Finito -- in a Manner of Speaking

I seem to have gotten into the habit of choosing a Word for the Year (WFTY) instead of assaulting myself with a list of resolutions I've no intention of keeping.  The thing about a Word is, you can choose it and forget about it, but it doesn't forget about you --  rather like The Word ("...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." John 1:14), in my faith practice.  Hmmm....

Recently a colleague asked me if I'd help her find a word for 2014.  I replied that I'd think and pray about it and sent her off to do some inspirational reading.  I've come to the conclusion though, that that's about all I can do for her in this area.  A WFTY can't be chosen for you by someone else; it's one of those things you have to do for yourself.  And sometimes, like this past year, a word chooses you.

The word that chose me in 2013 is 'gift', as in giving, receiving and being a gift.  How well have I done across the board? Well... I had a bit of a bump in income during the year, so I was able to give more.  I also gave away more material items -- things I knew I'd never need but which I also knew someone else could use.  And I tried to be gracious when receiving gifts, and not resentful when gifts were hoped for (nay, expected!) and not received.

Part of my "gift" this past year involved my work:

"This means that my work must be:

• Given in love;
• Suited to potential recipients;
• Constructed with care;
• Fairly and honestly priced;
• Economically produced."

In that area, I believe I have succeeded -- especially after I began to produce the pieces I call "miniatures".  The opportunity to make one for the SAQA fund-raising auction at the Santa Fe Conference was a gift, indeed -- a gift that seems to keep on giving, as I come up with new ideas for the little scenes, and as they put smiles on peoples faces, and are purchased as gifts for others.

Another gift I was given in 2013 was the gift of an art quilt group, Fifteen by Fifteen, which I was invited to join in April -- one-third through their first year of making 15"-square pieces every two months, based on a series of themes.  I found myself in the midst of a group of talented artists of varying age and experience, most of whom live outside North America.  The size, shape and thematic requirements all challenged me.  I had great fun with this, and to my delight, have two pieces going over to France for a group show in April!  I'm now beginning work on our Dec/Jan piece with the theme, Rhythm, and am thankful for the gift of continuing another year with this group.

I received a third gift late in the year -- the gift of a vote of confidence, when I was asked to become the Alberta Co-Rep for SAQA Western Canada Region.  The acceptance of this 'gift' required some thought; I approached it with no small amount of 'fear and trembling', given the size of our region geographically, the big shoes of the departing Co-Rep, Patti Morris, the fact that the B.C. Co-Rep was also retiring so there would be two newbies, and one courageous person, Dawn Piasta, who'd been at her post (Saskatchewan/Manitoba) it seemed, only a short time.  I am truly thankful for the encouragement I received from Patti, from Ali George, whose Oceania region makes our region's size pale in comparison, and from Desiree Vaughn, the SAQA Rep Co-ordinator.

All of these have been gifts of the heart, which I will carry forward with me into 2014.

And now -- what about a Word for the (New) Year?

Once again I responded to Christine Valters Paintner's invitation to "Give Me a Word", over at Abbey of the Arts.  The week before Christmas, I found I was able to post this in the comments on the invitation post:

My word for 2014 arose in me just yesterday: FINISH. 

I'd got up and straight-away (before breakfast or anything) felt compelled to sort out a portion of my yarn stash, including a box containing two unfinished projects. Later in the day, I finished making one of my annual Christmas traditions: boxer shorts for my son (now 28). 

As the day went on, I realized that 2014 needs to be about FINISHING — what I start, what is currently unfinished. Beyond the obvious and practical, I also believe I'm being drawn to FINISH with the past — not to forget it but to leave it behind me in order to approach the possibilities and plans God has for me in the future with new eyes, new ears, a renewed mind and an open heart. 

I know I will never be "FINISHED" this side of Heaven, but loose ends can be tied up; peace can be made; forgiveness can be given (and received); and doors can be closed. "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:9)

How about you, Gentle Reader?  Is there a word or phrase tugging at your heart or at the edges of your mind that you can use as a mantra for 2014?

This post is now -- ahem -- finished...See you again soon!

