Oregon M.O.M., Mission of Mercy, Labor of Love

Once again, Michael and I had the privilege of being a part of MOM, helping to serve some of Portland's population, who are in great need of dental care. From 6am - 6pm we helped provide service to 1,000 people. What a labor of love.
 Thanksgiving always seems to always be a time of huge gratefulness, mixed in with some darkness for us, yet we emerge stronger for having pushed though it as a family. This year is no different. Two years ago I ironically dealt with the loss of my mom and was unable to participate in MOM. You go where you are needed. That held its sadness mixed with much richness.
 It felt so wonderful to be a part of this year's MOM event at the Convention Center, once again. It was fulfilling beyond fulfilling. For this I am grateful.

This year's recipe for Thanksgiving held some rough patches, some fears, some worries, some pain, some disappointments, some new beginnings, some successes, some great surprises, many joys, all mixed in with a lot of love. Sounds like the makings of a grateful Thanksgiving to me. And for this I am even more grateful.

http://www.kgw.com/video?id=233467241

Pain, Breaking Open, Releasing

It has been quite a while since I have written on my blog. Life wonderful wild challenging busy creating. I sit now struggling with a migraine that came the morning after dancing, with passion and fervor Tuesday night, to Mary Oliver's Blue Iris. I had been away from dance for a few weeks spending my amazing and unforgettable 60th birthday in Kauai, that was filled with never ending surprises, joy and richness beyond words, as my family one by one showed up to surprise me and celebrate and then arranging the ultimate surprise, renewing our wedding vows, with my beloved of almost 37 years, on my favorite beach, sun setting, with my loved ones surrounding us. It was the wedding celebration of a lifetime. I am beyond blessed. So here I sit, struggling through pain after pleasure, always questioning why. I ponder the poem that we danced. Mary Oliver's words are quite profound and moved me deeply. As I begin my 6th decade, there is so far to go, yet I have come so far. This poem gives me much to ponder, and even when the dancing and the pain have moved through me, I will still be lingering on these words of hers..... 

"Blue Iris"

Now that I'm free to be myself, who am I?

Can't fly, can't run and see how slowly I walk.

Well, I think, I can read books.

"What's that you're doing?"

the green-headed fly shouts as it buzzes past.

I close the book.

Well, I can write down words, like these, softly.

"What's that you're doing?" whispers the wind, pausing

in a heap just outside the window.

Give me a little time, I say back to its staring, silver face.

It doesn't happen all of a sudden, you know.

"Doesn't it?" says the wind, and breaks open, releasing

distillation of blue iris.

And my heart panics not to be, as I long to be,

the empty, waiting, pure, speechless receptacle.

~Mary Oliver~

"Doesn't it?" says the wind, and breaks open, releasing" was my line. It made me think of the palm trees surrounding me in Kauai, and the strong winds and rain that would blow through them each day for a brief time. They would bend, and dance with the wind, never losing site of the grounded rootedness, trusting that the wind and rain was temporary and they would stand tall and unscathed once again. It would pass and they had the wisdom to trust this. There were also skeleton-like trees that seemed unmoved by the wind and rain. It just passed through them by design. Someone once told me, that when faced with problems, challenges, questions....look to nature for the answers. I am trying to trust that the pain will blow over soon and that I will remain unscathed, although when it comes it seems as though it will last forever. When I feel good, I feel attached to it, and don't want it to end.  I will remain rooted. I will not let the winds of pain uproot me. I might feel like I am breaking, breaking down, breaking open, but maybe this is part of the releasing, the breaking through.  I must trust in this.

Process and Progress, Working Toward My February Solo Show

The Kiln Goddess Was On My Side!

Reflections on Sedona

Life has been so fast track lately, all good, but I had yet to have a moment to reflect back on my amazing excursion to Sedona, with one of my favorite travel buddies Jenni. As with every trip, I feel closer and deeper growing love and connectedness to her. Just when I think it can't get any richer, it does! We shared many hikes, and explored new places in the amazingly colored landscape of Sedona. I was pushed to new heights (literally) and my comfort zone and vision was expanded, as only Jenni can bring out in me. It was beyond amazing, and I will cherish it always. When the concierge gave us our maps with vortex points labelled and with some suggested hikes, we agreed we would "create our own legend"! (not unlike the book I was reading at the time, The Alchemist). 

