Brooklyn Bound- Revisited

Inspiration can strike anywhere.  An old acquaintance's Facebook post caught my eye.  She was elegantly dressed to catch a train to party in New York. While lamenting the fact that my middle age life did not include such excitement I asked her if I could "appropriate" the photo as inspiration for a collage.  She graciously gave permission. (While it is not illegal to 'borrow' photos in the public domain,  I feel it, it is only proper to ask to use someone's image or take their photo.)

A lovely family came in and bought not one, but TWO of my pieces.  I was thrilled and jestingly asked if they would send me a photo of my art in their new home as I like to see where they land. Not long after - I received this from John.

Hi Theresa,

We like your work very much. When did you make it? This year?

When I first saw your collage I liked it a lot because I saw a rare young woman I thought I recognized -- one with a defined sense of personal style that was somewhat daring confident and casual. I went back to see how you'd made it and liked it even more because what I'd first taken to be carefully drawn and painted, actually seemed to be brilliantly dyed draped and stitched! I admired the intensity you captured in your friend. And I think your medium of collage is so apt simple and surprisingly evocative of flesh blood and spirit. It pops with life and I love looking at it.

 

...

 

Sure you can use the photo.  You're pretty good to make me see your friend the way you see her.  She sounds like a special person. John

You are too, John. You are too.

PS- Blogger & artist Seth Apter is running a "Living with Art" series one his blog right now.  A corner of my living room is lucky  enough to be featured in an upcoming edition. Stay tuned!

Doing the obvious

Amazing how you get results when you actually do the work on the front end.  Drove around the beltway in rush hour traffic got to meet Seth Apter of the Altered Page.  Thoroughly enjoyed his talk and his book "The Pulse of Mixed Media".  Actually submitted a piece to his latest series "Playing Favorites" and lo and behold, I got featured!  Thanks Seth!  See all the details here .

 

 

Took my girl to look at her first college. Frankly she was having a hard time connecting her efforts to "what might happen two years from now".  Walking around campus, talking to professors, counselors and students (all who were very welcoming and patient with questions) made the concept of assembling a portfolio and thinking hard about what she wants to be when she grows up a little more real.  So connecting the dots there is exciting.  Frankly I am little jealous I was always She Who Does the Practical and Sensible Thing.  Like not studying sociology in school and then ending up being a headhunter for 20 years.  Think that field of study might have informed my living?  Perhaps!  If I knew then what I know (or think I know now)...

 

I was walking around last week with this sinking feeling that I was missing something so I spent three solid days deleting and responding to emails.  There still seem to be hundreds of things to do but at least I know what they are now.  I can only hope that the time investment will pay off . I would much rather be looking my clients in the eye rather than my inbox.  I KNOW email is an effective way to communicate, but I still haven't figured out how to juggle it all...

 

My artistic reality of the week?  Uh, does thinking about going to my studio count?  Am thinking not.  I use a calender that starts the week on Monday.  So tomorrow back to the schedule. 

CREATE, Recreate, & Road Trip!

 ROAD TRIP!  Gotta tell you when I expressed my dismay at schlepping my truck load o' mixed media art supplies and "stuff" to be a vendor at the 1st CREATE retreat in NJ all by myself, I was shocked that my 13 year old son said, "Mom, I'll come help you; it will be fun."   "Dude, it's a 4 hour drive, and being my personal Sherpa, and being nice to old ladies like me.  Ya sure?"   "Do we get to stay in a hotel?"  "Yes."  "Do they have a pool and a jacuzzi? Can we order room service? And watch movies until midnight?"  "Yes, son, but no room service, the food is always cold; but we can eat at the restaurant downstairs."  "OK, count me in!"

 So off , we went!  Me being VERY mindful of making it fun, when I was the one doing all the driving.
Especially when a tractor trailer overturned on the NJ turnpike.  Happily thanks to modern technology, (bless you oh Traffic App!) we took a bucolic alternate route and arrived in fine time.  Got checked in, met some new pals at the show. Chatted up the College Closet folks and author Seth Apter (who I had recently met at Judith Heartsong's This Way Up Art Salon.  Gave away door prizes to the happy mother daughter pair below who had flown in from Europe for the event: WOW!  Got to meet the staff from Cloth, Paper, Scissors Magazine, awesome ladies all.  Was especially tickled to meet Editor Jenn Mason, who encouraged me to submit to the magazine!  As I have always threatened to submit, it was thrilling to have an unsolicited compliment!

 Not so fun? The tepid Jacuzzi and Monty Python-like Championship Hotel Hallway Door Slamming Event that went on until 2 am.   Way fun?  My son convincing me that "The X-Men" counted as a fine movie SERIES to stay up all night and watch, while the doors slammed and toddlers wailed outside until 2 am.  Even more exciting? Knowing Bob was holding down the fort back at the shop so I could make some new connections.                 Unforgettable?  Our non-stop conversation there, during, and back.  It's heartening to know that  you are raising a kid that you not only love but actually like. 

We talked about the funky carpet pattern and how it was all different yet connected.  Like people.  That knowledge was tested when we returned home and were told the terrible news that a beloved friend had committed suicide.  After a week of numb disbelief we tearfully attended his funeral and now pray daily for all of the people that love Mark to gather strength to face another day. 

Including us.