"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." Anais Nin

I just found out that this picture has been accepted to the Fine Arts Exhibition of the Decatur Arts Festival. In late May it will hang in the Dana Fine Arts Center of Agnes Scott College (which, by the way,  is the college backdrop for October Road) .  I submitted three works, and I'm very happy they chose this one.
This totally rocks. There are lots of opportunities to show work, but this is my hometown and the opening reception to this Exhibition is a big deal in town every year. This is a great way to start showing my work.

Posted by: brutallycurious at March 28, 2007 13:45 | link | comments (4)
art

I am sitting outside at the coffee shop, and the pollen is so thick in the air, I have to keep wiping the screen down every half hour so I can see. it's like snow. It blankets everything and suddenly everyone has a dirty car and scratchy eyes.  Anyone with bad allergies is miserable right now. If only it would rain. I totally dig this weather...but a little rain would be wonderful.
I even hesitate to shoot because of the yellow dust that hangs in the air. I did, however, shoot yesterday morning. The ING Marathon came through town and was a big deal to everyone....I haven't quite figured out why yet.  ING aside, part of the reason could be that it's a marathon at the perfect time of year in the south. There's a July 4 marathon and a Thanksgiving one...both not ideal weather-wise. Late March though....beautiful.
I am in a creative wave right now. New job opportunities are coming to me, projects are going well, and I'm creating art.  A creative jag doens't mean much if I don't channel it. I  have been shooting and I've painted, but I'm not writing. Not yet, anyway. I have some ideas, but it seems to give them enough space and time they will move beyond this blog. It changes the way I see my blog, and that takes some time to figure out.
So, here I am chatting aimlessly today. So be it.
The weekend was really great...the best one I've had in a while. We cleaned house, hung out together, and Saturday night I went out with a girlfriend to a book reading/signing  by  Ann Lamott and then to an art opening. Both were very edifying to my artistic side. Ann's humor and honesty will have an impact on how I write and view life from now on.

Posted by: brutallycurious at March 26, 2007 14:30 | link | comments (3)

Poetry is coming to me lately which excites me. I've only written poetry in times of great emotional turmoil, which isn't unusual, but i"d like to be able to access the emotions of poetry more reliably  than "whenever I'm going through hell".
For now, the muse visits. I don't seem to be much inspired at lengthy writing...spare words appeal to me currently. So be it.

Posted by: brutallycurious at March 18, 2007 22:10 | link | comments (1)

One word can sing to me
As new buds on the bones of trees
One feather on the sand
A sigh amid silence
A diamond

The question is always:
Will I have ears to hear?

Posted by: brutallycurious at March 18, 2007 22:07 | link | comments

finally ready to write...

I feel like I've been drowning the last couple of weeks. Suffocating. Paralyzed. Dazed, confused. Not 100% of the time...just most of the time. There have been bright spots..my client work is going well and I've enjoyed my trips. But the damage shows up in my relationship with my husband. I simultaneously pull away and feel estranged from him.  I feel my heart shut down and then get lonely. I am angry and optimistic at the same time. Hopeful and helpless.

Sometimes I can see a path out and work my way through it. Tonight the only thing that would break the mood was a good cup of coffee at the coffee shop. I  picked up the Artist's Way book on the way out and stuffed it in my bag. It's like  a balm to my wounds as I read it.

I am starting morning pages again, that exercise from the Artist's Way, which I think will help immensely. There is such a deluge of negative thoughts that come unbidden, I feel like I wake up fighting a tidal wave with an oar. I have chosen this lifestyle, but the cost is high...now my whole life rests on what I create for myself. No pressure. Not that it hasn't always been this way, but now I know it and take responsibility. If I'm feeling strong and womanly..no big deal. Bring it on. But on the days I feel weak, it is overwhelming. I know I have willingly chosen erratic income, no job security, freedom with my day, and total responsibility for the success of my life.
 
Singing Arrow and I work on our relationship and restore the closeness. I will pick up the morning pages and hopefully they will work as designed...they will absorb all the fear and whining and leave me cleansed to create from a pure place.

"When we engage in a creative recovery, we enter into a withdrawal process from life as we know it....until we attain an overview. This overview empowers us to make valid creative choices. Think of it as a journey with difficult, varied, and fascinating terrain.  You are moving  to higher ground. The fruit of your withdrawal is what you need to understand as a positive process, both painful and exhilarating."

The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron

Posted by: brutallycurious at March 12, 2007 19:33 | link | comments (2)
coffee, artists way, singing arrow