Hello groovy, moovy creative "beans"~
I have been thinking about goals. Sometimes we have too many and we don't know where to start. I have been feeling this way lately. There are things that I have to do for school and things that I want to do with my art for myself, without having to "contextualize" (a hot ticket Goddard word) it. It has also been hard to let work flow out when I know that I am going to have to articulate it into a paper for school, even though this deep reflection brings me more clarity. It is HARD! Today I decided to work on what I wanted to, without expectations for myself. Just for fun, just to play. This is when I am most free and most comfortable. Maybe one of my goals needs to be to play more. Play is one of the themes in Tina's work and we have been talking about it. Here is a link that she sent me that I think you might find interesting. It talks about play from a scientific point of view. http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/play/index.shtml If you should listen to it I would be curious to know what you think. Do any of you have ways in which you "play" as an adult?
- I will post my microMOVEments for the week in the comments section, as well as let you know what I have done in the form of "moving" forward with them. I would encourage anyone who would like to post a goal and a small, gentle movement for the week here. If you need a refresher on what this is refer to last monday's post "gentle movement". Even just setting a goal, or making the smallest movement can make you feel good and be inspiring to someone else. So many people underestimate what they say and or what they do. Others may need to hear what you are thinking about. I am sending you a week of excessive "play"! Rock on groovy "beans"....
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Checking in from last week:
* learn Photoshop: moved to this week, so it is the same, open up one of the instructional videos and watch 10 minutes of it.
* work with my pastels: I went out and did a small study of the clouds moving with my pastels. I was so inspired by it that I did a larger version on a wood panel in acrylic paint.
*work on my writing: I read five pages of "Wild Mind" and wrote more descripively in my journal as a result. I also have written a bunch of not great writing, but I do believe that this gets the junk out of your head and helps you "study your mind" as Natalie Goldberg states.
This weeks movements:
* Same as above with Photoshop
* Five more pages of "Wild Mind"
* Try another cloud study (5 minutes or less)
I will look forward to hearing from everyone!
Cheery Smiles, Laura
How did it happen that we stopped playing? It is intrinsic, I think, but we succumbed to whatever or whoever and pushed it deep down. Now, play means more than it ever did, and it doesn't have to take much time. Its forms can be as simple as something that makes me smile or as profound as having a "deep" conversation with a two year old. Here's to more play time! Annette
Hello All!
Through experiencing Goddard I have been encouraged to seek my central questions about this world and use art as a method to find the answers (which I am finding to be multi-layered and complex).
One of my central questions in my artwork/life is this aspect of play. I have two sons who use undirected play as a way to ask questions and explore the world in which they exist. Everything is so concrete in their world, but they often wonder about the big ideas. It is their questions that make me reflect at a deeper level than I had before.
On Friday Aidan asked me "Mom....where does the ocean end?" and then Olin said "Mom...where is space?" "why do they call it space?" and then "if Pluto was on the ground here, space would still be really far away...".
My hope is that they do not lose this ability to ask the hard questions and see themselves as a small part of something bigger going on around them. I am currently working on a series of work based on the idea of play and will share it once I am finished if anyone is interested.
My goals for this week are:
1. organize my calendar to incorporate everything I need to do instead of keeping this all separate (iCal on my computer is helping a lot).
2. Do my Daily Dose project every day this week. I take 10 minutes to make a small collage (3 inch square) from the flotsam of my life and experiences of the day.
3. get my hair cut (talk about procrastination...it has been six months since my last cut!)
I will check in next week to post how I did. I look forward to other's goals for the week.
