Yes, Yet Another New Years List

Like almost everyone else on the planet, I've been doing a bit of reviewing here at year's end. Here's a few things I hope for the new year:

• That somebody will TAKE charge, and get our men and women out of the train wreck called Iraq.
• That for once, just once, my bills won't exceed my earnings.
• That at least one person in the world will allow their inner artist to come to life. (OK, really I hope about a million will)
• That stupid Head ON commercial will just go away.
• That my head won't explode from school, paint, work, blog, school, work, blog, paint . . . (Hmmm, wonder if Head ON works??)
  
• That my hand remain steady, my eyes clear, my soul easily inspired.
• That no child will ever see a hand raised to injure them, and the ones lost find a way back home.
• That goes for pets, too.
• That I never forget to tell and show those I love that I do.
• That even though I posted this lame end of the year entry, you all will bear with me and stick with me for another year.

Peace.

THE Gift

Been very busy as of late getting ready to start college. I had no idea it was such an involved process. I guess I ignorantly assumed I would just march in and sit down and begin.

I have had to chase down health records . . . which after all that chasing left me with having to get shots anyway . . . been shuffled from one building to another, been given a new appreciation for reasonably close parking to a destination (only 3 blocks away? How fortunate!) and have filled out at least a pound of paperwork.

But it is worth all the fuss . . . I'm in!
I'm the first member of my family to go to college.

A Christmas gift above all other gifts.

Hope all of you have a splendid Christmas/Winter Solstice/Kwanzaa/Chanukah.

Fini Revenir de Suite

Managed to get together and paint with fellow artist and good friend Ellen Zisholtz this weekend. This was my first experience painting with someone, and I am hooked! We cranked up Springsteen, went into our corners and fought with our respective canvases. It was energizing to be able to bounce ideas around and receive instant feedback. No wonder the Impressionists created such masterpieces!

Here's the finished Revenir de Suite (Be Right Back) 8"X10" acrylic on canvas.

Rainbow Painter

Well, I've gone and done it. Really gone and done it.

As if I'm not busy enough, as if I don't have more things to do than ever, paintings that need to be painted, etc . . . I just had to pile one more thing on.

I have decided to go to school and get my degree. Full time. And still work. And still paint.

Documenting the whole chain of events that got me to this place in my life would take more time than I have at the moment, and more time than I'm likely to have for a very loooong while. Let's just say an incredibly special someone encouraged me and believed in me, and took steps to make it happen. I won't be getting a free ride, I have to continue to work to see the end to this rainbow. But for the first time in many years, I do see a rainbow, and there is a pot of gold there at the end. All it took was for my someone, my mentor, to sit me down and paint the picture for me. Thank God she's an artist, and a very fine painter.

I'm going to get my BS in Art Education. So I can paint pictures like the one painted for me.

Photo courtesy of Darwin Bell.

Revenir de Suite

I finally got back to my easel!!! It's been entirely too long . . . and oh how I missed it! I set aside some time this past weekend and worked on a painting I started a few weeks (months?) ago. The brushes in my hand felt heavenly, working with and mixing the paint like a reunion with a long ago friend.

Here's my painting, revenir de suite, (Be Right Back) which isn't quite finished, still on the easel, and a corner of my studio.

What has kept me away from my first art love has been another form of creativity - writing. I've begun the first ever art blog for my town's newspaper. I get to make people aware of what's happening art wise, and I hope to joggle a few folks into realizing art is as necessary as other forms of commerce, even more so. To those of us who create, and those who appreciate the creations, it is our lifeblood, our reason for being, not just a way to make a buck, although making a living off our compulsion is nice, too. I find it exciting, and a bit scary. I intend to trumpet the artists and the artists' creations, to show how much richer we are with them around.

The blog is called Drawing Attention. I hope you all like it.

Artist Jonathan Green

South Carolina artist (he now resides in Florida) and native son Jonathan Green graciously granted an interview with me. I have always admired his work - the colors, the joie de vivre that is so abundant in his paintings. Here are his thoughts on art and culture, and the role they play in our lives.




"Marsh Woman" 1999
Copyright 2006 Jonathan Green Studios, Inc.


