Welcome to the Luna Project

I'm in a wonderful show right now at the Harwood Art Center. 11 other women artists are in the group and we are showing some of our work from the past 2 years. We called it the Luna Project after the moon because "Like the moon, artists wax and wane. Our group encourages each other to begin again and keep making art."

My work was all created in 2007. This is what my artist statement says......

Since the Luna Project was inspired by the moon, I had the idea to make circular relief sculptures using clay. In its unfired workable state, clay contains water, and therefore, it can be shaped just like the moon shapes the earth's tides.

I've had a few years of significant transitions and these pieces arose out of a desire to give myself visual self-care reminders. They are like slogan mandalas for the wall. They ask questions such as - what are you cultivating in your life? What are you doing to relax and sink deeper into your being? Are you taking small little by little steps? Are you fostering faith and expressing your creativity? Are you asking for help?

I left the clay unglazed for simplicity. I did not want to hide the texture, mica, and color of this New Mexico low-fire clay. I consider myself an explorer of the creative process. I work not only in clay but sometimes in words, collage, craft, and mixed media. These pieces are one small part of a larger desire to live a creative life and to inspire myself on that path. I share them in hopes that they will in some small way inspire others to follow their creative path.

Here is an up close look at my pieces.............

Cultivate

Bliss

Decide

Serenity Prayer

Sing

Guides

sneak peek

Here's a little sneak peek at one of my plates. My art group talked me into showing with them in September. I was prepared to drop out fearing I wouldn't have the work finished. So far I only have two plates or mandalas(another word for what they are). Actually, they aren't finished because I was going to glaze them. But now after showing them to my group and discussing it I may just leave them unglazed. If anything I'll add a touch of color to them some other way - acrylics, metallic powder?
I have one more to be fired. I may make more ????? The goal for the show was to have 12. I know already that to achieve that goal I'd have to sacrifice other things in my life and I'm unwilling to do that. Yet what I have is two.
The group was very supportive. They said why don't you show those two (and reminded me to be open to the possibility I could still make more). They even had very good reasons for why it would be alright to show them as they were - unglazed. I said okay in a very unsure of myself way. But I have been settling into the idea of it. More and more I like the idea of leaving the clay - just as it is - it has mica in it so it sparkles and glaze would begin to mask it.

This turn got me thinking about being closed. I had worked myself into a place where I was allowing fear - mostly my fear of creating close me off. I was blinded and could not see what I already had created by all the ideas of what I thought it all should be. Oh those shoulds are a killer.

Which leads me to another thought - one which coincides with Freedom from Self Improvement - I'm inspired to live a life that isn't about shoulds. Too often I feel I should be doing something other than what I am doing. What a joy killer. It's time to stop "shoulding" on myself. Perhaps, before September I'll make more pieces - who knows what might happen when one removes all the shoulds.........

Making my way....one step at a time.....

I've been meaning to give this link for coping with grief. Just something I found at Good Grief Center.

I am feeling better though. Yesterday while working at my Mom's house we noticed how beautiful the violets are this year. I know it's because they loved the extra moisture we've had this past year.

Today, I am going to yoga class. I've missed a few weeks and this week I am really really ready to go to class. In honor of class I am showing you a daily lump I created last year - almost a year to the date on 4/19/06. It's called Bunny Does Downward Facing Dog.



It was fun to create these photos - it looks like bunny is ready for the cover of some yoga magazine. Have you ever noticed how yoga videos all seem to be filmed out in these exotic nature locales or the ads for yoga invite you with the scenery? Come do yoga in Placitas NM where you'll have the chance to meet other yogic bunnies!

The other thing that happens today is I am going to my art group meeting. We have a show coming up in September. I decided to drop out of the show - but not the group. I can't take the pressure of creating work for this show coming in September. It seems like a long way off but I know that it won't be until September before I can truly devote the time to create a 12 piece body of work. I actually have an idea which I started - but I'm going to wait to finish.

I bring this up because I think I will share this blog with my art group. I actually do not want to create the work for this show in September because I would have to sacrifice time that I spend writing, blogging, and spending with my husband. And there is still the issue of grieving. I need time to grieve - to just have space for that process. Since blogging is the main thing I'm doing these days to express myself - to create - I figure it is time to share it with my art group.

So, this post jumps around a bit but I feel somehow it all fits together. If you stuck with me this far - I thank you for reading. And welcome art group friends too.....

I felt yesterday for the first time since I gave up doing my daily lumps that it might be time to start them again. 15 to 30 minutes a day is time I could re devote to that creative process with clay. Sometimes one only gets to that kind of open possibility by dropping other pressures. Suddenly when I am not feeling pressure to create a "body of work" I find the desire to create a little ole lump. Little by little is my philosophy......