Zimbabwe Artist Project Opening

The ZAP exhibit opening was a great success. The music of Wood Vibrations was incredibly uplifting and it was hard not to move your hips! There were many sales of wonderful artwork done by truly inspiring artist. Just reading the stories about the people and the project brought tears of sorrow and joy to me. The exhibit will be on display all month so please don't miss the opportunity to be enriched by the faces of the artists and their stories. You will be forever changed! You can view more pictures from the opening and enjoy!

Zimbabwe Artists Project

I am honored to be involved in ZAP, the Zimbabwe Artists Project. Tomorrow night marks the opening reception of the exhibit. This will be a great show for a great cause!!!! In conjunction with First Fridays in inner southeast Portland, please join us for the opening reception, Friday, August 1st, 5-9PM. Please stop by if you can to see some amazing art work. The work is very uplifting and very affordable if you are looking for a gift for a special someone (maybe yourself!) The reception will include not only amazing artwork done by some fabulous artists, but the festivities will also include music featuring a seven piece Marimba Band courtesy of Wood Vibrations !

Zimbabwe Artists Project is a non-profit organization committed to assisting women in Zimbabwe in their quest for economic self-reliance. These artists from rural eastern Zimbabwe create beautiful and affordable art, including paintings on boards, appliques, paintings on fabric, and embroideries. You can view an incredibly inspirational short film about the artists on their website as well.

Their work will be on exhibited through the main floor gallery space at the Olympic Mills Commerce Center for the month of August.

Zimbabwe Artists Project

Olympic Mills Commerce Center

107 SE Washington Street, Suite 162

Portland, OR 97214

(503)232-7057

www.zimbabweartistsproject.org

Summer Blooms- The Lessons I have learned

I recently came across this amazing piece written by Pearl S. Buck. It so beautifully describes how I feel and how I was feeling when I allowed my creativity to be smothered by my hand injury. I felt victimized and angry! I now have learned many lessons this long year and a half have taught me. These lessons were available all along, but as the Buddhist saying goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear". I have to quote James Taylor. I finally "looked up from my life". I see the great blessings in the volunteer work I have so passionately become involved in. I see that sculpting and creating are my life, but only part of it. There is room for more. I feel so much more purposeful in my life and less guilty about feeling self absorbed when I was only sculpting. I constantly looked for the greater purpose in my sculpting. My world has expanded and I feel richer for the experience of my hand injury. I have also learned to ask for help, and am still at a beginner's mind when it comes to listening to my body and pacing myself. I am getting better! I would not welcome the injury if I had a choice, but I am embracing the lessons it has brought to my life. Now let me share this poignant Buck piece that I so deeply relate to:

"The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: a human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To her, a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create-so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, her very breath is cut off from her. She must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency she is not really alive unless she is creating"~Pearl S. Buck

I feel grateful to slowly be creating again!

The Spiritual Magic of Creation

When I was creating my sculpture at Hummingbird Studios, I did not remember bringing reference images. My sculpture kept appearing to have an Asian face although I was attempting a Caucasian woman. I kept fighting it and suddenly it was apparent that the serene and peaceful demeanor of the sculpture read as something much more, something with a higher presence. Once I accepted that, things became clear to me. The only face that I had packed with me long before my trip, one which I had forgotten to look at in the studio for reference, was that of a Buddha. In addition the book I chose to bring on this trip was The Art of Happiness, by the Dalai Lama! Once I surrendered to the sculpture, things began to magically fall into place. It was even suggested to me that she resembled Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Protection and Compassion. Kuan Yin is who first brought me into my house in Portland since she is the sentinel on my front lawn. I also surround myself with images and statues of her throughout my home. I have been exploring the path of Buddhism lately and how it fits into my life, so I guess this is in me in a more spiritual cellular level. It seems to rise to the surface through my fingers without me being conscious of it. It continues to amaze me that our subconscious is so aware of things before our consciousness catches up. Therein lies the magic, the mystery, the spiritual aspect of creation for me!

Weekend at Hummingbird Studios

Last weekend I had a great opportunity to take a sculpting workshop at Leslie Lee and Dennis Meiners wonderful self constructed Hummingbird residence/studio/gallery,made out of straw bale/adobe , in Jacksonville, Oregon. We managed to remain relatively comfortable studying with Beverly Mayeri despite the almost 100 degree temperatures. Thanks goodness for adobe! This was basically my first attempt at sculpting since my wrist surgery 3 1/2 months ago so I entered into this weekend with a natural sense of trepidation. We worked on understanding the human head which was quite a challenge for me to "see" realistically rather than "imagine" what a head feels like in my mind. I know once I practice this technique I will be able to create my own balance between realism that is very cerebral and abstract which for me is a meditation. This is my first try in progress.Don't judge it too harshly yet as I will show you the magical outcome and share the story soon........so check back!