What are your thoughts on the role of artists and what
specific needs do they fulfill?


Artists are our shamans, their role is to record and inform visually- through music, through dance- the culture. Artists create and through that creativity the culture can be remembered for all time. Every community needs artists - they are vital.

What inspires you?

The now. What I'm feeling, doing, seeing, drinking, eating . . . all that and more.

What is your day like?

It depends on the season. In the Fall I'm up later, around 4:00 AM, and I work until the sun goes down, about 5:00 or 6:00 PM. I take an hour or two for lunch. I work six days a week, I spend the seventh day reading, relaxing.

Do you use studio assistants? Do you stretch your own canvases, etc.?

No, I do it all myself. I want to put time into art, not stretching canvas. I want to implement the imagery I have in my mind. My inspiration, my muse, is always around. I live in my home for my work and for other people - I represent that in my work.

What was your early subject matter, and at what point did you decide to focus on Gullah subjects?

Gullah has always been my subject. As a child I saw and did things and I knew the more one participates the more one is respected and acknowledged. People around me were always working and doing.

How do you support the arts on an individual basis?

I like the younger up and coming artists, and I like WPA art out of Chicago, and African American artists. I devote my life to making sure the imagery of American artists is not forgotten.

What are your thoughts on the way art is taught in public schools?

It isn't taught! It is a wide open field. Art should be taught at the family level. Families need to take the responsibility to support the artists in their family, to nurture that creativity. They should be taught to tap into their intuitive inner feelings . . . which is the importance of family . . . love, food, beauty, history. Art was our first language. The notion of art has nothing to do with an institution - it has to do with family. It needs to be nurtured by family, and the family needs to invest time into the child's vision. 99.9% of families are not supporting their members in the arts. If the family supported the arts, communities would support the arts, then cities, then states, etc. It ALL begins at the family level.

Many visual artists also write. Do you?

No, I speak rather than write. I put a lot of emphasis on speaking.

Can you share where your artistic direction is taking you?

On the first week of March, 2008 I'll be conducting a symposium on "Seeking" - I will start at the Gibbes Museum, then go to the Charleston County Library, Then to the University of South Carolina, and finally end at the College of Charleston. For more information contact Barbara Burgess 843 345-3664.

Still Thankful

It's almost Thanksgiving again, and I suppose I will join the hundreds of other bloggers and report on the season. Not terribly creative or original, I know.

Thanksgiving, however, is a time I look forward to each year. Not for the obligatory food or family get togethers, though. Of course I remember Turkey Day's past, and instances of both family peace and drama.

What is special about the day for me is the call to be grateful, to be thankful, for all things. As I posted last year, here are a few things I'm thankful for:

Leaves that are more beautiful than any painting
The ability to see those leaves
Men and women who have the courage to fight for the freedoms I enjoy, sitting here writing.
Election Day
Friends who love me like we share genetic material
The sound and smell of the ocean
Coffee and chocolate
That feeling you get when you get home after a long day and your dog is wagging all over
A loving, supportive spouse

Have a super Thanksgiving, everybody. (Photo courtesy audreyjm529)

Art Star

I had an opportunity to meet an artist I have admired for a very long time. Jonathan Green, a world renowned South Carolina artist from the tiny hamlet of Garden's Corner (which is nothing but a sign along side the road) was at the Penn Center's Heritage Days. This is an annual event that takes place on St. Helena Island, and is a celebration of Gullah culture.

Jonathan Green's work is a celebration of life, with bright colors, bold compositions, and inhabited by people who are happily going about their life. Seeing his work has inspired me to embrace my cultural heritage; to appreciate beauty and to see it everywhere. His paintings are harmonious and cause me to feel relaxed.

There was a long line to meet him and calendars and other items with his art were for sale.I bought a calendar, and got in line. There were people from all over the state, as well as out of state, there just to meet him. This is the small town guy who made it big.

Finally, my turn came. About six photogs were milling around - my friend Neta snapped my pic with him.

"Hi, Mr. Green! I've been an admirer of your work for a long time . . . if you have time may I have an interview for a blog I write?" Just knowing this man is too busy - look at all the people! He has had a ballet written and performed based on his art; he has awards and degrees . . .