We hiked, explored, built cairns, ate, laughed, shared stories, traversed creeks, Nurse Jenni fashioned a bandage for my toe from a Lara bar wrapper and hair tie!, sipped Margaritas, posed with sculptures in the night, swam, soaked, smuggled beer into the pool, showered outdoors, feasted some more by the creek, hiked and climbed higher, and just when I thought I was lost, I realized that every journey I share with Jenni I find a bit more of myself and that is immeasurable!

Looking Back on My PlusOne!

There is not much I can say but it was a dream come true to collaborate on this quilt "Heirloom" and the entire project with Jenni. It was so much deeper and richer than I could have ever expected it to be and I am so grateful for having had the opportunity to create this piece with my beloved daughter!

The evolution of a sculpture

What begun as an abstract tree like form, that began its evolution several months ago, it "became" yesterday. When I first started building the earthenware form, I was uncertain, as I always am upon the beginning of a new piece, what it would "become". I felt drawn to the earthy red clay, groggy enough to hold itself, yet smooth enough under the strokes of my fingers. I had to put "her" on hold as I embarked on my wonderful Sedona vacation with Jenni. The clay was echoed by the the colors of the SW, yet I had no time to revisit her when we returned from our trip. Instead, I became deeply involved in the collaborative quilt, "Heirloom", that Jenni and I were working on for Gallery 114's PlusOne June exhibit. That piece took all my physical and emotional energy at the time, and all else had to be put on hold. I was so engaged and captivated by working on the quilt, that everything else had to wait. I knew she would be waiting for me, staying moist in the bag, until I could give her my undivided attention.

Then came the wonderful annual dance retreat to Breitenbush, with my amazing dance family. We danced in the woods, and brought the woods into the dance studio, and became the woods and all that reside in the woods. It was profound. 

When I returned home, I was ready to meet my partially begun sculpture with new thoughts about what she would now "become". I was feeling more drawn to the rooted, treelike aspect of her, and knew that there would be branches, roots, reaching and who knows what else. I began reacquainting myself with her the other day. She was feeling very solid, but still maleable enough to move into her next stage of becoming. As I became totally engrossed in her formation, she began reaching for the sky with her hands in prayer. After spending an entire day with her, I stopped and looked at her. A fear came over me, as I realized that she had grown too tall for my kiln, and there was not a spot on her that would lend itself to being fired in two parts. I couldn't separate her, it would lose it's integrity for me. So I began the arduous process of trying to trim and reform her to make her a bit shorter. Just as I thought she was ready to conform, she split in two! I was devastated and not ready to give up on her. I began the tedious but loving mending process, hoping that I could make her whole once again. She began to change her shape and her reaching. She began to transform. I will pause now to interject the story that happened the morning of this re-creation.

As I had my breakfast, I heard a crash into the window, and saw a small bird flailing in the fabric gas grill cover that lay mounded up on the deck, from the weekends celebratory family father's barbecuing. As he struggled, I felt helpless. As he quieted from exhaustion, I lifted him with reverence, in my cupped hands, and placed him gently on the mulch near the deck. I watched and waited for what seemed like hours, and he remained motionless. I ducked into the house for a few moments, and when I returned to check on him, he was gone. I searched everywhere, but apparently after a bit of a rest, he was ready to move on. I felt so relieved. I had been given a bit of bird first aid advice by my dear friend Michelle, but happily, did not have to use it. He was able to recompose himself and fly away. I thought of him many times that day.

Back to my sculpture. As I finished her that night, I realized that she was reaching outward in a releasing motion and I began to think about my bird. I could actually see my hands, in prayer, releasing him into the air. I began to fabricate a bird that I would then attach to her fingertips, but it felt too forced, too contrived. I turned and looked into my box of treasures that I collect from nature. There lay a piece of found wood that looked just like the bird! I was hit with that moment of magic, when the creator, the creation, and the experience become one and feel complete. Now to transport her and and fire her, and hope she too will survive and then to attach the piece of bird like wood to her out-swept hands in prayer. Release.

