In my book "Walking the Bible" (PBS special), it stated the Pharaohs of Egypt had extensive copper and turquoise mines in the Sinai Desert. This inspired me to consider a few stones stolen out of the mines and onto a desert camel caravan and miles away being traded possibly to a shepherd for wool??! From what I've read this was a colorful time and a bridal veil would have had embroidery as well as beads. I've been composing these pieces on the fly so I'm having such fun with the materials and combining with the dream. I've also ran myself into trouble too but that is just part of art making?! I framed this veil on white with a white metal frame and it holds up nicely. I've gone a few times to the fabric store but most of what I've used has come out of my bottomless fabric and misc boxes. I'm set for the winter and a lot of art making!
I hope everyone is having a great new year. I've been hunting around for a 'word' to carry me through the year and thought I had one several times. I happened upon a blog (india flint) with a post she titled "Stillness" and I knew right away it was my word for this year. I have "STILLNESS" taped up on my studio wall and I just know it will remind me how or when to go to my own 'stillness'....a place I'm sure my thoughts and feelings can find a better peace.. Do you have a word that might guide or serve you as a reminder throughout the year?
Happy New Year to you, Mary Ann... this is lovely and I completely understand the bottomless fabric and misc boxes... fun to play with the stash... and my word and resolution is always the same.. happy.. : ) x
ReplyDeleteCaterina, Best word choice ever...Happy! Looking forward to sharing and supporting all the art making here on blogland!
ReplyDeleteI'm blown away by this, Mary Ann! Happy New Year to you.
ReplyDeleteCarole, Glad you like this one...I'm having a wonderful time being artist and archeologist! Happy New Year!
Deletelovely veil and as i said on FB youmight enjoy The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman. I hope to post today on my word: fearless. be well and have a creative 2013
ReplyDeleteSuki, Thank you. I checked out the book on Amazon...reading five ***** reviews...sounds like a powerful story and very much in the style of "The Red Tent". I'm excited about 2013!
Deletethis is just lovely and mysterious!! you are on a roll and I like your word for the year - blessings for the new year xo
ReplyDeleteJeane, Yes, the year is starting off well for me and yes, yes blessings to all of us for this next year!!
DeleteI'm a little nutty with these fabrics but I'm glad I provided a bit of mystery too!
I am always inspired by your use of materials and how you jump off from stories and historical info! Such fun.
ReplyDeleteI have seen a couple of people doing the "word" thing. One woman chose luminosity. I like open-hearted but haven't spent a lot of time contemplating my options, this one just popped up. Silence is a great word. Artist Janice Mason Steeves (hope I've spelled her name right) has some words about silence on her recent blog post that you might enjoy.
Happy new year too, as we begin our journey into 2013!
Silence is a great word and close to my choice of stillness. I think of your deer and other such animals that hold themselves 'still'. I visited Janice Mason Steeves blog and so fell in love with her encaustics and her photos of trips to Ireland and Scotland.
DeleteYes, the journey of 2013...we are rolling now!
Beautifully amorphous, diaphonous; gorgeously rooted to the earth with its symbols and the firmament with the brilliance of its "gems". And playful in that it reminds me of putting old curtains or tablecloths on my head as a child and marching about, pretending to be a bride.
ReplyDeletelouciao, Oh My your wonderful words! How did you know about the pretending bride thing? I guess we all played that one. If I were an archeologist I would love to find WHOLE pieces of the past with a few holes, maybe a few stones missing but not those awful little fragments that barely survive these thousands years...I'm dreaming but then I'm the artist not the archeologist?!
DeleteOh the bride! When I was a girl my neighborhood friend Bonnie and I always had fun with dress up and dramatic play(I mean dramatic!). There was always a bride and that was the best role to have. :-) Anyway...this is like an artifact discovered and I can imagine the anticipation as the embroidery and stones were carefully sewn in. I wonder what artifacts future generations will uncover or ponder on from our period in history?
ReplyDeleteOh - I also ordered your book! The word that keeps coming up for me this year is Younger. I'm worried about that one - will it motivate me toward better fitness or drive me nuts trying to be something I no longer am? Why can't the word Satisfied pop into my head? Ha ha.
Oh yes, the dress up days! I remember as a little girl picking out my future husband from the Sears Catalog men's underwear section....dream on!
DeleteIf younger is your word it will be fascinating if it moves you towards more fitness...best of luck and have a good beginning 2013!
Karen, Thank you so much about ordering the book! My hope is you enjoy!
DeleteMy word for the new year is "hope". It is so easy to become distracted and cynical these days.
ReplyDeleteYour veil is more than lovely. Every time I check in, you are making more original work, and so personal, given your research.
The new year promises so much for you.
Marie, Hope is a beautiful word to live with throughout the year!
DeleteI'm enjoying all aspects...research, art making and the inspiration is heart opening for me...thank you!
p.s. Enjoy your encaustic exploration!
Stillness is a beautiful word to choose for this year and I wish you that and quiet moments to create and read and dream. I love this art, your Desert Wedding Veil. Very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteroxanne
Your fabric pieces in this exciting series conjures up so many images in my mind's eye. Oh to be a fly on the "wall" during a Desert Wedding. My word is also stillness and I've come across it a few times in the blog world so people must be feeling the need for peace and quiet. Even with the buzz around me, choosing the word stillness has made me feel calm.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have scrolled back to your New Year post Mary Anne!
ReplyDeleteI was reading the posts just now like chapters in a book and loving that you take us to a part of the world I am very drawn to and the stories and themes that have lived long and evoke such feeling. Maybe there is a stillness in your work... certainly there is an eternal mood that speaks to me.
I shall have to think on the word for this year...
many blessings in 2013 Mary Anne!