that I have hanging in the garage by the entry door always makes me laugh!!

Quan Yin- she stands as a reminder of compassion & loving kindness at my front entry. I found her 1 magical day in Santa Fe at the flea market:

Neuroarchitecture “The premise is to consider how each feature of the architectural environment influences certain brain processes such as those involved in stress, emotion, and memory,” says Eve Edelstein, PhD, adjunct professor at the New School of Architecture & Design in San Diego and a research consultant to the Academy of Neuroscience for architecture. “Decorating with an original piece of art not only puts your unique fingerprint on your place, it transmits a sense of authenticity and trust”, says David Lewis, PhD, research director of Neuroco, a British neuromarketing company that uses EEGs (which measure electrical activity in the brain) and other techniques to understand consumer behavior.