Ninety Minutes

in the presence of Barbara J. West, Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas and their work...and I very nearly succumbed (yet again) to The Mean Greenies, about which I recently wrote on the SAQA Yahoo conversation site, thus:

Having read of  recent successes...I decided a blanket -- but heart-felt -- CONGRATULATIONS! needed to be posted.  :-)

Not having time to respond to each one individually, I wanted to express how, nonetheless, I get a little thrill when I read about these events in the lives of my colleagues.

It wasn't always so...and I confess I still have to beat down the Mean Greenies (envy) from time to time! LOL! However, beat them down I do, as I have learned what it takes to enter competitions and calls for entry, and have these thoughts about it.

1.  Not taking rejection personally is difficult. Do it anyway. It's generally not about *you*.
2.  Celebrate with others always. One day they will celebrate with you.
3.  Decide how you want to 'get your work Out There' decision, whether it be entering lots of shows, posting on your blog or website, having an online shop, teaching, going international with your entries or sticking closer to home, submitting to galleries, submitting to quilt shows, being part of a challenge group on line or in your area -- and BE HAPPY with your decision. Don't let the way someone else chooses to 'get his/her work out there' determine what's right for you at any given time. (NOTE: This is the Biggie for me.)
4. Reserve the right to change your mind -- and the way you put your work 'out there'. :-)
5. Learn from the experiences of others, but remember your Art Journey is YOUR Art Journey and can be travelled by no one but you.
6. Enjoy the ride!

See #3 up there?  See it?

I very nearly waffled on that one yesterday afternoon, yessiree.  

"Hanging by a Thread" is powerful, provocative, occasionally poetic.  Barbara's installations are beautifully constructed, mainly hand-knit fabric combined with unusual materials, and they have an edge to them -- a mixture of tongue-in-cheek with "Whoa!", once you figure out what she's saying.  Ilse's wall pieces are equally beautifully made, with deliberate decisions re: colour and design, combined with exquisite quilting; it is in her artist's statements that you find the sub-text behind each piece.  There was a trio expressing the inter-relationships between generations of women in a family that very nearly reduced me to tears.

I had only brief opportunities to speak with Barbara and Ilse, both together and separately, as the gallery began to fill with family, friends, and other viewers for the opening reception.  They told me this work was the result of a three-year collaboration that very nearly didn't come together because, for a variety of reasons, Life got in the way, as it is wont to do.  They talked of getting a grant, doing research and conducting focus groups on their theme, which began as a study of the passing on of learning and tradition between generations.

Grants? Research?  Focus groups?

When I got home I dashed off e-mails about this process to three artists I admire and respect: Lesley Turner, Vickie Newington and my former C&G tutor, Linda Kemshall.  Lesley has a BA (Hons Textiles) from a university in the UK, as well as C&G certificate(s), and Vickie is also a C&G graduate.  I wanted to hear what each had to say about research, based on their experience and education.

Most likely due to the time difference (it's much later in the UK than it is here), Linda's response is already in my in-box.  She said -- and I quote:

"C&G are very hot on research especially when it comes to the higher levels of study. At the highest, Level 3 diploma level there is a complete unit devoted to a research project of the student's personal choice. Research is defined as a systematic study of a subject in order to learn all about it. The findings of the in depth study are recorded in some way that is useful to the user of the discovered information. Of course research can be extremely wordy but where the research is meant to inform choices in a creative pursuit it is probably necessary to make the research as visual as possible. Depending on the choice of subject I guess this is sometimes easier than others."

She added:

"The difficulty with research is the unknown! there is not much point in undertaking research to prove a theory or back up an idea you already have. You should just take a subject that fascinates you and be prepared to spend a lot of time understanding everything about it. There is no magic formula - just thorough investigation. There is also no need for much in the way of expense - your internet connection can provide lots of the information you need and trips to the library, museums or other places of interest will provide the rest depending on your choice of subject."  (emphasis mine)

And then she reminded me:

"You write as though you have never researched a subject but in fact you did that when you made the museum quilt for the course. Think of research as simply a quest for information and you'll realise it's not anything extraordinary. My own work always relies on research - I never work intuitively - it's always based on knowledge gained from prior research although that research may have been undertaken a long while ago." (emphasis mine)

Well, duh.  