Hope, Change and Barack Obama

If you look closely (just kidding!) among the 75,000 people that rallied to see Barack Obama, you can see my smiling face, hear my cheering and see my hands raised up in peace signs(not kidding!) I believe in hope and change! We are down to the wire and it is looking very hopeful if Oregon was any indication! Keep the faith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ4XsemlDP4

Blipfoto- Blink of a Moment

Today is the first day that I will be participating in Blipfoto- The Daily Journal. The concept behind this project is to take one photograph a day and post it to your on line journal. I love the concept and it is a way to create some discipline as well as see the preciousness of a moment as a work of art in our daily lives. The photograph must be posted on the day it is taken. Anyone can participate. Just go to Blipfoto.com to register if you are interested to begin your own journal. It's great because you get lots of feedback and connection from other photographers. The first photo that I am choosing to post is Creativity in Bloom.

This is a sculpture I did of my hand a while back. I have chosen to place it in my garden for this photograph. It seemed like an appropriate way to begin this photo journey since my hand surgery. It speaks to me as a celebration of Spring's new beginnings, hope and healing that will enable me to be sculpting again soon. It also celebrates the creative outlets that still exist for me!

You can continue to follow my photo journal entitled Blink of a Moment at http://blipfoto.com/jo.

Women Helping Women Stitch by Stitch Exhibit

Women Helping Women Stitch by Stitch reception.
Friday, May 2nd was the first opening event at The Louis Redding Gallery, City/County Building, 800 N. French Street, Wilmington Delaware . The Quilt was exhibited as part of a larger show entitled Environmental Distress, by the Philadelphia Women's caucus. Rubia products were displayed and on sale, and there were examples of fine Uzbek suzani embroidery from Afghan Women's Fund. I am proud to be included in a project that truly spans the world and touches women's lives by connecting us with a thread of peace that cannot be broken. For more information about the Rubia Project you can visit their website at http://www.rubiahandwork.org/

Word On The Street Photographs

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"

~ Martin Luther King Jr.~

I am honored to have a number of my photographs of the peace march included in the Portland section of Word On The Street, among photographs taken by people from around the world in response to the climate of war that pervades our generation's lives. You can view my photographs by scrolling the top of the link to Portland. http://wordonthestreets.org/index2.php

The Rubia Quilt Project Sneak Peek

Women Helping Women, Stitch by Stitch

Presented by Rubia and The Women's Caucus for Art, Philadelphia Chapter

Opening Night : May 2, 2008 @ The City Government Building, Wilmington DE

Quilt assembly began on March 19th. There were 32 participating artists from the United States! We are thrilled at the response to this project and anxiously await the future journey of the Stitch by Stitch piece. Many Thanks to all of our volunteers,Rubia, the WCA-Philadelphia, the National WCA, Afghan Women's Fund, and the support of all of the individual artists.

Objective: To create a larger exposure for Rubia's grassroots project. To emphasize a collective notion of Women's Art or domestic art. To show that beautiful things can come from a war-torn region. To emphasize interconnectedness of all actions.

To monitor the progress of the quilt and its exhibition travels, please check the website often and click on "Sneak Peek" to view the quilt to date!

http://marycrowley.com/rubia/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=52

Portland Peace March 2008

I cannot believe that another year has gone by and we are still at war in Iraq, tragically our five year anniversary. Like-minded thinkers joined together again in solidarity to march for peace on Sunday in Portland. In the little over an hour that we marched it was sunny, it rained, it hailed, it rained and it was sunny and blue skies once again as my pictures reflect, but so goes Portland! There was a tremendous turnout once again and let us all put our intentions together in the hopes of a peaceful future and that we will not have to join again together next year.

Portland Peace Rally 2007

March 18, 20007 I participated in a peace march that marked four long senseless years fighting the war in Iraq, a war that was disguised as a fight for national security but was in fact a war about power, oil and revenge. You can view some of my photos from that rally that are included in http://wordonthestreets.org/ under the link for Portland. This website includes photographs taken by humanitarians from around the world marching in the name of peace.
This Saturday will be the five year anniversary with horrifically no end in sight. I will once again join like minded peace seekers in solidarity to rally against the war in downtown Portland. Please join me at 2 p.m. at the South Park Blocks, SW Madison and Park, for a WORLD WITHOUT WAR A DAY OF RESISTANCE AND HOPE TO STOP THE WAR AND BRING TROOPS HOME NOW! I will be there camera in hand to attempt to capture the essence of the humanitarian response to the war in Iraq.

