Wait and See or Gratefully Seeing

September 12, 2009

One of my Rumi paintings, the First Field Beyond Ideas, has been selected to be included in the book Best of America Oil Artists Volume II.  I'm mildly excited.  I will be more so when I actually see it in print.  It's hard to believe things like this are real.  Not that I don't think the piece deserves the recognition!  It's just that I like to wait and see when things seem too good to be true.  Actually, wait, feel gratitude, and see it as real.   I'll post it in large print when it manifests in this realm...

Fusion3, Cathy, Martha and I, went to the opening of the 49th Annual Thumb Area Artists Exhibition yesterday and we did just that on our way there.  While driving we said, " Let's see ourselves accepting our award."  And then we had no attachment only gratitude for getting both pieces into the show.  It's a very calm experience to wait while they announce the winner when you are simple one of three.  We were humbled and grateful to receive 2nd prize and a generous check.  Thank you Romeo Guild of the Arts!  They put on a very lovely show.  The food was fabulous!

Respectfully posted,

Rhonda

September 2009

I am rolling back my prices on selected paintings to reflect the current economic times.    I'm doing this mainly to make space in my cramped studio.  I need to make space.  And so a STUDIO RENOVATION SALE!  This does not represent a devaluing of my work either in physical manifestation or in esteem, self or otherwise. It is only a non-expansion.  May we all expand in consciousness.  May we all be able to sustain ourselves and nurture others.  I appreciate emensely all of you who have collected, commented and sustained my work over the years. 

Recently I had the great pleasure of visiting a long-time collector, Ruthanne Dueweke, in her lovely home.  It was such a joy to see my work hung beautifully among her extensive and exquisite art collection. 

January 1, 2008

Happy New Year.  This year I am putting much of my artistic efforts towards sharing the Fusion3 experience.  This process has grown to include many more people.  We are working with churches, businesses and wherever people are working in collaboration with each other.  The experience of complete collaboration while working in silence has continued to deepen within us. 

We fully believe that collaboration is the way of the future.  The way of the past is the industrial model of management which assumes that one person is fully responsible for the outcome of a group and the workers are needed but limited.  Our experience of collaborating in every aspect of the business of Fusion3 is that with no leader, each member becomes fully responsible and fully engaged in the work.  This is our dream for the world.  Humans fully able to respond to each other even during difficult situations.  Human fully engaged in meaningful work. 

June 18, 2008

It is odd how after a death in the family the urgency to produce art wanes.  I have heard this from other artists, too.  The part of art that demands "look at me!" is gone.  Maybe that comes with grief.  The desire is to curl up and do anything but have people look.  I am beginning to see things differently. This may be the death of art for approval.

May 17, 2008

The Renaisance Roam has been again now this the third year!  What a wonderful party put on by artists and generous supporters of the arts who volunteer to put on this amazing blast of art and music as a gift to the community.  Even though this year we had to pay ten bucks it was still a great deal.  Hurray for Studio 1219 and all those dedicated people working to make Port Huron a cool city.  It really is worth all those long hours and sore backs.  Every year just gets better and better.   -Rhonda 

A friend has given the feedback that my blah blah is too long and hard to get through.  By the time it's read through, she didn't have the energy to respond. 
My question remains.  What drives Art?  I will post other ideas.  email through this website if you have a response. 

What Drives Art?  February 29, 2009
A long time ago, in the Art Department of the University Cellar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, there was a sign somewhere in the back room which said, "The only Art I ever knew drives a laundry truck."   So Art drives a laundry truck. 
And what drives Art?

The mystics say that all Art is inspired by God,  that artists feel the presence of God within them and must express it.  Recently I've been thinking that, yes God is within us, and...we are in God.  That we, each of us, are as a cell within Humanity as a whole, and Humanity is as an organ in a larger Being.  This would also mean that I am god to the cells within my own body, each in their organ, with its funtion. 
So what would be Humanity's function within this larger Being? 

Art has as broad an interpretation as there are humans.  And yet, there is an understanding that transends content or style.  Artists say "It works."  My current understanding of this transendence is that there is a quality of Love showing through.  It may be love of subject or even simply the medium.  It may be love of a certain color combination.  Or love of balance. 
     This love is tricky.  It can be mistaken for attatchment. It can stop us when we become enamored with our own work.  Working with Fusion 3 has helped me to understand that there is Love in the doing of Art, in the experience.  While working in silence, there are many times when the piece comes to point where I love it.  But my turn is over and the others may not see what I see and they go on, past the point of my particular love.  I have come to see that my liking or disliking makes no difference except to me and my own attatchment.  If I am judging, I am experiencing judgement and blind to what is happening. I see only my own thoughts.  If I am observing, I am experiencing what is happening and am able to see what may be needed next.
     So what drives Art is the same as what drives Humanity.  We are here to have an experience, and one cannot have an experiece without being able to observe.  The mystics then were right. Art is a practice of the Observer.  
       Blah, Blah Blog: February 29, 2008 
Responses can be sent to my email address as an attatchment