Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Mystery Solved!



At the fair, I fell in love with a print that I saw in the Hispanic Village. A lovely man tried his best his best to sell it or one like it to me and if I sold even one more necklace... When I told Raine about it, she said she though she had seen it in a store here in town and last weekend she bought it for me!! How's that for a fairy god mother? It is the most unusual print. When I found out who did it, I googled the artist, Octavio Ocampo and fell in love with his whole collection. Okay maybe not the Jesus (hanging on the cross or crying one) or the creepy Mona Lisa cat thing, but most of them. anyway. Don Quixote is my new favorite. And Jimmy Carter is really cool with the cities and builidings and James Dean done with cars, this guy rocks!
I have always loved optical illusions. Loved the hidden picture pages in Highlights. Can't really do those dots ones that look like something from one direction and then you can see others things when you squint or move it of whatever, but loved the way they were done.
His stuff really makes me think about the whole "we of me". I am pretty sure that is from a book I read in my misspent youth, or I may have made it up or heard it somewhere else. I think the book was called "Members of the Wedding" or something like that. I know, I know there is this great data base in the sky. That's where the Internet is, isn't it? Next door to Heaven? Or maybe it is heaven? OMG, geeks run heaven!! I knew it, that's why it is so hard for me to figure out important stuff. I digress.
I always think about the "we of me" when someone leaves my life for any reason. My friend Regina has this great quote on her blog about being sad when you loose your daddy 'cuz that's one less person that makes up who you are or something like that . It really made me think the first time I read it and I should remember who wrote it to make note here. I know, I know, google it, but then I would have to stop this train of thought and once the train stops these days, I am SOL at getting back on track. See, I digress.
I want to start thinking about the "we of me" with each encounter. Each person I meet should contribute something to who I am. It's that either a good example or horrible warning thing. But then would that make me too scattered? Can I actually learn something from each person I meet? If you look closely at the not so wonderful picture I took of my new wonderful print, you can see that each part of every feature of her face is made up of other people. I kept taking pictures because I wanted to be able to really share how interesting it is, but they still don't show everything. And I haven't added the glitter yet! I digress.
The eyes fascinate me the most. It is 2 different peasants and her chin is a pope giving her roses which become her lips. How often do others see others in us like that? Good or bad? Other than family resemblances? Close up or at a distance? But then would we all end up looking like something Picasso did? But that wouldn't be so bad would it? I digress.
But on the other hand, it could just be like the Chenille Sisters song -Pizza Deliverance- about finding the face of the virgin in a pizza (just another cheesy shrine) and having all the town and newspaper and reporters there and everyone being in awe until a little boy takes a bite and starts to share, there is a little bit of god (I say others) in us all.
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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Incredible generosity

This is at the beach at LaJolla, California. It reminds me that life is like this, while you are seeing beauty around you and can see the greater beauty waiting for you, you might have to pass through some tight places to get to the next part. You can't loose track of where you are and what is in store for you, even in the tight places.

This is the link to Tara Bradford's blog: http://parisparfait.typepad.com. She is a very gifted writer who brings to light political points, showcases artists' work and shares her amazing poetry. However, today and for the last few days, I have been given the opportunity to be a guest writer on her blog. My ramblings about my state fair experience/nightmare/life lesson have graciously been posted to encourage me to start blogging. I have known incredible generosity in my life and she is right up there. Thanks Tara.

Isn't this whole blog community amazing? Not only has it expanded my circle of friends, it has changed the way I look at the everyday in my life and helped me understand everyone's everyday is very different and very wonderful. The conversations and comments are virtual presents for my soul. So I thank you for your incredible generosity and for encouraging me, those near and far, you know who you are...

I only hope I am not boring! That is my greatest fear, especially after my state fair experience/nightmare/life lesson. Everyday life isn't nearly as entertaining. And I am grateful for that, I don't think I could stand the state fair experience/nightmare/life lesson every day!

I found this quote on another generous soul's blog: "once we believe in ourself, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any other experience that reveals the human spirit." e.e. cummings

Here's to risking...with the incredible generosity of friends!!
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Saturday, September 22, 2007

Did I mention I like rocks?

This is the Nature alter that I created on the beach at Fort Warden last year when I was at ArtFest. It was part of one of the best classes I ever took, Anahata Katkin's Creative Instincts. We went to the beach as a class in the morning and built our own alters, took pictures of them and then created art in the afternoon based on those alters. Most people brought back one or two of the things from their alters, some left them there. Not me, I brought back every single rock, pebble or piece of kelp. And reassembled them into an alter so my house mates could see. And packed them in my suitcase and brought them all home to New Mexico - yes we have rocks here, but these were special enough to pay the extra weight fee for my extra heavy suitcase. They are very different than the rocks I pick up around here. They are smooth from the water and have a slightly salty smell and ooohhhh, the colors! Lime green, teal blue, almost white, smoky grey. One is almost square, another egg shape, each so unique is was worth every penny it cost to get them home. Hey, I brought home shells too, to offset the weight, okay?

I have lots and lots of New Mexican rocks and lots of rocks from Colorado and even some I brought back from the streets of Paris and the white cliffs of Dover. I will continue to bring them in and give them special places so I can see them. I do wonder sometimes if I will know when enough is enough. Or is it more is better? Did I mention I like rocks?

PS: I did it!! Figured out how to put a picture in. I'm blogging now, oh yeah...
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Friday, September 21, 2007

Here I am!

First day of fall, first day of a new adventure.
Okay boys and girls, here I am! I've tried a Live Journal and used it more of a photoblog than a regular blog and didn't keep it up and so here I am on blogger, with an addition. My Live Journal was Look What Leather Lips Sees and now I have added that little "and Says" so I will have that prompt to remember to put words with the pictures.
I am not a journaler, more of a talker, but have just finished 5 days at the fair and wrote down my thoughts each day and people seem to like it so here I am, writing! Whoda thunk it? And as soon as I figure out how, there will be an image thrown in so I don't feel like I've completely left my comfort zone!
And how amazing is it that in my Foundation for a Better Life quote of the day is:

“ If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ”

- Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
Dutch painter, post-impressionist