And if things could not get more synchronistic, my friend posted this quote on facebook with a picture of a lovely small bird on it:

"Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings."

Victor Hugo

I love how fate lays it's gentle hand on my shoulder and through that, on my sculpture. How magical when all things fall into place as they are meant to be. 

The PlusOne Collaboration Moves Forward

The collaboration for our Gallery 114's June exhibit PlusOne where our members invite an artist to collaborate with them, moves forward. Jenni and I are well underway in creating our collaborative art quilt. It will be accompanied at the opening by a ceramic platter made by me, filled with no doubt wonderfully created food items created by Jenni. We will also invite the public to participate by sharing their personal recipes or food related stories and memories with us. The excitement is building!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re2JH7ndTj4&feature=youtu.be

New Avenues of Art

The auction for New Avenues for Youth is quickly approaching and although I am not able to attend the auction my piece "Finding Home" will surely be there as well as the pieces created by my kids, Jenni, Adam and Tiffany. I know it will be a wonderful event to benefit a great cause.

Plus One

The June exhibit at Gallery 114 will be a group show of member artists and their "Plus One" invited guest artist. I am so thrilled to be collaborating with my daughter, Jenni, for the exhibit. Jenni is an artist, designer, illustrator and chef. We shopped for vintage napkins yesterday, to create our quilt-like wall hanging. We will also have a ceramic platter from me, filled with food from her, at the opening, as well as an opportunity for gallery visitors to participate in sharing their personal recipes or food related stories. I can't wait to see how our personal styles blend together create our own story about food, family, gathering and sharing.............

Before

Avenues of Art

I am delighted that I will be participating in Avenues of Art, a program with New Avenues for Youth. Thanks to the wonderful Rena Satre Meloy, who I lucky enough to know through my work with her at the Community Warehouse and the Chair Affair, for getting us involved in this wonderful and important organization.The Grishman creative team will once again participate in a fundraising event. We will each created a 12 x 12 plywood piece on the theme of HOME. New Avenues of Art is the program within  New Avenues for Youth, that creates the opportunity for homeless youth who often have no access to food, shelter, education, and job training, to find their voice through the arts. I will also be doing a presentation through the AMP, Artist Mentorship Program, later this week on my art, my process and will share my progress on my art board, and all the youth in the program will be creating their own as well. My board is a narrative about home using all found objects, or objects from SCRAP, once again proving that you can make art out of anything! Pictures to come soon.......

The Meal Photos

The Meal  photos are available to be viewed on the Sketchbook Project's Flickr site . There are over 500 pictures of the meal people were eating at the exact same moment around the world! Very cool.Trying to find Jenni's and mine was like a "Where's Waldo" but they are in there! Check it out.

Object Focus: The Bowl

When the call went out to participate in on on line project that runs along with the Museum of Contemporary Craft's current exhibit Object Focus: The Bowl, I instantly knew I wanted to participate. The exhibit in the Museum is a collection of bowls from all walks of life, so to speak, as well as bowls from the permanent collection. To accompany this exhibit, there is a daily addition to their tumblr feed, of participants from near and far, with stories of their experience with a bowl. Such a simple, everyday object, yet the stories and images that it evokes are more varied than can be imagined. Today, I am honored to have my piece,"Too Nice To Use" added to their feed. The story is a very personal one for me and I love that it is "out there" for anyone to read, experience, relate to and perhaps to evoke their own memories and thoughts about an anything but ordinary object, the bowl.

