Life's Invitations

"Invitation" 24 x 24 - Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 2008 

Life is full of invitations!  For me I am intentionally choosing the authentic ones; the ones that create growth and joy...This piece is about those choices to be vulnerable in relationships, to live life with those that cherish and respect your journey.  Everyday we are faced with the choice to embrace love.  Our soul speaks to us in every moment, beckoning us to listen and be in touch, to centre, and really feel...Life can be full of what we want it to be if we listen, be still and allow.  This is what this piece signifies for me ...Holding precious the kindred spirits that come into our lives and to embrace love and vulnerability in relationships.

These past two days have been reminders for me about this soul journey, about life and love, relationship and letting it all come to you ...Allowing it to flow.   The miracles of life.... My lovely little sis and her love partner, friend and now daddy, Darren, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Esme Priya.  I had the privilege to be a doula to my sis...and together, Tina, Darren and I witnessed the birth of this precious life coming to us into our lives on January 20th, 12:27 p.m....and it was amazing....To be on the other side and witness this birth was wonderful ...and flooded me with memories of Maya's birth and Jeff's love and care.

I am filled with gratitude for this mystery and joy of birth and welcome precious little Esme Priya into the world...I relished every moment of holding her as she slept or comforted her in her first day of living.

In the words of Rabindranath Tagore, a great Bengali Poet (East Indian), " The tapestry of life's story is woven with the threads of life's ties ever joining and breaking."

Photos from the opening reception - Pigments of the Imagination

Winning Ticket!

My new friend, Michelle LeBlanc and her beautifully vibrant piece.  Isn't it gorgeous? 

We had a lovely opening of "Pigments of the Imagination", it was a cool vibe and energy, lots of cheer and a great way to chase the winter blahs away....The show continues to run until the end of January at Whitestone Gallery in Guelph, if you would still like to check out the exhibit.  The gallery hours are from Thurs. to Sat. 11 - 5 p.m.  Thanks to Larry for the photos, they are great!

I Took This Vow - Will You too!

Deepak Chopra is the President and Founder of the Alliance for a New Humanity and on November 7, 2008, at 9:45 a.m, the 500 people attending the Alliance for a New Humanity Human Forum in Barcelona took a vow for non-violence in their thoughts, speech and actions.  Each person decided to ask other people in their lives to join them in taking the vow.  The goal then became to create a global movement, which would mobilize 100 million people to make the same commitment.  

Think of what this would mean regarding "transformation", peace and compassion for self and others...if we all took this commitment and asked others to take it too and to gently remind each other when we stray from this commitment.  I took this vow and hope you will consider it too.   Here is to a new humanity of compassion, kindness, love and peace.

Help spread the word, Take the Vow.

"Pigments of the Imagination" at the Whitestone Gallery in Guelph opens. Free Draw Prize at the reception on Friday Jan. 9th 5 - 8 p.m.

Pigments of the Imagination, opens on Friday January 9th, opening reception will be 5 - 8 p.m.  A draw prize of $100 for those in attendance will be drawn, come out for a chance to win this fantastic draw prize which goes towards the purchase of artwork from the participating artists.  Whitestone Gallery, is an artist's collective of 18 artists, all working in various mediums.  Many of the artists will be present that nite to meet up with, light refreshments will be made available.  Hope to see you there!

Participating artists include:  

Rebecca Erickson

Michelle LeBlanc

Mary Karavos

Larry "Toots" Lawrence

Supria Karmakar

Daniel Durocher

Baerbel Kirstein

Janet Stanley

Nancy Farrell

Nadia Slawinski

Vickie Martin

John Roberts

Annette ten Cate

Vincent Wall

To the Amazing You & New Blog - Inner Works Collaborative - Check it Out!

2009 marks the beginnings of a new collaborative project called:  Inner Works, check out our new team blog!   This is an altered book project of six fabulous artists coming together to share in a round robin over the coming Winter and Spring months.  I can't think of a better way to spend these cold months to go inwards and create a special altered book.

The six artists are: Seth Apter, Veronica Funk, Supria Karmakar, Roxanne Evans Stout, Rita Vindedzis and Jill Zaheer.

  Here is a lovely poem I'd like to share for the first day of 2009...to the "amazing you"....

"Only You" - a poem by Dan Coppersmith

No one on Earth exists quite like you

And no on is able 

To do what you do

The person you are

The talents you bear

Gifts that only you can share

Only you have learned

From the things you've done

Gaining perspective

From the battles you've won

Times when you've lost

Have been priceless too

The lessons contribute

To what makes you you

The rest of the world

Can't see through your eyes

Which is why your insight 

Is such a prize

Because you are you

There are lives you affect

Much more than you

Would ever expect

The things you do 

The things you say

Send ripples throughout

The Milky Way

You're unique,

Amazings like no one else

You have the exclusive 

On being yourself