Portland State University Iraq Body Count Installation

As I walked on Broadway toward Portland State University, my destination the International Women's Day Fair, I was somehow drawn to take a detour onto Park. As I approached the South Park Blocks, I was overcome by a vision in the distance of fields and fields of what seemed to be red and white tulips. I was astounded by these colorful flowers, that seemed to emerge from the ground over night. As I got closer and closer, I realized that these were not flowers but in fact small red and white flags. Crouched on the ground were a dozen people "planting" these small flags. As I approached, a voice from the ground asked me if I would like to "honor the dead" and I was handed a "bouquet" of white flags on rusty stems. I too crouched in prayer as I quietly and meditatively planted flags to memorialize those Iraqis killed in the war to date. Each white flag represented 5 Iraqis killed and each red flag represented 5 Americans killed. Since 2003, 655,000 Iraqis and 3,972 Americans have been killed in this senseless war. The contrast was astounding. As I complete my planting I rose and thanked the woman for inviting me to participate in this moving installation. I felt so deeply overwhelmed and touched to the core of my being as I gazed into my blood-like rust covered palms. I felt ashamed to be a part of an American people that beyond my control has chosen war, yet I felt honored and empowered that I choose to be a humanitarian that lives with peace in her heart and in her actions. Somehow I believe that acts that honor peace have a far reaching impact on humanity and in the world. I continued on to the Women's fair forever changed.

Let Your Voice be Heard

Congress needs to know what you think of the Iraq War. Please take five minutes to call or write a letter today!

There is much dissagreement about what should be done about the war in Iraq, but the most important thing is that your congressperson hears from you. Call or write their offices weekly, or as often as you feel the need.

To contact your U.S. Senators, go here.

To Contact your U.S. Representatives, go here.

Remarkable Women at Janovec Gallery

To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Oregon chapter of the Women’s Caucus exhibit members art focused on the REMARKABLE WOMEN in their lives. Famous, infamous, personal, or nationally known, women have influenced our lives and our art. This show will highlight these connections. The show is dedicated to the new mural in N Portland on Interstate Avenue, “Women Making History in Portland will”. Women who worked on the mural will be at the opening, and photos of the mural and its history will also be displayed. This exhibit will include one of my sculptures "Fertile Ground" inspired by my interest and connection to the mythological Greek earth mother Goddess Gai and the Buddhist Goddess of compassion and protection Kaun Yin. It will also include photos that I took of the women honored on the Women Making History in Portland mural that I was honored to be able to put my mark on as well. The Opening reception will be tonight March 7 during First Friday Art Quest at Janovec Gallery at 4504 SE Milwaukie @ SE Holgate and will be on exhibit throughout the month of March.

My Inspiration for the sculpture "Fertile Ground" was Gaia and Kuan Yin

Gaia Spirit: Earth, Sea and Sky ~
Kuan Yin: Goddess of compassion and protection

Gaia or Gaea, known as Earth or Mother Earth (the Greek common noun for "land" is ge or ga). She was an early earth goddess and it is written that Gaia was born from Chaos, the great void of emptiness within the universe. She gave birth to Pontus (the Sea) and Uranus (the Sky).

To protect her children Gaia hid them all within herself.

“Gaia the eternal, prehistoric earth mother goddess, is fertility incarnate, moist, mysterious and strong. She is life energy itself; everything that lives, overflows with her life. She is the earth and all the powers of the earth. As a goddess of the soul, she reminds us that the soul develops in dark places and that ultimately soul must be rooted in body, in earth”-Michael Babcock reflecting on the paintings of Susan Seddon Boulet.

Like Gaia, the divine female Kuan Yin, is the beloved Buddhist goddess of over a billion people the world over. Her name too signifies her compassionate nature, literally meaning

'One who hears the cries of the world'

When a child plays on her lap, or children at her feet, they symbolize not only newborn and/or spiritual life, but also Mother Nature whose mysterious powers continually produce, sustain, destroy, and renew life throughout the universe. One of the several stories surrounding Kuan Yin is that she was a Buddhist who through great love and sacrifice during life, had earned the right to enter Nirvana after death.

Let us remember, there cannot be sunlight without shadow.

The Chronic Chronicle Online Zine

I recently had an essay and picture of the accompanying sculpture included in The Chronic Chronicle Online Zine edited by fellow OWCA member Katie Simpson. Check out my contribution which will also be included in the printed version of the Zine!-