"Sure", he said, "Here's my personal number, give me a call anytime."

Well, I'll be.

Unique Creativity

Creativity can and does come in all forms. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because of it - it brings out the artist in people who don't, or won't, let it show at any other time of the year. This was evident at my dayjob in the library, when one of the librarians just let her inner Van Gogh burst through . . .

Here's the cake she made, which freaked us all out good. The poem she wrote read,

"Is this a trick?
Or is it a treat?
Is it nasty,
Or is it sweet?

If you're feeling brave,
Then scoop up some and eat!"


Thanks, Julie Knotts . . . it was delicious, by the way.

One Neighborhood, One River

I am winding down from the busiest month I have ever had in my memory. I am currently catching up on things neglected - housework, yardwork, family, friends . . . slowly but surely.

This past month was exciting, and very rewarding in many ways. One of the rewarding parts was a film that was shown as a part of the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers, Third Ward TX, Directed by Andrew Garrison, produced by Nancy Bless and Noland Walker. I was able to see the showing at our local art museum, the IP Stanback Museum & Planetarium, on the campus of our South Carolina State University, as well as meet Andrew Garrison.

To recap - Third Ward Tx is about a group of artists who remodel a neighborhood's row houses, or "shotgun" houses from the local vernacular (so named because you could shoot a shotgun through the front door and the pellets would go straight out the back door without hitting any walls) . They cleaned up the houses and yards through the generosity of corporate and individual sponsors. Single mothers were allowed to live there rent free for up to two years, as long as they were enrolled in college. The artists used a few of the houses to have exhibitions of their work bi-annually, and community response was enthusiastic and warm.

Seeing this film ignited a great hope in me, and set my mind on fire with possibilities. Artists are the impetus for change, change for the betterment of people. Artists can affect that change, can get the ball rolling, by using their unique ability to see. Artists can and do make the mundane and common beautiful, and can use these powers to translate, to help others see the beauty that is in all things, in all people. As artist John Biggers aptly said, "Art is life".

Another example, on a personal level, is my friend and fellow artist Janet Kozachek. Janet heard about "Environmental Blog Day", where bloggers were encouraged to write a blog along an environmental theme, or "go green" for a day. Well, Janet went one step further; she decided in order to write about the environment, she needed first hand experience. So she went to our local river and picked up trash. She got the attention of a local environmental group, as well as the Mayor, and last Saturday a group of volunteers showed up and cleaned a good portion of the river. Janet uncovered the beauty, allowed others to see, and our community is that much richer because of it.

Be proud, Artists! We can make our world a better place; one neighborhood, one river at a time.

DiverseArt Success!

Our DiverseArt exhibition for 2007 is now in the annals of history. We had about 150 or so people come and view the art, mingle and generally have a good time. There was a lot of good food, wine, and peach iced tea. There was a lot of laughter, and renewed appreciation for the dedicated artists and their creations that we are fortunate to have in this area. New friendships were begun, and older friendships renewed. It was, as Merriam-Webster would say, "a favorable or desired outcome" . . . the definition of success.

DiverseArt Loosed

OK, it's crunch time! We artists who are showing in DiverseArt are tying up loose ends, finalizing plans. Most of the art has been hung, and the art that will reside on tables will be ready to display early next week. We have been interviewed in our local paper, planned the menu, sent out the invitations. All that remains is for us to show up and showcase our work.

It's exciting to see us come together, working to promote not only our own work, but each of the other's as well. I'm glad to be right here, right now.

It hasn't always been thus. There were times when I'd rather live anywhere but here. But I suppose we all have feelings of doubt and at one time or another are disenchanted with where we happen to be. I haven't had the opportunity to live outside my small geographic area, but I have had the privilege to know many who have. I am amazed at the artists who reside around me, and how varied their backgrounds and perspectives are. I am so thankful to be here and to know so many of them. They have all enriched my life in ways that are as colorful, dynamic and thoughtful as their work.

So, if you are anywhere nearby, please plan to come to the Orangeburg Arts Center Thursday October 18 from 6-8, and meet these fantastic artists (and me!!) and hear their stories. It will be a night and an experience to remember.

Title Trauma

I'm aching to get back to my easel! I have been away from it for far too long.