Tina
Also, I have a website if anyone is interested www.tinahirsig.com
Does anyone else have a website?
hello everyone,
how funny - i got an email from my friend darci today that end with this: it seems toooooo coincidental for goodness sakes! -
she said - "okay have a good monday! Dave FINALLY got home last night and we are going to play today!"
play! what a great thing to do to let yourself go and be free.. (reading the artist's way & this artful garden - i have been seeing connections more & more clearly - and feel an excitement in my heart about life, creativity and all it's possibilities. my play includes daydreaming -
a few days ago - daydreaming in bed - looking out the window without my contacts or glasses on (i am sooo very near sighted) from our 2nd floor apt. the two big trees out my window looked like 2 green mountains :) that's a different perspective for me - i've never lived near the mtns.
sometimes i get an urge to be silly - either tickling chad - when he least expects it or singing in the shower.. are great releases for me and feel like play to me.
tina - what a great idea to explore play in your life through your artwork - i'm looking forward to seeing your finished work - and i love the questions your sons ask - what a great feeling that must be to know they are such thoughtful boys - who feel they can wonder and question with you :)
and thank you for the link to your website. i am in love with your daily dose! it's a quiet afternoon here at work and this glimpse into your life and art is a wonderful escape on this rainy day. the collaboration between you and laura is also such a great idea - what beautiful, beautiful music you two make together! :)
this artful garden with all of your insights and explorations is such a great inspiration - i don't think i can say it enough.
on saturday i was motivated to begin clearing out the spare bedroom - to create a little studio space for myself. boxes of papers from our last move - 8 months ago! deep within the junk mail -1 concert ticket stub, 1 movie ticket stub, tons of to do lists - all memories of a time i don't think would've crossed my mind - until that day when i began to clear out the clutter.. there is also a fooze ball table in my room - to big to move by myself - and fit through the door- we have to take it apart - so for now, i've covered it with a sheet and arranged some drawing pads and papers on it. it's not finished.. still no photographs or paintings on the walls.. but tina & laura - i am motivated to begin my own inspiration wall - to spark my creativity and light up the room for me to get busy!
so, this week i will:
- continue to fix up my room -
- ink up one of my prints that i've been working on, but haven't finished - a starfish
- send a letter that i've written to my friend darci - i wrote it last week but have neglected to actually mail it!
it makes me feel like saying - look out week, here i come ;)
One of the greatest methods of play for me is creating spaces. I am forever in search of a new arrangement of furniture, art on the walls and rugs on the floor. The joke in my house is that if you don't like how it looks just wait a week!
My gentle movement has been to "play" in my office. It had been taken over by my children as they are often on the computer and the computer was at my desk...so I therefore lost my space! Every time I would go in there it was so cluttered and disorganized it was all I could do to escape as fast as I could!
So, yesterday I did a "clean sweep" ( I am a HGTV junkie!) and cleared everything out of the room. I moved the computer into another room and created a technology free zone! It was so cleansing! Of course now everything is in the room next door, but it allowed me to start with a clean canvas. I moved the desk, brought up an old couch from the basement, moved my bookshelves and created a working space for reading, writing, homework and art. I have all my art supplies in the closet and today I spent the day going through the mountains of paperwork from my courses from last fall and this past summer.
The gifts were the random photos of my now 11 year old with his bottle in his mouth on the porch at our old house...at 18 months old. Always a trip down memory lane and as I read about Aiden's questions I am reminded of those days when every word, every thought is so important and so profound!! (Unfortunately as you get into the world of teenagers, attitude takes over and every word is not quite so treasured!!)
Anyway, now I am thinking of painting the room and although it is somewhat put together I think I am going to dedicate one wall to the artwork and writing of my kids and myself...any suggestions for how to bring this together?? How do I do this without making it junky?
There is an energy in creating spaces that I just thrive on. I do this every year at this time because I don't have the classroom to go in and make my own, so I always choose a room in the house to change! Last year it was a bright orange that covered our living room. It is bold and beautiful and my favorite room in the house...but how do you top that? What color will allow me to feel the serenity of creating...the peace to be calm and a good background for a wide range of artwork? Ahhh...such big ideas I always have... but in honor of the little steps it is a start.
Goals for the week...include getting all of my courses organized and ready as I start teaching this week.
