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sometimes...
it is all about the little things.
small reminders.
a visual tap on the shoulder of our consciousness
to see clearly
with compassion and an open heart.
to walk with light.
in between arduous mosaic projects that take countless hours
...i love to create small,
personal vignettes.
it is satisfying to transform a common rectangle with a higher calling.
to collect the touch of those i love as they reach for the light.
a long weekend...
practicing silence and painting.
contemplating the contours of the heart.
inspired by nineteenth century oil on tin
a simple marriage of turquoise, ivory and rose.
alma de maria
there is power in memory. just the temperature of air can breath life into an almost forgotten experience in our past and transport us hook, line and sinker, firmly reliving its import with all our senses. while the unexpected song, sight, smell may electrify us with its capability to bring to life someone or sometime we hold dear, there is also the mindful practice of commemorative art. these expressions, for the soul purpose of honoring, retaining and reviving memory, have a mysterious and multi- cultural foothold in the history of art.
memory vessels, forget-me-not pots, spirit houses, mourning jugs are a few of the names referring to a mysterious folk art practice of commemorating the life of a loved one. small tokens, mementos, sentimental milestones of a life well lived are assembled with deep reflection to offer a tangible process of mourning and provide a touch stone of cherished memory.
memory. communications of the soul. labors of honor pressed into a shrine of remembrance, flowers for the dead.
as we begin our long memorial weekend with our own personal tributes and traditions of honoring our loved ones i encourage you to visit laurie beth zuckermen. her blog is a haven of tributes in the collection of her thought provoking photographs of road shrine shrines, in her visually stirring shrine installations so beautifully recorded in the pages of her blog. her fascination for evocative art born from deep personal reflection is the heart beat of her every offering.
and now she has extended an amazing opportunity to share her research, collection of photographs, and personal insights into the creating and understanding of memory ware. visit her here....here, and here.
her book, memory jugs, is a thought provoking opportunity to commemorate the life of a loved one, to embark on a deeply personal expression of remembrance in a rich folk art tradition with laurie passionately leading the way.
afternoons sky grew plum black with the promise of rain.
suddenly thunder shook the summer clouds
far reaching as distant mountains and close as our open faced wonder
we stood on the old wooden porch and let the lightening tie our hearts to the
promise of plums, flowers, and the blind faith of possibilities.
again and again lightening cracked open our dark hearts, tossing our hair, sky, hope in endless directions.
one moment the stand of sunflowers
followed the sun with their unabashed beauty
the next thunderclap, they danced brazen in a burst of wind
as if life itself depended on it.
as the sky grew darker all their copper, ocher, and magenta
ignited our hearts against the black vault sky
when the rain fell, and fall it did
in huge pounding opulent coins, we stood tall and received it,
without a hint of resistance or after thought.
what does it take to be transformed from the undertow of life's daily requirements?
to step off the porch of expectations, and stand open armed in the
pouring rain?
squarely in any given moment, as simple and accepting as flowers.
