What I’m working on and why
Paddler with Bird on Boat (In progress, 8″x10″)
You would think that after Alaska I would be making artwork inspired by the mountains, the bears, the harbors. No, I started right in on a continuation of the Boundary Waters series. As soon as I came back home, I had Boundary Waters’ fever. I am obsessed with getting back on the water.
I found Alaska wasn’t so much a linear influence as a wake-up call. Here was a state full of people living the lives they wished to live, even at some personal inconvenience. Was I?
This AHA moment meant a serious re-assessment of how I am spending my time and talent. There will be less fundraising in my future, but more poem-making, more art-making, more art-looking, more time just sitting and seeing what there is to see.
In Alaska, I had the revelation that the leisure to look, see and think (or not think) is highly underrated as a necessity for an artist.
I already had sewn together these two great pieces of fabric, doodled over them with graphite, and sewn a few horizontal lines over them. Then, as another one of my “getting started” techniques when coming back from a break in the studio, I sewed back and forth over them vertically, switching variegated thread colors periodically:
From there I took these steps until I was so caught up in the progress that I forgot to take notes: Cut, stitch, think, trim, write with artists’ crayons, Mistyfuse painted organza pieces cut in organic shapes, stitch, and think and . . .
If the Boundary Waters is what I need and what I dream about, then the Boundary Waters series continues with about six of these new works in progress.
Becoming One - Water (In progress, 8″x10″)
July 21st, 2008 at 5:58 am
Thanks, Viriginia, for the reminder. The necessity of time to reflect is so generally underrated but so necessary for so many things. I recently looked for and — happily, luckily — found a job that reduces my commuting time from 90 minutes each way to 15 minutes each way. I feel like I’ve gained a whole day each working day to devote to my own purposes.
Thanks also for the peeks at how you work; I always learn something when I stop by. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful and inspiring Boundary Waters work.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:58 am
Yes Virginia, I couldn’t agree more. What can you say as an artist if you don’t take the time to observe? And to ponder?
July 21st, 2008 at 7:57 am
“… people living the lives they wished to live, even at some personal inconvenience. Was I?”
Wow! What a gift! I’m looking forward to the fruits of your more art-making, more poem-writing, more just sitting and seeing. Virginia, you’re the greatest!
July 21st, 2008 at 8:09 am
What a lovely blog post. I found myself almost meditatively reading and looking. Thank you.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:32 am
Virginia, you continue to inspire me. What beautiful work, and it comes from a beautiful place … your mind and heart. Thanks.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:45 am
Hi Virginia. I’m enjoying reading your comments about your trip to Alaska, and how it has impacted your very being. I, too, see the people of Alaska as one of the nation’s greatest treasures, as role models, “… people living the lives they wished to live, even at some personal inconvenience.” And then the reflection, “Was I?” A saying that has long guided my decisions is “There is only one success, to live my life my way.” Your blog is a reminder to “just do it” (sorry for another quote, but it fits”, so I’ll sign off and go to my studio with joy in my heart. Rosemary Thanks, Virginia.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:03 am
I am just soooooo glad you are back. I missed you! I was starting to worry that my “rss feed”…whatever in the heck that IS…wasn’t working!
July 21st, 2008 at 11:48 am
Vicki - Glad to be back. It’s so hot and humid now that I’m glad to be inside -most of the time! V.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:49 am
Rosemary - Thanks for all the tips you sent me about Alaska. Very helpful. I hope your studio IS full of joy today. V.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Linda, Susan, Tricia, Clairan, Melanie - Thanks for writing. It is always about finding the balance between inertia and frenzy. I think that is why I love the Boundary Waters, a place that requires both action and stillness. More coming soon about the whole poetry-writing process. V.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Virginia…congratulations on awesome reflection and realizations in Alaska! I find old patterns, habits and the WASP work ethic really do mess with my own incredible need to just be…to just be in the world, to just be with my art, to just be with my body. When I do that, I make my best art, and have enormous energy for the business of artmaking and life in general.
There is a wonderful sign at our local yoga studio. It reads…don’t just do something, sit there. You go, girl!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Lovely work, Virginia! The pieces have a very etheric feel to them and I see some secondary imagery as well. I hope you continue the series beyond six becuase it has your passion and an intensity that could lead you to some really interesting places/possibilities!
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
Wonderful pieces! And such a wonderful post. Yes yes yes time for thinking …
jb
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Ahhhh…you are so right…..and this Boundary Waters piece looks wonderful. As artists I think our brains can be stimulated by many things - certainly art but other possiblities life presents as well (such as creative fund raising). The important thing is to be able to recognize and priortize what is best or necessary for us at any given time….which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 am
Carol - Check out Anda Saylor’s yoga art from the link on my post here:
http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/archives/818
Coincidence? I think not!
Jennifer - Thank you!
Denise - So true. Knowing and doing (or not doing) are always two disparate items.
V.