ARTFEST (Part I)

    

   There's a stirring that happens when you take part in these art retreats.  

When your hands are filled with clay and paint 

and not in water with a sink full of dishes.

There's a stirring that takes place when conversation

 is about art and the creative process

 and not the weather or your long to-do-list.

There's a stirring that awakens you

 when you're surrounded by hundreds of artists 

who speak your language, inside and out-

 their hands and fingernails caked and covered with colour

as you eat your lunch together...

You start to unravel like a ball of yarn-spinning open and out, 

your words spilling like beads onto a table,

  hopping with truth and depth.  

Others are there to catch them with their open hands. 

Present.

The connection you have been craving is ample 

and the serendipity is loud and absolute-

almost "too weird" to even say aloud and share 

with someone who wasn't there to witness it.

I had forgotten how these art retreats mess with my mojo-

my status quo-my everything is fine...

Being in this state for several days in a row where you only have yourself

 to think about-not making lunches or preparing dinner, 

not laundry or grocery shopping-

only your own needs.

It can really mess with a girl. 

 It can crack open your insides, 

the same ones you had slip-stitched closed the last time you felt so supported,

 understood and accepted-like you belong in a society-

in a community where people feel as much as you do-

where being real is encouraged, warts and all.

**********

This little one was  made on DAY ONE with Michelle Allen.

She was once a little ball of dull clay and now she has so much life and personality.

I can't tell you how happy I am to bring my paintings to life

 in this 3 dimensional artform.

(Thank-you SO MUCH Michelle (my new friend)!!! xoxo)

 

I promise you'll be seeing more of these in the near future...

I CANNOT wait to make more!

This post is dedicated to all of you all...

You know who you are-

my new friends, my Madrona sisters, 

my facebook peeps that I finally met and already love-

my blog readers who have become kindreds (especially you L.C.)

my teachers who taught me so much more than "just art", 

my besties-I'm SO crazy about you-

I miss you all so much already-

Truly.

xox

More soon...so much more...