"The Call" by Remedios Varo
To me the real question about whether or not to make New Year's Resolutions is simple: No. I don't do that.
What I do is review the prior year and project what I wish to accomplish in the coming year.
Many divergent areas of my life are considered. Have I been the Mother I need to be in 2008 and what can I do better in 2009? Not just say "I will be a better Mother" - but, specifically, what are the actions I can do to make that occur. I can turn off the music in the car and actually have a conversation with the children while we are enduring the endless pick-up/drop-off phase of our lives. I can instigate conversations and ask what their opinions are and why. I can NOT turn every conversation into a lecture. I can listen. I can color more with my 6 year old.
In my marriage I could make dinner a few more times a week and I can turn off my computer and sit and hold his hand while he watches TV. I can play some Wii golf WITH him instead of reading on the couch. I could go work in the yard with him instead of holing up in the studio on the weekend. We could start doing some of the things we both love to do: hiking, nature photography, playing cards, and Scrabble.
As a sister I could call my siblings more frequently. As a daughter I could take some time to mail my mom cards and hand-written notes as she does not do e-mail. I can collect things I know she will love and always have a gift bag ready for any time I see her.
If 2009 is this cabinet - I get to fill it with all the dreams I have and hope to accomplish:
1. Better actions as a mother and wife
2. More completed artworks/applying for grants/fellowships and to VISIT real art again - a major trip for art viewing
3. More shows to share my artwork
4. I could finish posting my Etsy shop so people don't have to beg me to sell things.
5. Start my series about my Italian experiences
6. Get more active on my own blog ;) - pursue my writing with a more defined goal, write some of those memoir stories for myself and then decide if I want to share with others
7. Nurture and maintain my new and old friendships
8. Take time to reflect on my own life and the balance of my selfs: physical, spiritual, creative, and dreaming
9. Become more fully who I am intended to be
10. Make sure I am following MY CALLING
Read MoreThe Excavation UNEARTH Series - Encaustic Paintings & Assemblages
UNEARTH
Encaustic on Watercolor Paper on Wood, Mica, River Rocks
15.25”h x 19”w
2006 - Private Collection of John Svara/Haven Kimmel
Statement on Series, of which UNEARTH was the 'focal' piece . . . This body of work, titled Excavations, is an ongoing exploration of archaeological content begun in 2004. It includes 3 sub-categories: but I will focus on Identification of Personal Archeology for this posting.
These works explore and integrate both my personal and cultural iconography. Repeated media includes encaustic (molten wax with pigment) and found objects on wood. I choose to work in encaustic for its properties of luminosity and layering, as well as its flexibility with mixed media. The found objects represent personal associations of childhood [in UNEARTH the river rocks are like the ones on my Grandfather's Indiana Farm and the mica was actually found, in its natural rock state, while hiking in North Georgia, as I peeled the layers apart, it metaphorically revealed the translucency of my life/humanity], as well as the broadened idea of cultural experiences. By exploring contemporary interpretations and pushing the limits of idea, material, and presentation, I celebrate the sacredness as well as the irony of the objects.
Here is a link to an Essay regarding my theories on Eco-psychology, which was the impetus for the Diptych UNEARTH.
http://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a00e54eea3ea0883400e54eea3ea38834/post/6a00e54eea3ea0883400e550033d268833/edit
More specifically, what I do is question what sparks my childhood interests and then delve into that from every direction . . . archaeology blows my mind - not just the history but the literal physical act of searching, digging, failing, revealing.
The organic lines UNEARTH are actual topographic lines and the grid is created from real archaeological screening material (my kids took a Summer Archaeological class at the college I taught at in FLORIDA) . . . that sifting can reveal many things - trash, organic manner, man-made relics, etc. - - by overlaying the translucent theories of virtual psychological archaeology with the empirical science of archaeology, using personal icons from my childhood & beyond, this came up.
The blue squares contained in the grid represent the metaphorical "treasures" found (and is the same way that found items are recorded by archaeologist's).
Other works in the EXCAVATION series include:
Reliquary, 7"h x 18"w x 11"d. Encaustic on Watercolor Paper on Pine Wine Box, Sliding Box Top, Interior contains black river rocks. Floor Installation. AVAILABLE.
Open view of SLICE OF LIFE, altered Wine Storage Box, Private Collection: John W. & Sarah MacMullen.
Closed view of SLICE OF LIFE.
14"h x 8"w x 3"d
Read More
INCENDIARY (above, right)
Souvenier Matchbox, Matches, Mica, Encaustic in Found Box
Opened size: 10” x 5”
2006 - AVAILABLE
SAFETY ISSUES (left)
Box, Safety Pins (personal icon of artist), Encaustic, Rusted Mesh, Iron Tacks
4" x 8.25" open
2006 - AVAILABLE
Remnants of Truth (left)
Encaustic, Box, Wire, Rice Paper, Oil Pastel, Found Wire from East Green (Central Park)
2006
Available 6"x 8.25" (open)
Hope you enjoy!