And then I read the latest Guest Post over at Abbey of the Arts and was again reminded that as a "Monk in the World" and an artist, I am to follow my own path.  As Gretchen Ruben would say, I am to "BE Margaret".  

And wasn't that what I'd so recently said in my SAQA Yahoo post?

Research?  I've done that! 

Explore a topic deeply?  I've done that!

Have a subject (or two) that fascinates me such that I'm prepared to spend a lot of time understanding it?  I have that!

And grants and focus groups are wonderful things, but using those resources won't make me a better artist.  Only practice will do that.

Finally, my current Art Journey is not calling me to make thought-provoking installations, or to move someone to tears in the way the work of Barbara and Ilse can do.

Lessons learned?

Continue the Artist's Dates.  Visit exhibits that with provoke, prod, pull me outside my comfort zone.  Encourage others to do so too.  Continue to take notes, to learn, to seek advice, to study -- in directions appropriate to my Art Journey -- and get into the studio and make art!

Oh... You want to see photos of the exhibit?  I was permitted to take some, but they are for my own use, inspiration and learning.  I'm not going to share them here.  You'll just have to visit "Hanging by a Thread" for yourself.  It's up through September 28.  That's in the Feature Gallery, Alberta Craft Council, 10186 - 106 Street, Edmonton, Alberta -- Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (6 p.m. on Thursdays).

September Silence

"Morning Mist" - (C) Claudia Gregoire

The good news is that in this noisy, angry, chaotic world, there remain places of solitude and silence; there remain people who value and encourage and invite the rest of us to enter into stillness.  Christine Valters Paintner at the Abbey of the Arts is one such person.  Under her tutelage I am reminded what is important, how to keep my life balanced.  I am supported in my aim to be a "Monk in the World", living out my faith and practicing my art through the Rule of Benedict and its expression in the tenets of the "Monk Manifesto".

In September, we are practicing our commitment to finding moments daily for silence and solitude.  We are expressing this commitment in photography and/or poetry.  Won't you join us?

Take Time

This morning began with a thunderstorm -- the entire banging, crashing, flashing event, complete with a leak in the bathroom's ceiling vent.  Pookie-cat was frightened; I was wound up because Diesel-cat was out in it somewhere (he still hasn't come home).

Then I received this* in my list of blog readings. 

 I sat down.  

I lit a small votive in the grey morning.  

And I listened.

I share this with you so you can, too.  Now, if possible.  I guarantee it will bless your day.

*Thanks to Christine Valters Paintner and friends.

Rounding a Gentle Curve

Pimpelliese Shawlette

This wee shawl is my current 'at-home' project.  Knit from one 100-gram ball of sock yarn, it's a 12-row pattern, which means I haven't memorized its entirety, and have to keep referring to it to stay on track.  Essentially, you knit, increasing as you go, till you've used half your yarn (by weight) and then begin the decreases.  This past week, I slipped around the curve and into the home stretch...

New by Christine Valters Paintner

...toward "a clearer sureness about what matters" (Jane Dunnewold).
...toward trying "...to do good and...to produce something" (Eval Zeisel)
...toward a life more in balance: creativity-as-blessing.

This book is due to arrive this coming week.  When it does, you'll know where to find me...

Lenten Reflections

I've been mulling over the notion that Lent is as much about release as it is about sacrifice. Both involve letting go, but the former seems to me to be done with greater freedom -- with intention and enthusiasm, and a corresponding feeling of joy and true resurrection.

Nowadays we "give up" things for Lent -- behaviours, habits -- like eating chocolate or drinking alcohol or playing computer Solitaire -- symbolic of Christ's sacrifice on Good Friday. And yes, this is a type of fasting.

But if we are, instead, making/marking an observance of His 40 days in the Wilderness where, in addition to fasting, He resisted temptations put before him by the Devil -- should we not also ponder the courage, internal strength and joy that came to Him as a result of His choices to renounce Satan, to, in effect, release the (potential) worldly hold that food, wealth and power could have over Him in his humanity?

I am not 'giving up' things this Lent, so much as I am taking on new habits -- reflection and reading in the Benedictine practice of lectio divina. I am using this time to anchor my day, in the fond hope that I will carry the gift of hearing God into my daily routines, into my studio, and from there, do and be as He would have me do and be...