To work on my writing...two pages a day.
To meet with my writing partner for inspiration.
To continue to play with the idea of wall colors and creating a wall of expression.
I think that is good for the week. I look forward to finding out how everyone does!!
Tina, I just visited your website and I agree with Aimee that it is quite a treat. I love how you use so many different mediums together. I have always thought that if I were to do more art it would be in the form of collage. I lOVE you Daily Doses as that seems to be something manageable...3 x 3's were they? And so much in those little thumbnails. I think your idea wall may have also started me on some thoughts about my wall of expression!!
I also love how you and Laura collaborated. Beautiful! I could not read the comments though...it said I was "forbidden" and well, of course, that made me want to read them all the more.
Keep creating ladies!
Tomasen
Checking in from last week I found a great quote for my book for my daughter...
"Not everyone can be famous, but everyone can be great, because greatness is determined by service."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
I liked it because I believe strongly in the idea of giving back to others and I hope it is an ideal that Bella grows up to share as well.
Tina- as a new mom and former teacher your work absolutely facinates me! I love to think about the world through little ones' eyes and I sometimes think that they have a clearer view than we do as adults. Your essential question of play is so thought provoking... I've always valued undirected play so much for my students and now my daughter, but your post made me think about how I don't value it enough for myself. I also checked out your web site and was very inspired. I especially love the collaborative work you and Laura did together. What a creative force!
Tomasen- one idea for your "Wall of Inspiration" (-a fabulous idea). Use all frames of the same color or style. You can use variouse shapes and sizes, but if the frames all have something in common it will unify the look of the wall somewhat and it won't look as scattered. Target also has these great shadow box frames that you can open up and pin things inside. That would be a great place to have a rotating display - new pictures, photos, qutoes, clippings, etc that inspire you on a daily or weekly basis. Since you could always be changing it, it could help your wall really come to life as it would always be growing & changing.
OK... so my goals for this week:
*find another strong quote for Bella's book
*Read 50 pages of the book I am currently reading (Eat, Love, Pray - thanks for the recommendation Tomasen! I just finished The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and strongly recommend it to any of you readers out there)
*Come up with a plan of how and where to make a craft area in my house so that my supplies can come out from the box under the guest bed and have a permenant, organized space to be in and so that I can have a clean surface on which to create.
May the rest of the week bring you all health, smiles, and PLAY TIME! I am honored to be part of such a special group of women. This poem inspires me and I hope it does for you all as well...
PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by, Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then the swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Hey Liz~
Thank you so much for the poem! I have this strong yearning to read Maya Angelou again. I have all of her books in bins in the basement and lately I feel like I want to pull them all out. I felt the same way when Brenda mentioned the "Art" book. Tomasen's story made me think of that book too. I went to Borders today and bought the Frog and Toad trilogy. I haven't read it in years, but for some reason wanted to~weird!
Tomasen~I too am a big fan of HGTV and love the "clean sweep". I was thinking about your room and wondered what colors made you smile. Believe it or not, I have a burnt orange living room too! Brett surprised me and painted one of our bathrooms a blue called coventry blue (I will double check if you are interested) from Benjamin Moore. It is a fun, yet somewhat soothing color that reminds me of the carribean ocean and Brett's blue-green eyes. I loved Liz's idea about the frames from Target for your idea board, they always have such good frames and ideas there. Another idea(from Target as well~Liz and I are big fans) might be to use bulletin boards. I have large bulletin boards in my studio hung vertically next to each other. I use them to pin up ideas, things I love, inspriration, artwork, etc... I painted the frames on them black but you could leave them plain or paint them colors to go with your room. They are simple, hold a lot and I can change them easily, so it depends on what meets your needs.
You guys have motivated me to get more organized in my studio and I finally got magazine holders for my endless addiction, as well as getting rid of any unnecessary catalogs, and what not. It felt soooo good! Does anyone know where to get a good closet organizer? My studio closet is next on my list!
