New Work at the Whitestone Gallery for the month of September

"Preservation", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 7 3/4 x 11, 2009

"Joy Prayer", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 10 x 10 x 2, 2009

"Gratitude Prayer", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage, 10 x 10 x 2, 2009

"See the Rivers Flowing", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage with shrine, 8 x 8, 2009

"Bloom Wonder", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage with shrine, 8 x 8, 2009

For the month of September, this new work will be displayed at the Whitestone Gallery in Guelph. If you happen to be in Guelph pop in for a visit. Solo artist for this month is Vickie Martin, presenting "Presence". Whitestone Gallery is located at 80 Norfolk St, Guelph.

Casting Possibility

"Casting Possibility", Encaustic Mixed Media Collage

24 1/2 x 6, 2009

Casting Possibility is about living with vivid imagination and asking daily "what if?" and "why not?" responding with a resounding "YES" .....and having faith in what will be and seeing what unfolds.....

Days living in this space of "what if?" and "why not?" are so much more happier than the constant chatter of worry....another practice I am trying hard to develop consistency with.

Where everything is music - Rumi inspired

Where Everything is Music by Rumi!

Don't worry about saving these songs!
And if one of our instruments breaks,
it doesn't matter.
 
We have fallen into the place where everything is music
 The strumming and the flute notes 
rise into the atmosphere, 
and even if the whole world's harp should burn up, there will still be
hidden instruments playing.
 
So the candle flickers and goes out.
We have a piece of flint, and a spark.  This singing art is sea foam.
The graceful movements come from a pearl
somewhere on the ocean floor.  
Poems reach up like spindrift and the edge 
of driftwood along the beach, wanting!

They derive from a slow and powerful root that we can't see. 
 Stop the words now. Open the window in the center of your chest, 
and let the spirits fly in and out. ~ Rumi

I know I haven't been here much in the blogging world lately....
Life has taken a funny turn ...I seem to have no routine...which has kept me off balance
Though I have many upcoming deadlines....since I left the Dunedin Creativity Art Retreat....
where I met so many fabulous creative souls...the week long meditation retreat was wonderful,
challenging in some aspects and great for me to push my boundaries...Molly Swan was an absolutely
inspiring leader...and I highly recommend her lovely gentle style of teaching the 'dharma'...she shared
this fabulous Rumi poem with us...
Since then though I feel like I haven't really stopped the 'slowed down' pace...
usually I have such great energy, I get 12 hours work done in a 6 hour span..
but that work horse energy seems to have vanished...all around me I see the piles of work 
to be done and can't seem to get moving on them.
Yes and even the lack of routine has taken my inspiration...
I think it is back to the morning pages, morning sits..
waking up early but it also means getting to bed at a decent time too....

Anyway, enough about my lack of energy...

I am hoping to create a body of altered books using the encaustic medium inspired by Rumi's poems
and intertwined with Leonard Cohen's work ....if any of you have thoughts to share on this 
please let me know I am hoping to connect with others to explore this idea.  Some of the greatest 
sources of inspiration come from the community of sharing via the blog and in art circles...for 
which I am deeply grateful...share any thoughts you might have...

This show is my very first solo show in November..and I would really like 
to begin working on this during the end of Sept.  I love the searching...longing that both writers,
and musicians convey in their work..the searching for soul, the longing for soul connection --which is so 
much of what my creative journey has been about lately.
I am looking for any poems you like by Rumi, or words by Leonard Cohen..any thoughts at all..
would be appreciated....

Spread the word!

I haven't been here in so long...blogging that is...life has been full, chaotic, wonderous, a gamut of emotions and happenings I suppose.

Feel like I am just getting back to myself....I thought I would share with you some happenings that are upcoming - so spread the word:

I have been accepted into the BEECAUSE art exhibit...it is a special event to raise funds for the bees, research to save them ...20 pieces were accepted out of over 140 pieces.  Check out their site.   This exhibit is happening September 14th to 26th, in London Ontario.   With the gala event on September 17th.

I will be at the Junction Festival in Toronto this year, as part of their Juried Art Show, from September 9th to September 13th. 

Then this is my third year in the Elora-Fergus Studio Tour, which is two weekends this year again.  Last weekend in September and first weekend in October.

Finally, (for now), I am teaching an encaustic card making workshop at the Wise Daughters Craft Market Place, in Toronto on Sunday Oct. 25th.  It is a great way to be creative, leave with one of a kind gifts and or frameable art work.  Check it out and spread the word.