6 AM Despite living in Canada most of my life, I had never been to Toronto before this year and now I am on my third visit in just a few months! Sitting at the table in my suite in Etobicoke [early morning preparing to co-facilitate with Beverley Pomeroy 3 days of engagement work with…
Category: Inspiration
Stillness of the hummingbird.
I recall the wonder of seeing a little hummingbird, amidst my sunflower garden, staring in through my kitchen window (when I lived in Roberts Creek). Nothing has never felt so still. That breathless moment. A reminder today to sit in stillness, reflecting on that little creature. Just stop. For a moment. If the hummingbird shows up…
The inverted detective story approach.
Huge thank you to Patti Henderson who encouraged me to consider the inverted detective story approach on Molly- a true crime analysis. I thought I needed to restructure my rough draft fully when she suggested this Columbo style, but as I review my manuscript, I realize only minor tweaks are needed structurally- especially the opening sequence. All…
My mother’s tapestry…
Today would have been my mother’s 80th birthday. It was joyous to celebrate her by celebrating my nephew’s 5th birthday (his official birthday is on the 19th) in my brother’s household filled with kids and mayhem, food and laughter. Our growing family certainly is my mother’s tapestry- her woven threads. We are the weavers of our…
First line… let’s go.
Recall: I sit now surrounded by my manuscripts, references, inspiration and pressing fingertips to keys and (re)typing. (Re)COMMITMENT! This version will be from the pelvis. First chakra shit. Yesterday, I posted: Start again. Put China markers and socks and threaded needles down. Write, bitch, write. There is no beginning. I’ve tried to invent one but it…
Stitched together with good intentions- a grumble of [sock] pugs!
On September 1, 2016, Fall weather and autumn vibe seemed to come on full force here in Vancouver BC. Along with the autumn atmosphere comes the rejuvenated desire to craft, to create product and re-open the ETSY shop and the reminder to focus on the Winter craft fair to do list. So I put away my other work…
President’s Dream Colloquium on Returning to the Teachings: Justice, Identity and Belonging sfu.ca
Photos by Rick Magnell: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Art Camp, Riske Creek/ Williams Lake Summer 2016. See: LINK From President’s Dream Colloquium on Returning to the Teachings: Justice, Identity and Belonging: “Justice, identity and belonging are central indicators of health and well-being. Founded on the ideal of a pluralistic society, Canada faces significant equity challenges in upholding…
The importance of @Lin_Manuel’s creative process
— Show attendees, reporters, politicians, historians, authors, social media, voices in the street, voices in the theatre, dancers, actors, musicians, artists, the fans lining up for 100 hours, our hearts are screaming that Hamilton “the most astonishing thing I have ever seen.” Including my household! WE ARE OBSESSED!!! “It’s fair to say that “Hamilton” is quickly…
That is a step on which… #creativeprocess
I was working on my Molly project today— contemplating a slightly new format, to reconstruct the prologue. The idea came out of the first weekly mini writer’s retreat that I started last Monday with my soul-sister, Patti Henderson: Patti encouraged me to attack the material in a new way. I love how collaborative dialogue can push, pull, inspire. Afterwards, perseverating…
Same tools, same instructions, all equal, all different. O.W.L.
The OWL is a POWERFUL image and I use it all the time in my work. The form of the OWL itself is very conducive to teaching the principles of drawing. The direction quickly create an engaging and intense gaze, drawing both the student and the observer in. By Aug 24, I’ll have led approx 225 people…
We are made of star-stuff…
To get myself realigned and prepared for diving into writing/drawing/reflection, I check in with my Church that is Frida Kahlo and let the stream of consciousness flow. Head to heart to hand. To prepare for output, there must be some quiet me time, input. Some meditation. And for me that is the private act of…
SOME PORTRAITS OF GRIEF.
For me, it is impossible to quantify grief. To qualify it. To define it. It comes as a surprise. It comes as a wave. It comes suddenly. Or it comes on slow. It can feel like nostalgia, anger, sadness, gratitude, drowning. It can be triggered. It can be low grade. It can be reassuring. It can…
You had the opportunity last month to end up not recognizing yourself.
