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.