I started a new painting weeks ago, and really got into the groove; the lose- yourself-in-the-paint, drop-away from-the-world trance you get into when and if you're lucky. Unfortunately I got called away from it and am trying to clear up other obligations so I can get back to it. Here's my progress so far. I have a title that popped in my head as I was working, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with it, but it's at such an early stage I may change up. Titles ooze out of me as I'm working and experiencing the emotions it takes to create a piece. I think they are important, an intimate look into the state of mind of the artist that serves to enhance the connection between artist and viewer.

What do you think? I'm open to ideas. What should this work in progress be called? And nobody better say "Chairs"!!!!

DiverseArt Launch

Had a super day - got to install art at our local Arts Center in preparation of our upcoming exhibition, DiverseArt, this month. DiverseArt was conceived last year after a group of us had a disappointing time trying to sell art at a local festival. It was disappointing trying to sell, it was not disappointing in the camaraderie we experienced. We began talking about how we could get the arts going in our small town. We not only wanted that for ourselves, but we wanted to include other artists in our area, showcase the incredible gold mine of talent and celebrate their diverse perspectives. That brainstorming session led to DiverseArt, which is a group show that exists to give artists a venue and an opportunity to market their work as they speed along on their artistic journey.

We are planning for 300 people to show up for the wine and cheese reception, Thursday October 18 at 6 PM, and we have a fantastic musician on tap, Capers Bull, who will play some "Come On And Buy Some Art" type music on the piano. There will be much laughter, and maybe some singing and dancing. . . one never knows!

We are honored to have, in alphabetical order, Elsie Lewis Fogle, Alice French, Rajas Londhe, George McDaniel, Pennie Sifly, Jo Wyrosdick, and Ellen Zisholtz.

I've been very busy planning, cajoling, exulting, typing, organizing, fretting, crying, laughing . . . and it's not over yet. Oh, no, it's just begun!!

Eye Thoughts

Had to take my hubby for same day cataract surgery a few days ago - really really early. The sheer volume of surgeries on any given day probably necessitates this, but it's rough getting up and around before the light of day, especially when the "to do" list for that day stretches into the evening hours. The nurses were very efficient and pleasant and I'm impressed when I think of how they have dedicated their lives to the service of others. I'm sure their days are long and strenuous, and at times very technical with all the paperwork they have to do. The definition of "unsung hero".

All went well for hubby, but I was very nervous about the thought of his surgery. To think something as important as eyesight could be lost, with one all too human slip, one meandering thought . . . put a few things in perspective. And it made me thankful - for the time we live in where such surgery has become commonplace; for a loving husband who sees my art and knows the heart it comes from; for the hope that he will be able to continue to see beauty and inspire me with his unique viewpoint.
(Image courtesy of Scott Robinson)

Confidence

As an artist, it is extremely important that you have confidence in your ability and vision. This confidence is something that must be acquired, over time. when you first sit or stand before the canvas you may feel nervous or afraid - but push through it. Making a mark, any mark, will speed you on your journey. With each successive piece, it will become easier and easier. Think how hard it must have been for Picasso to explore his unique vision - no one else had ever before done Cubism. Look how radically different it was (and still is!). He stirred the whole art world and became a household name because he had confidence in his own art and ability.

Confidence will enable you to march to your own beat, instead of following blindly what someone else thinks is art. It's important to look around at your environment and listen to what your inner voice is saying. What causes your eyes to well up? What image or thought robs you of sleep? Whatever "IT" is, that is what you must interpret for the world. You do have something someone in the world needs to see, read or hear - we are all waiting to experience it!
Photo courtesy of Kitten Betty.

The Exercising Artist

How important is it for an artist to get regular exercise?

I got up this AM feeling a bit overwhelmed and sluggish. It's no secret if you regularly read this blog, or even if you happen to know me personally, that I have a lot on my plate. I'm not whining about it - it's just a fact of my existence. And I don't think I'm anything special when it comes to the degree of busyness - everyone I know is stretched to the limit.