This is the first time in several weeks I have found a few minutes to comment. My post probably should be put somewhere else, but I am leaving it here nonetheless.
So I decided today that I am going to play afterschool by staying after with the group of teachers who come to paint, draw, whatever once a week. It seems now that I have a child I feel guilty whenever I stay after school for something I am not required to do, even though I know that taking time for me is going to make me a better mom for him. Gotta let go of that guilt. Anyway...I decided that I need to play after all the work I have been doing. I also made a decision recently that I would not participate in this potter's market that I had signed up for. I had planned to work in my studio this summer making lots of clay pieces to sell. Low and behold life threw a giant roadblock in front of me. My husband was diagnosed with lyme meningitis and has been out of work since the end of June. My life has been consumed by taking care of him, our son, our house, and our other everyday and long term responsibilities. That has left basically little to no time for the studio. The last couple of weeks I started to get nervous thinking of all the pottery I didn't do and how the potter's market was coming up and how was I going to manage it all, etc. I decided not to manage it and drop out. I realized that even though this was meant to be a creative outlet for me, now that I felt the deadline looming, it was only going to stifle any creativity or inspiration I have going on in my brain right now and that it is more important for me to "play" and rejuvenate my tired spirit than to get pieces done to sell.
Jess~ I appreciated when you said, "it is more important for me to "play" and rejuvenate my tired spirit" than to get pieces done to sell". Just recognizing that the show wouldn't be healthy and satisfying for you right now must have given you a new found freedom. As you and I know things have a way of working themselves out. It was also good for you to have that time after school for yourself. Please tell everyone at Deerfield that I miss "playing" with them.
*for those of you who may not know, Jess was my very first intern many moons ago and is now teaching at Deerfield while I am on leave for grad school. She constantly wows me with her creativity and ability to balance everything in a fresh, inspiring way.
*the group that she is talking about comes after school most thursdays to "play" in the art room. When they first started coming for art lessons many of them expressed that they had no real artistic background, or had bad experiences with art in the past. Each week they would surprise me with their willingness to stretch themselves, take risks and try new things. I think that we all "fed" off each other and new ideas were born. This group is a wealth of talent. When I was with them I always felt rejuvinated and energized. Although I miss the connection and sharing of that group, I am able to find that same conection here "in the garden". I am so grateful for all that you share. Being in a new place and working from home can feel really isolating sometimes, so I appreciate being able to come here and listen to all that you have to say. Thank you! Laura
Hey everyone~Amiee and I were talking about serendipitous moments and lately she has been having them with Maya Angelou. Here is a poem that crossed her path recently that she wanted to share. It is one that I had forgotten about, but always really loved. ALWAYS feel free to post anything tha you may find interesting or inspiring. If you would like to upload it yourself, it is easy and I can give you the password and you can rock on...or email it to me and I will be MORE than happy to do it.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE…by Maya Angelou
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants
to or needs to...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date
of her dreams wants
to see her in an hour...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE....
a youth she's content to leave behind....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... ..
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black
lace bra...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by
anyone else in her
family...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and
a recipe for a
meal, that will make her guests feel honored...
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and
confront a friend without
ruining the friendship..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her
parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but
its over...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...
I had to take stock of what I had on this list. I only recently aquired eight matching plates (I have been resistant to matching plates), I am still working on the size of my hips, and I am still in search of a good recipe, but the last line made me think of Jess and how we can only do what we can do in a "day...a month...and a year..." We need to celebrate what we DO do, what ideas we have, and recogize that some days/weeks/months are better than others. Take care, Laura
p.s. Can anyone help me in the recipe department? I think that cooking can be so creative and I am lacking culinary skills...