TOO NICE TO USE

Written by Jo Grishman

A number of years ago when I lived in Maryland, I frequented Greenbridge Pottery Studio, where a family lived on a farm and created beautiful handcrafted ceramics. I purchased them frequently, especially their bups, as they lovingly called them. Everything tastes better when you hold a handmade meal in a handmade bowl, as it nestles warmly in your hands. What a glorious way to begin a day. One year, I gave my mother a bup as a present. Upon receiving it, she told me it was “too nice to use.” After explaining that it was meant to be used and savored and if it broke it was replaceable, she agreed to use it. I was not sure if she was actually using it, but a few years later, she told me sadly that she had recently dropped it while “using it,” (that part delighted me!). She shared that she had her oatmeal in it every morning—it fit perfectly in her hands—the handle helped her arthritic hands hold the hot cereal. Shortly after, I sent her another one, unique in its own way. My mother was surprised and delighted that I remembered she had broken her other one. She continued to use it everyday, until the end of her life last year. I now have the bup and it is part of my collection of bups that I use every morning. I am now reminded that one of them is hers.

Jo Grishman is an artist based in Portland, OR

Photo courtesy of the author

Going With The Flow

After a less than restful sleep yesterday I was more energetic than expected. I walked in the rain and then worked in my studio. A few nights before, I had re-watched the documentary Ten Questions For The Dalai Lama. I suppose, I carried the film with me on  some level during the day. When I returned from my studio in the late afternoon, I checked my e-mail. There, to my surprise was a notice that a block of tickets to see the Dalai Lama had been reserved by the Maitripa College. I don't even remember how I learned of this organization, but I had asked to be put on their mailing list. I responded immediately and was able to get an all day ticket to see H.H. Dalai Lama in May at the University of Portland! When I checked back later I saw that they were all sold out so I guess being in the right place at the right moment, without yearning, holding and expectation, or fear of disappointment .  Had I  been "trying" to get the tickets, there would have been an intensity in that holding onto expectation. My not having this, it created space in my life and the tickets somehow "came to me"! I am delighted and beyond. There is a lesson here, somewhere, actually right under my nose, so I need not look any further, just look. I just have to remember to remember, that by not holding on to outcomes, things have a way of working out as they are meant to. I know I will not always remember this simple lesson, but I know I will remember it more than I have in the past, and this is enough.

Today

After going at least 100 miles an hour and accomplishing a lot yesterday in my studio, it felt so satisfying. I thought I would be dead to the world asleep, when evening arrived. Instead, I had a restless night with barely a few hours of sporadic sleep, despite the lullaby of constant rain that fell all night. I awakened to the morning darkness and more rain, a comfort in fact, that seemed to signal, "do less". I could not even find my glasses, to see what?, I don't know, in the darkness. The birds on the suet seem so energetic today, vying for their perfect vantage point, to grab snippets of seeds. The Varied Thrush and Flicker are especially perky today as it continues to rain and they wrestle for food. The Nuthatches and Towhees flurry about them, waiting for a break in the action, so that they too, can snag a stray seed. I feel so sluggish, so I suppose the birds seem even more energetic in contrast to me . I am reminded of this poem by Mary Oliver, that seems particularly fitting for me today. Permission in a sense to stop, gather my food, and energy for tomorrow's creating. After a day of constant "doing", it seems like an appropriate mantra for this day, today. The sacred pause.

                                                         Today

Today I'm flying low and I'm

not saying a word.

I'm letting all the voodoos of ambition sleep.

The world goes on as it must,

the bees in the garden rumbling a little,

the fish leaping, the gnats getting eaten.

And so forth.

But I'm taking the day off.

Quiet as a feather.

I hardly move though really I'm traveling

a terrific distance.

Stillness. One of the doors

into the temple.

.....Almost Time for The Chair Affair

The bidding has begun leading up to the big night on March 21 so check the website because all the amazing creative endeavors that will be auctioned off are on the website. If you see something that you know you want to give a wonderful new home to, or gift to someone, you can snatch it up before the Chair Affair, you can do so by contacting Jocelyn one of our fearless leaders. Keep checking in for updates.

If you find your favorite(s), BUY NOW or make a PROXY BID! 
Email jocelyn@communitywarehouse.org for more info.