This past weekend I have had a bit of that existential-post-trip-out-of-body-kind-of-weirdness-needing-to-contract feeling. [Thanks to my soul sister, Patti Henderson], I check in with the Power Path regularly (especially when I feel like this) as a tool/guide. I am reminded of the July 2016 forecast: “Radical personal transformation is possible. Start with taking care of yourself, loving…
It takes no compromise to give people their rights… – Harvey Milk
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights… it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” ― Harvey Milk —
Williams Lake/ Punky Lake Summer 2016 Art Camp Diary- Part 6: the photographer
Recall: Preview Part 1: Preparation Part 2: Travel Part 3: Art Camp Day 1 Part 4: Art Camp Day 2 Part 5: Art Camp Day 3 — Part 6: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Summer 2016 Art Camp- the photographer What a treat it was to be joined by photographer Rick Magnell of Magnell Photography on Days…
Williams Lake/ Punky Lake Summer 2016 Diary- Part 5: Day 3 Celebration
Recall: Preview Part 1: Preparation Part 2: Travel Part 3: Art Camp Day 1 Part 4: Art Camp Day 2 — Part 5: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Summer 2016 Art Camp Day 3- Celebration — Sitting here in my lovely hotel room organizing supplies and reflecting on this week… — It was the…
Williams Lake/ Punky Lake Summer 2016 Diary- Part 4: Day 2 The Wall
Recall: Part 3- Day 1 Today: Williams Lake/ Punky Lake Summer 2016 Diary- Part 4: Day 2 The Wall It doesn’t take long to make connections and on the morning of Day 2 it was evident we were all a connected and creative group building new bonds and friendships! (Portrait of youth participant from photo…
Williams Lake/ Punky Lake Summer 2016 Diary- Part 3: Day 1
Recall: Preview Part 1: Preparation Part 2: Travel Part 3: Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society Summer 2016 Art Camp Day 1 Executive Director Sarah Jackman picked me up this morning… … and drove me through extraordinary scenery… … to the Old School Training and Recreation Complex in Riske Creek. First days are always about gaining trust and…
Catacomb of Veils- Burning Man 2016, Part 4 of 4: The Scope
Part 4 of 4: THE SCOPE Catacomb of Veils will be the largest art piece at Burning Man 2016 and one of the largest burned sculptures in the history of the event. Everyone participating in the creation of Catacomb is all-volunteer with a commitment to the transformative power of temporary art. – [SOURCE] Recall: Part…
Catacomb of Veils- Burning Man 2016, Part 3 of 4: The Team
Catacomb of Veils will be the largest art piece at Burning Man 2016 and one of the largest burned sculptures in the history of the event. Everyone participating in the creation of Catacomb is all-volunteer with a commitment to the transformative power of temporary art. – [SOURCE] Recall: Part 1: The Project Part 2: The…
Catacomb of Veils- Burning Man 2016, Part 2 of 4: The Inspiration
Recall Part 1: The Project Catacomb of Veils will be the largest art piece at Burning Man 2016 and one of the largest burned sculptures in the history of the event. Everyone participating in the creation of Catacomb is all-volunteer with a commitment to the transformative power of temporary art. – SOURCE Part 2 of…
Catacomb of Veils – Burning Man 2016, Part 1 of 4: The Project
Something extraordinary is underway in San Francisco: Catacombs of Veils. Catacomb of Veils will be the largest art piece at Burning Man 2016 and one of the largest burned sculptures in the history of the event. Everyone participating in the creation of Catacomb is all-volunteer with a commitment to the transformative power of temporary…
Journal exercise: self-care and self-compassion
Journal exercise: What does self-care and self-compassion mean to you? How are they different? How are they the same? — Inspired by conversations of late, I am intrigued by the differences between SELF-CARE and SELF-COMPASSION. — — In health care, self care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated. [source]…
Caress the detail, the divine detail. Language play.
I don’t consider myself a writer by any means. I am a visual artist inspired by the written word. I love gathering sources, collecting, researching, gathering. I love reading and feeling the creative process of the writer. I enjoy contemplating interpretation- how small changes in presentation and how collaging and mish-mashing can alter meaning and…
The heart of communication is to observe, wait and listen…
A major part of my role in any workshop that I facilitate is CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT. I am currently sitting at gate B25 at the airport in Toronto prepping to head home after an incredible experience co-delivering workshops that address challenges and provide staff team training in a particular residential living community. — — To engage…
The objects are the context from which I draw clues.
What happens when a case is very old, when much of its physical evidence is deteriorated or destroyed, and its main players long deceased? How do we investigate? For me it is all about the historical context. When I work on Molly, I step into the 1940’s through books, research, primary sources. And I do it…
The Social Weaver and collaborative practice
During a prep session today for an upcoming World Café on collaborative practice, the three of us wanted to identify an animal that represents the theme of collaborative living. The plan is that I will then add drawings of this animal to the large mind map I will be creating during the World Café session…
In place of death there was light.
I am preparing myself to draw my mother’s “death mask” from the photo my son took after she passed on November 8, 2008. I have been preparing for awhile. I know the process will be an important and necessary one for me personally. I think about it often. It’s not about needing to work on something…
The permanent analogy of things by images which participate in the life of truth.
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.” ― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar What am I trying to convey in my work? Is it of value? Does it matter? I remind myself that it doesn’t, that it CANNOT MATTER how I “fit…
Special sale: Dead Bird Collection- embroidered drawings
I am a BIG BIG fan of symbology, imagery and metaphor. I feed on it like some kind of voracious vampire. As I was collecting a few books from my personal library to donate to our local community mini library, I pulled out an old book I had forgotten about. Oh, how I love…