Hi everyone...
well I have finally found a copy of The artist's way at my local library so I plan on digging in and reading! I also took out a book of Maya Angelou's called Even the Stars Look Lonesome. I'll let you know how it is when i get to it. I have a voice inside of me that says get to work Lori and create! What I am supposed to be creating is the question! I am working on a watercolor image of a butterfly and orchids in Jess's class with the group of third graders I go with. I like how slow I am forcing myself to work on it, I am working from a photo and really noticing detail I wasn't even aware of until I started looking at it closely!! Maybe this is true of life, the things that we slow down to look at are the things that most inspire our cretive journey! Speaking of noticing, I am loving this cool crisp fall air and the lighting in the sky has been amazing lately! As far as recipes go Laura, check out Stonyfield's cookbook, there are some wonderful recipes in there providing you like yogurt!! What are you looking to cook? I have a zillion recipes that I have collected over the years. You can find recipes online too and then tweak them the way you like once you get the methods down. My canned tomatoes are calling me so until I blog again...Happy Saturday!!
I love that poem... so many important reminders and so many connections for all women. It left me wondering ...
Every woman should have time...
Every woman should know how to take time...
Every woman should know how to organize time to get what she needs...
School has really begun and I am longing for the luxurious thinking time of summer. I am not accomplishing anything. I find myself in the middle of many fits and starts which right now is leaving me feeling a little blue.
Long-distance to non-existent mothering is very different - most of it is in my mind. I am enjoying memories much more, but I miss the real people.
I am falling in love with 18 new children - that takes time. I am learning about them. Trying to notice how they are in all situtations at school. There are the "loud" ones that call my attention all the time but then when I am thinking I realize there are the quiet ones who are waiting to be noticed too.
I am hoping to be able to capture them in color. I am thinking of making abstract collages of each table to capture how I see the children working together. It is a challenge to try to give each of the children a color - some are calm blues, greens and violets, some are speckled with undertones of yellow or gray, some are neon and irridescent. Some are background and some splash across the front. I am hoping to capture in words and mini-collages how the children feel to me and how we work in our space together.
It has taken me a few weeks to realize this could be my goal - the way I would work to capture and create a concrete record of our time together. Now my challenge is to place this time in with all the other demands...to make sure it happens and doesn't get pushed aside as an extra. I am curious to see how they change through the year.
I truly appreciate the sharing and the beauty of the thoughts, pictures and poems.
Thank you
Brenda
Brenda- I think it is wonderful how you are trying to incorporate your goals into the classroom by "capturing the color" of each child. Not teaching this year, has really made me embrace the free time that I do have and try to do something productive and creative with it. I miss the creativity of teaching, but not what you are talking about...the missing of the "real people" and the lack of time for your own self. I bet you can inspire other teachers to bring some personal goals of creativity and art into the classroom for their own sake, so that both they and the students will benefit.
Brenda~
I realize that it has been some time since you posted this goal but it struck a chord with me when you posted it:
I am falling in love with 18 new children - that takes time. I am learning about them. Trying to notice how they are in all situtations at school. There are the "loud" ones that call my attention all the time but then when I am thinking I realize there are the quiet ones who are waiting to be noticed too.
I am hoping to be able to capture them in color. I am thinking of making abstract collages of each table to capture how I see the children working together. It is a challenge to try to give each of the children a color - some are calm blues, greens and violets, some are speckled with undertones of yellow or gray, some are neon and irridescent. Some are background and some splash across the front. I am hoping to capture in words and mini-collages how the children feel to me and how we work in our space together.
It has taken me a few weeks to realize this could be my goal - the way I would work to capture and create a concrete record of our time together.
What I remember about being in the classroom with you at DCS was how much you observed and appreciated each student and how much I wished that I had you for a teacher when I was in school, always feeling like I was so shy and barely noticed. I wonder what color people would see me as then and now. When you first posted this I imagined an abstract puzzle of sorts that could be moved in different combinations if the children switched tables. I wondered if you were still considering this and if you see different "colors" with each of your students now that you have gotten to know them for a few months. Smiles & love, Laura
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