Several years ago I made the commitment to myself to take care of myself. One of the things necessary in doing this is to get regular exercise. I walk almost every day, and the benefits are many. The first and most obvious reason is the physical benefit. Walking is the most natural movement of the human body - simply put, we were designed to walk. As we walk, our heart rate increases and blood is pumped through the veins and arteries. This "stretches" them a bit, and helps to break up plaque that can form on the artery walls. Walking increases blood flow to the brain - which leads me to the next benefit - greater mental acuity. As I said, I woke up a bit sluggish. But when I took my walk, my whole attitude changed in the space of about 10 minutes. I became more aware, and started thinking positively and creatively. Here's a picture I took while on my walk. I'm fortunate that I live in a somewhat rural setting, and some of our property has lots of trees. We had a refreshing rain last night - here is a pine branch still wet.

Now, that should inspire you to go for a walk. You never know what beauty is there, waiting for you to find it.

Oh Wilmington

Went to Wilmington for the Labor Day holiday with my bestest buddy. It was wonderful to get away, although I didn't get any art done. I guess sometimes you just need to get away from the daily grind and do something completely different than what your normal self would do. My normal self will tend to stay up late sketching or writing, and get up early with this idea or that idea jostling around in my head for attention. My abnormal Wilmington self seemed to want to go to bed early and read Kerouac's On The Road, and sleep late the next AM. Kerouac has an energy about his writing that takes hold of you. I found myself abuzz with excitement and creative energy, just lying there reading.
Went to the old section, funny how every Southern town I've visited has one - and poked around a bit in an antiques store. Saw these neat old chairs that reminded me of my childhood, when I would visit my grandparent's house in the summer and we would sit outside under the shade tree, in chairs like these. Life was unhurried then, time marked by the lazy flapping at flies with a flyswatter.
Well, back to the current state of things - deadlines, art, and other everyday concerns. But thank heavens for beautiful old cities like Wilmington - where we can still go to be transported back to the past.

Getting Away

One thing about this day and time we live in is how busy everyone is. I've said it here before, that it seems all the devices that were supposed to ease our lives have somehow complicated them and crunched our leisure time down to almost nothing. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm glad the days of outhouses and picking cotton are over, and I am ever so thankful for laptops, cell phones, and water based oil paints.
But instead of more leisure, we ( and I'm speaking of Americans, I have no knowledge of other countries' workaday habits) have much less.
That's why finding time-saving shortcuts of any kind is always "a good thing". I don't have the luxury of having much time off, but when I do have a chance to escape my everyday hum drum existence, I jump at it. And being the anal retentive mess that I can sometimes be, I prepare myself by checking out online travel sites. There is a neat site I came across, HotelReservations.com that has features and pricing that sets it apart. You can book a hotel, car, flight, cruise, or any combination thereof. You have many destinations to choose from internationally. There is also a cool feature where you can choose a day trip, an hour or six hour drive from the zip code of where you are. The site will find places that fit the bill. This is perfect if, like me, stress tends to sneak up on you, and before you know it you are so overwhelmed you are unable to function. Nothing helps me to de-stress like getting completely out of my environment, going away, and forgetting all my ties and obligations. With this site you can research places, and HotelReservations.com even has a handy button to take you to available hotels and bed and breakfasts, dining, everything you need to have a wonderful getaway.
How nice to be able to find attractions close to home, and very reasonably priced. This is a must in this economy.
I don't know of a better way to get the creative juices flowing. Give this site a look.

Dirt Roads

I've been so busy lately. I've had my days jam packed full, and my evenings as well. Everyone I know is just as busy as I am, with no end in sight. I remember as a child watching "The Jetsons" - remember George zooming around in his hovercraft? A hard day at work for Mr Spacely consisted of pushing buttons. What happened to that future?

Anyway, I took some time off last weekend and decided to unplug everything- the computer, cell phone, TV; and went for a ride in the country. I'm fortunate in the fact that I live in a small town, and there are still unpaved dirt roads in rural areas. Going down these roads forces you to slow down, and really see. You might come across a deer bounding in the distance. You most certainly will see some abandoned homesites from a bygone era. I imagine what the day to day lives of the people that lived there were like. What were their hopes, dreams and ambitions?

Find a dirt road. Turn off the AC, roll down the windows. Smell the freshly cut hay and slow down a bit. That e-mail can certainly wait.