March First Thursday Gallery Reception

What's happening at Gallery 114 this week? Jon Gotshall is in the process of hanging his amazingly provocative photo exhibit, Signals. We also just completed hanging a new colorful show in the Member Gallery section. I have a sculpture included in the exhibit so swing by the Gallery at 1100 NW Glisan on Thursday between 6-9 to see some great art, talk with interesting artists and have some wine and fun. See you then!

Sacrificing The Shrine of Her Heart

A Sneak Peek at the Offerings for the 2013 table & Chair Affair

The preview of most of the wonderfully creative offerings for the annual table and Chair Affair to benefit the Community Warehouse is up on the website. Check out these beauties on line, in person at Pioneer Place tomorrow First Thursday, or better yet come out the the event on March 21. See the website to purchase your tickets. It will, as always, be fun and for an incredible cause.

The Meal

Nothing makes us feel connected quite like sharing a 

meal together.

 On February 22nd at 12pm Eastern Standard Time, 

thousands of strangers from around the world

 will sit down for a bite in unison and capture a

 shared experience at the exact same time

with simultaneous snapshots

 – self-portraits of people and their foods –

 will then be tweeted and posted online for the world to share.

 The aim is to inspire a feeling of community across

 geographic and cultural boundaries. 

So wherever we were  

  camera handy and

 something delicious nearby – and remember

 that thousands of strangers, both near and far,

 are sharing that meal with you.

The Meal 2013

One moment. One meal. 

One photograph. Let's eat.

Last year over 4,000 people from around the globe

 sat down together to share a meal. 

Not only did we help to raise awareness

 about world hunger, 

but we also shared a community experience

 the Art House way.

 This year on February 22nd at 12:00PM EST

for the 2nd annual The Meal.

 Whether it's breakfast in LA or a midnight snack in Beijing, 

let's take a moment from our hectic lives 

and share it with strangers around the world.

My Photo is titled "Even Better The Second Day" 

honoring the amazing first dinner Jenni created 

for us in her new place.

Amazing meal and we got to take home leftovers for today!

VAKA

Last night, I had the privilege of being in the audience for the dance performance by Black Grace, from New Zealand. It was incredibly powerful, both the athleticism of the dancers and the story they told with their bodies. According to Neil Ieremia, the choreographer, "the dance forms are carved out of the space that surrounds them. Sometimes the thing that interests me is the space between the dancers rather than the dancers themselves". I identify with that feeling, as I sculpt the clay and integrate found objects into my sculptures. For me, dance is just another medium to create sculptures, whether as a dancer myself, with my own body or the space between my fellow dancers and myself, or as a member of an audience as a witness, one who beholds the dance. I am moved to share some words that Ieremia, wrote in the program notes. I quote, "During this creative process we have realized that we are our own vaka (canoe) carrying our values and belief systems, experiences and memories good and bad, and a hope that when we leave this planet we leave it in a better shape than when we found it". He also posed some questions for the audience to ponder. He spoke about the "VAKA, as a vehicle for survival that carries our hope for life". Ieremia was also inspired by artist Bill Viola's video installation The Raft.
 Vaka was such a timely piece for me to bear witness to. I am always thrilled by the synchronicity that life presents to us, when we least expect it, if we move through life with eyes wide open. I have been revisiting my "boat" series of sculpture these past few weeks, as I move forward developing my body of work that will be a part of my solo exhibit next year at Gallery 114. I have a number of these "vessels" from my past, one of which is currently at the gallery. Lately, I have felt compelled to create some new boats. These boats are imbued with a bit of a different  story for me, it seems, as they unfold, but still carry with them some of the past. They still are vessels that hold things, move through time, represent journey, staying afloat, moving forward. They have evolved into a story that seems to be almost a continuation of where I left off. The dance performance made me think a lot about the things we hold onto, and the things we leave behind, be they people, objects or memories. I suppose that this vessel, still has many new journeys to take and new places to visit, in my internal and external landscape. I welcome these voyages into the unknown, with a sense of wonder and mystery, about the stories they will continue to tell me, and lessons they will teach me as they unfold.

The Chair Affair Is Gearing Up! Get Your Tickets

table & CHAIR AFFAIR 2013

WHEN: Thursday, March 21, 5 - 8:30pm

WHERE: Castaway, 1900 NW 18th Ave, 97209

YOU'RE IN FOR A TREAT...

