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.

My art professor in college, Paul A Dufour, said that the most important habit an artist can form is to do art every day. I always assumed that this was a good habit because over time you would become a better artist from every day practice but as of today I think it is because it saves your sanity. A friend of mine, Terri, who is also a Libra calls this time of year Libra Time- it is the time of year that if you are the type to take to your bed that you stay under the covers. (oh how I wish I had the time to do that!!) It is our most unsettling time of the year- we have our birthdays- we examine our lives- am I on the right path? what AM i doing with my life? , it is the end of summer (yikes! dark days are coming- actually I love winter once I settle into it- it is such a quiet reflective time & great for creating!) and we are seeking balance. When I came back from Disney World I jumped back into my day job and some remodeling on my house and getting ready for winter- I noticed how edgy & at the same time “flat” I was feeling- I wanted to stay under the covers- did I need to exercise more? was I over extended? What was the problem!?

Aha! the light dawned- I have not been in my studio for 2 months- not since before Burning Man!!!!!! I’ve put off painting because I keep thinking I don’t really have much time- I’ll just get started then I’ll have to quit- that will be frustrating or I won’t be able to accomplish much or I am tired so why bother? But the urge was soooo strong to get back in there that after I got off of work yesterday and after I applied a second coat of paint to the new door in the remodel job I went into the studio & painted for about 15 minutes- of course I wanted to continue but it was late & I hadn’t eaten dinner or done the days dishes or fed the dog etc. This morning before work, I put another 15 minutes into my painting- the sacred feminine painting that I started last April:

I decided to create a “moon” around the blooming  lotus

and voila! I am excited about life again- I can’t wait to get home tonight & carry some of the moon white down into the earrings on the Bird Women

and I think I know what I want to do with the blank triangular space in the middle & the leaves cutting through the Tree of Life- ahhhh yes 15 minutes daily does make a difference!!

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!!