~Cherish~

It's been enjoyable creating wire words for friends and family who are pursuing or thinking about a certain word this year.  I've added some to the Wire Soul Word Page here on my blog, and here is a post about one of them.

My friend writes, "I've thought about it, and I find myself always telling people to cherish their children, cherish the special moments in life, cherish the little things that we may not realize are important at the time, and I also remind myself to do the same with my family, SO, I'd like my wire word to be: Cherish"

She chose a spot for her word that means a lot to her:  "the bench was from a friend who I don't get to see much, but I cherish our talks together on the phone and have great memories of times we've spent together. And the vase is from our cruise vacation, where I bought it in Puerto Rico, a vacation which every second of was cherished...and a reminder that right after that vacation, we started our family...the connections keep going on from there!"  Each day as she descends her stairs, she catches a glimpse of this spot, to remind her.

This helps me, too, as the days go by so fast sometimes, to remember to CHERISH the moments that fill them.


Sharing with:

The Stitches Speak

I wrote a series here on my blog about the ten short films my sister and I viewed at this year's Black Maria Film Festival.  Many more films where chosen to be featured in the festival during the various showings around the world, and they were described in the program.  One that stuck out to me as a film I would like to see was The Stitches Speak, by Nina Sabnani.

(From the website linked to above):
"Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) is an animated documentary that traces the journey of four Kutch artisans towards finding themselves and forming the Kala Raksha Trust (a trust formed to preserve traditional art and to generate income for the rural artisans of Sumrasar Sheikh, a village 25 km north of Bhuj). The most amazing part of the film is that it uses the art of appliqué and embroideries as means of expression to narrate the story. Can you imagine that… now that is being creative to the stitch!"


I've written about the infinitesimal, about how the tiny speaks grandeur to me.  I love how valuable the stitches become, especially over time.  I love how each stitch tells a story, carries a culture.

I want to learn how to tell my stories.  I want to learn how to write my story into the stitches of my words, the stitches of my life, the stitches of my art.  I'm getting there.  Perhaps this is why I am so enamored with the stitches and the infinitesimal; perhaps this is why they speak to me. 

In the early fall, I'm taking a Thread Painting Workshop with artist Missy Stevens.  Thanks to Peters Valley I received a scholarship to help cover half of the cost of this. 

"The workshop will introduce participants to the technique of punchneedle embroidery using needles which hold one or two strands of sewing thread and create a delicate, dense and rich loop pile surface. Missy encourages a painterly approach that allows a conversation between the maker and the thread painting as it evolves. You will be instructed in the basics of using a small punchneedle: threading the needle, correct use of the hoop, stitching and materials and will be guided through visualization exercises."

I will go there expectantly.  I will go there listening with open ears and open mind.  I will hear the conversation between the maker and the thread painting.  I will receive messages about my life, and about how the holes that have been poked through have allowed for light, illuminating darkness like the stars at night.

Cafe Hearts

Hearts are special.

 People remember to make others smile

by painting hearts on cafe windows,

and by taking the time to make hearts extra-special

with decorations that take infinitesimal care

to create delicious beauty.

For more hearts from around the world,

visit Clytie's Random Hearts.

Louise Nevelson - Journal Pages

These are pages that appear in my Freedom Journal.

Next to the page with the Freedom Heart and freedom messages, is the page on the right with a picture of a Louise Nevelson sculpture, words cut out from a magazine article about Nevelson's work, and thoughts behind it, and the words to Job 28:5-6.

"They promised that the streets of America

would be paved in gold."

 

The next two pages:

on the left is a picture of an Untitled sculpture

that we saw at the Locks Gallery,

and a list of possible locations for me to see more of Nevelson's work in person.

On the right are found quotes of Louise Nevelson's,

that speak freedom to me.

"Leave your brain outside, sweetie," Nevelson would tell her art students, "so when you see something, you see it totally."

"I take my mind out and put it on the table.  I take silver polish or whatever and rags and sponges and clean it up and clear it up and keep it shiny."

 

"The shadow is as important as the object."

"The wonder of collecting is that you are constantly in trainint to look for that added element that you identify with."

"I have made my world and it is a much better world than I ever saw outside."

"An artist has to live like an artist, and then you are an artist."