Come help the Warehouse provide basic donated home furnishings to over 6,000 people each year. Together,  we can put used goods to good use every day! As March 21st approaches, stay tuned to the EVENT WEBPAGE for art & artist sneak previews, auction catalogue, dinner menu, parking info, and other event details!  Questions? Email Jocelyn or call 503.235.8786.

February at Gallery 114

The current exhibit at Gallery 114 featuring Hannah Karsen' photographs and Jeff Leake's paintings, is outstanding. I also have a sculpture in the members corner of the gallery. The exhibit will be up through the month of February.

Chair for Chair Affair 2013 Completed!

SESAME STREET TIME- CHAIR AFFAIR 2013

Today I am putting the finishing touches on my chair for the Community Warehouse's Annual Chair Affair. This year's creation is a child's rocking chair, with the timeless theme of Sesame Street. It was only yesterday that I shared watching the show with my little ones, now 30 and 33 years of age (and by the way Jenni and Adam are participating in the Chair Affair once again along with my newer "kid" by marriage, the very creative Tiffany). My little rocker is perfect to cuddle up in and watch Sesame Street or rock and read in. It comes with a blanket for snuggling on those chilly Portland days. It also comes with a little Ernie doll and Sesame Street tee shirt to wear, along with a sleep sac for those nights when your little one wants to go "camping" with Ernie in the comfort of their own bedroom. I know that the lucky recipient of this chair will make hours of memories with it and hopefully it will be an instant heirloom that they will share with their little ones someday.

The Never Ending Eloquence and Relevance of Mary Oliver's Words

Red Bird Explains Himself

~ Mary Oliver ~

“Yes, I was the brilliance floating over the snow
and I was the song in the summer leaves, but this was
only the first trick
I had hold of among my other mythologies,
for I also knew obedience: bring sticks to the nest,
food to the young, kisses to my bride.

But don’t stop there, stay with me: listen.

If I was the song that entered your heart
then I was the music of your heart, that you wanted and needed,
and thus wilderness bloomed that, with all its
followers: gardeners, lovers, people who weep
for the death of rivers.

And this was my true task, to be the
music of the body.  Do you understand? for truly the body needs
a song, a spirit, a soul.  And no less, to make this work,the soul has need of a body,
and I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable
beauty of heaven
where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart.”

It has felt like a whirlwind lately with the Gallery 114 interview and I have missed Tuesday night dance. I rejoiced in returning this week and was met with our new poem that had begun the week before, "Red Bird Explains Himself". My hidden line beaconed to me and it couldn't have more perfectly illustrated my life right now. The hidden line that I picked was "a song, a spirit, a soul.  And no less, to make this work". Indeed it is what is needed for me to create my work.

I was thrilled to have gotten this line. It first resonated for me, as an expression of my elation at being the newest member of Gallery 114, and all the possibilities that it holds for me. My creative spirit has felt as if it has been given a much needed jump start of sorts, with the prospect of my always longed for one woman show, that is scheduled to take place next February. Yes an entire year, a lifetime away, so it seems, but much work/passion has to transpire and come to fruition between February 2013 and 2014. The line spoke to me of the song, the spirit and the soul that seems to flow through me as I create and am created as I birth my work. But that word "work".... when I read it a second time I was met with the two meanings of the word "work". I first thought of the thrill of the work yet to come, and then the fear set in, and I was met with the question, can I make it "work"? I hesitated for a moment and then affirmed the first word of the poem aloud, YES! I am filled with many emotions now as I ponder this coming creative year. There are pieces I have recently created, as well as pieces yet to be created, that long to take their rightful place in the gallery next year. It will be a process that will unfold and no doubt hold many surprises, fears, joys and satisfactions for me as it evolves. I welcome them all.

