LIVING THE ART SPIRIT On the edge of the desert

On the edge of the desert,
at the base of the mountain,
in between now and then...
There is a freshness
surrounding the familiar.
A chance to take on
vulnerability, moving forward
fearlessly.
THAT is the freshness.


AND, in the air
that warm chill on the cheek,
just a short-lived wisp
as the light begins to
kiss
my spirit.

neva, july 11, 2010
taos

Edward Hopper postcard altered for a new San Francisco friend.

THAT was day one of the week long workshop with Sas Colby, Studio in the Sky, at the MabelDodgeLuhan house in Taos. . .called Living the Art Spirit, my annual trek into my favorite place ...

between sessions, i worked in my journal....

"A bird doesn't sing because it needs an answer. It sings because it has a song."

Imagine under one roof being nourished. Listening. Waiting.

What is the real purpose of art?

Seeing.

Taking time to notice what's buried below.

Seeing in a new way

with Reflection.

Remembering.

Making connections. Putting parts together.

Experiencing: the freedom of a weathered feather.

Sharing.

and Playing with new materials.......

while "singing my song".

Sas Colby's Studio in the Sky

 

 

 

 

It's almost time to start packing for the return to TAOS, and to another week of workshops at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House with Sas Colby from the bay area who is a mixed media artist/bookmaker and the best teacher/facilitator that I know. Here are some of the pictures from last year. . .In the studio, artists going into all sorts of directions by the end of the week. The mountain air, Mabel's spirit, and Sas's incredible talents are drawing us into our own processes.
There will be 14 participants, 8 that are returning. The group dynamics, the cool nights in the old adobes, the fabulous 3 meals a day, and open studio 24 hours a day...are frosting on the cake that Sas creates with her vibrancy and the activities through which she leads us. I'm posting one of my paintings from last year of seed pods, the magic of materials yielding surprises to me. Beginning on my slow journey into art investigations at the age of 60 has provided me with just the way to occupy my mind and challenge my hesitancy during PART 3 of my life!!

I'll be up in those mountains an additional week to poke around with my camera, my newest best friend it seems.

I'm excited to be in my favorite place, see some of my favorite people, and find out what Sas evokes in me, and us, again.