Destination: Migraine, Colorado

Living in the valley, I arrive a day early to acclimate my body. The summer is hot and dry; the air is thin. I walk and my body feels heavy, like in a bad dream. I walk through the thick, opaque cloud. I remember last time, feeling as if I was drowning in the desert. I know I have to create the river inside. I begin to drink water like a thirsty puppy after a hike. I have looked forward to this week all year with a feeling of overwhelming excitement and dread. When I sculpt in clay, I find myself by losing myself in the dense, cool, moist wonderful chocolate. The moment I open the virgin bag and touch its smooth surface, my insides release. I stop thinking about the heat, the thirst, the rules, and the outside world. Fifty pound heads is the daunting challenge; two heavy 25 Lb. bags of luscious clay. I dive into the darkness. Day three and I can no longer see clearly. The once tolerable altitude now becomes so oppressive that I can no longer function. So much for hydrating myself. I continue to sculpt so I won’t lose any of the precious week. I can’t bear to lose a moment. The more I panic the more I hurt. The sounds of the dining hall are too much to hear. My ears, my eyes and my brain become so sensitive to every stimulus that it is unbearable. My classmates keep a safe distance as they can see me fading. I feel like I am falling off this mountain near Aspen and am being crushed by the chair lift that continues to operate over the dry mountain. I build and I sculpt and I carve and I refine and I feel like I am going to die. I just want it to end. I can’t run from it, so I surrender to the clay. I take every pill I have to no avail. I concede and go back to my room and try to rest my head on the pillow that has somehow transformed itself into a cement block covered in thorns. So I return to the studio determined to work through the pain. Ben Harper’s lyrics ring in my ears. He says, "They say that time kills the pain, I say pain kills all time”. My head begins to feel as if it has now become 50 Lbs. as well. I look at my sculpture and I cannot see, yet I trust that it is being created. Clay is my solace, the only time I feel whole. The day and night finally end. The fog lifts; the vice that once owned my head has fallen away. I prepare to meet the sculpture I could not see the day before. The head and I work together for the next two days until the collaboration feels complete and the workshop has ended. She spends the next day drying and then she takes her proper place amongst the other heads in the kiln. I wait for her to finish becoming. She finally reveals herself to me as she emerges from the fire. I am able to see how my pain has somehow been transmuted into a woman of tremendous power and strength. I aptly entitle her "Time Doesn't Kill the Pain, Pain Kills My Time. We return home together to the valley forever transformed.----------Jo Grishman

A mosaic of postcards in the "Sustaining Our Environment" Postcard Show

365 postcards received for "Sustaining Our Environment" was displayed in two venues: the WCA booth at the CAA Convention and at the Janette Kennedy Gallery. Both shows were a great success, visitors were amazed at the beauty and variety of submissions. The card auction raised $1,100 for the UN. I was proud to have my submission included in this exhibit! You can view my postcard in the sixth row, eight postcard from the right!

My Contribution to the Rubia Project

I call my square "Thread by thread, Peace by piece". I am honored to be a part of such a powerful project such as Rubia.

I chose to incorporate and embroider my husband's grandmother Ruth's handkerchief which is almost 100 years old, to bring the energy of a past generation of an Eastern European woman to the quilt.

I chose to use the image of the Endless Knot because it represents unending love, peace, good fortune and the interconnectedness of all beings. It is an ancient symbol found in many cultures worldwide but the Tibetans were the first to recognize the sacred geometry of the endless knot symbol. The endless knot is an important symbol of our time in the midst of turmoil and this powerful symbol opens the heart chakra and is said to allow the healing energy of the heart to guide us to peace.

The image of the butterfly is very important to me because,

"What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world...the butterfly knows is only the beginning!"

Rubia Project: Women Helping Women Stitch By Stitch

I am proud to be currently working on creating my fabric square to be included in the collaborative quilt project organized by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Women's Caucus for Art and the Rubia Project. The project will begin to come together in February.
Fabric artwork embroidered by the Afghan women will be joined (quilt style) with squares created by WCA members, to create an impressive larger tapestry piece. News of our project has reached Afghanistan, and there is much support for this collaboration.It is the goal for this piece to travel to other chapters, to other venues, The completed piece will ultimately travel to Darrai Noor,
Afghanistan. I will keep you updated on the progress of this important project.
Opening Night : May 2, 2008 @ The City Government Building, Wilmington DE

Rubia is a project of Social & Environmental Entrepeneurs (SEE), a registered 501(c) [3], which provides non-profit status. Rubia serves women in Afghanistan, offering education, skills training and income opportunities through the promotion of their traditional handwork. Rubia is committed to building sustainable business in a fragile environment,empowering women while respecting traditional ways, reviving and preserving traditional crafts. http://www.rubiahandwork.org/

New Rubia/WCA website coming soon! Look for it soon at http://www.marycrowley.com/rubia

"Crimson"

First Friday February 1, will mark the opening of "Crimson" at the Janovec Gallery/Studio at 4504 Milwaukee at Holgate. My painting, "Jenni Unfolding" is included in the exhibit. The current Winter/Spring 2008 issue of the Oregon Literary Review is now online at http://www.oregonliteraryreview.org, and features the work of "12 artists from the Oregon Chapter of the Womens Caucus for Art ". My sculptures were also featured in the Summer/Fall 2007 issue of the Oregon Literary Review in the Art/Sculpture section.