New Membership in Gallery 114

I was delighted to find out today that I have been accepted as a new member in Gallery 114. After a wonderful experience with Taproot last month, and being honored by being chosen best artist in the exhibit, I decided to make the leap and apply for membership. Now, as a member, I look forward to many opportunities to exhibit and share in the creative endeavors that this gallery and it's talented artists journey through. It is a time of new beginnings and what a great day to be given this news, at Jenni's house on her 30th birthday. Lots of excitement and lots more creating to come!

We Have Come To Be Danced

This lovely piece was shared with my by a friend who has listened to me speak of my passion for dance and has really "heard me"! Thank you Kate.

"We have come to be danced

Not the pretty dance

Not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance

But the claw our way back into the belly

Of the sacred, sensual animal dance

The unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box dance

The holding the precious moment in the palms

Of our hands and feet dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the jiffy booby, shake your booty for him dance

But the wring the sadness from our skin dance

The blow the chip off our shoulder dance.

The slap the apology from our posture dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the monkey see, monkey do dance

One two dance like you

One two three, dance like me dance

but the grave robber, tomb stalker

Tearing scabs and scars open dance

The rub the rhythm raw against our soul dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the nice, invisible, self-conscious shuffle

But the matted hair flying, voodoo mama

Shaman shakin’ ancient bones dance

The strip us from our casings, return our wings

Sharpen our claws and tongues dance

The shed dead cells and slip into

The luminous skin of love dance.

We have come to be danced

Not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow

end of the floor dance

But the meeting of the trinity, the body breath

and beat dance

The shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs

dance

The mother may I?

Yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance

The olly olly oxen free free free dance

The everyone can come to our heaven dance.

We have come to be danced

Where the kingdom’s collide

In the cathedral of flesh

To burn back into the light

To unravel, to play, to fly, to pray

To root in skin sanctuary

We have come to be danced

WE HAVE COME." 

~~by Jewel Mathieson~~

2013 Chair Affair is Coming!

EXPECT THE BEST at the 7th table & CHAIR AFFAIR Save the Date - March 21, 2013 Looking forward to seeing you at Portland's most creative Thursday night party! Always something new and used. Always for Community Warehouse. Stay tuned to website for upcoming event details, ticket sales,  and sneak previews:   communitywarehouse.org/chairaffair **** To view last year's fabulous artwork and artists, click here.    www.communitywarehouse.org

A Wonderful First Thursday at Gallery 114

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” ~Nelson Mandela

It has been about a year since I have put myself out there and taken the risk, that always comes with showing my art to the public. This past year has been filled with many emotions that have drained me, and often stood in the way of my creating. Usually when something is moving me in life, I am helped to move through it by creating. This past year though I have felt stuck. I never thought I would ever be at a loss for creating, but although many creative impulses have moved through me I have felt somewhat paralyzed to create consistantly. When I saw the call for entries into Gallery 114's annual juried exhibit Taproot, it somehow stirred something inside of me, that compelled me to take the risk and submit images of my work. The theme Taproot intriqued me. I explored the word more thoroughly and thought of the center as well as the rootedness from which my work grows, what inspires and connects the artist to this limitless world. So I put myself out there and dared to fail.

 I chose four pieces and when I was informed that they were all accepted into the exhibit I was filled with many emotions.  Excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes from being accepted by your peers, to join in an exhibit, as well as the fear that comes from showing your vulnerable side, since my work is all a very personal reflection of my life, and in essence a part of me. I cannot ever separate myself from my work, my creations.

The First Thursday reception was upon me, and I was surrounded by my family and friends, who came out to support me and help celebrate, even some wonderful surprises from friends near and far that brought great joy to me. I entered the gallery with the trepidation that always seems to accompany me to these events, even thought I don't invite it, this shadow side always seems to hitch a ride. Not only did my sculptures stand front and center looking so strong as they felt anchored in the gallery, but the piece that somehow, as a harbinger, Jenni had chosen to use on the announcement card she created for me, heralded a sign that said First Place! 

I was in shock, disbelief and pride that I am still in the process of digesting. 

I close with a quote, shared with me by the wisest woman in my life, who always knows the most inspirational, supportive things to say, just when I need to hear them, Jenni. 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” 

--theodore roosevelt