Migration/Talisman 6

The discs measure approx 2 1/2" and the talismans approx. 3 1/2" in length. air drying clay, acrylic, wire, beads and tissue paper collage. Silver, gold and copper leaf.

This makes a total of eight and I believe will be the end of these migration discs...also the end of the bag of clay! I plan on framing them together in a boxed type frame...worthy  of an artifact! Great fun and challenge working with clay and outside of my comfort zone. This art making reminded me of one of my 'family stories':

The story begins with me (very young) taking a field trip with my Bluebird troop to a local cannery.  Soon after I donned my grandmothers hairnet and set up my very own cannery in the driveway. I used my mothers canning jars and included water and added a mixture of ALL her flowers...fuchsia and azaleas etc...I placed these jars on the fence in a row so the sun would heat these concoctions and I believe I was rather pleased with myself until my mother went into a minor shock! This is one of the stories that seemed to prove I was a bit of a puzzle and here I am full circle 100 + years later creating these artifacts of migration discs that only exist in my imagination. Making these has given me profound joy and with my writing...personal insights.

What is next? I always check my list of pulls and that gives me direction. Right now I have two books on my work table: "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan and "Our Universe" by Roy A. Gallant. I have been regularly saving articles reporting on discoveries of new planets and I am on a waiting list for a book on Myths of the Universe at the library. I've explored this before...planets, stars, moons and now I feel ready to take another look at this Universe and going to the edge of the Milky Way to see some of these "new" planets. I have posted a bit of writing from my last exploration several years ago and I will continue to fill my journal and paint from science and my imagination...my own brand of Raggedy Ann Imagination?!

Loving planets and stars. Sighting the loyal rainbow ringed Neptune and old Pluto so easily forgotten.
Remembering and loving the brave walks on the hills of Jupiter's north side and consciously
Adoring Venus lower regions as much or more than the upper levels and secret locations on
Mars.
Always shy, wary of the Dog Star, turning left at the Y, floating, descending in the clear frost
Of the Milky Way.
I've been space traveling before seasons of written time.
Once riding the arrow of the Huntress and resting under the Scorpion's tail. Now in beginning
Recall, telling my stories in recorded messages and familiar pictographs of the years of loving and
Living among the planets and stars.

Wednesday: What's On Your Walls?

I'm starting this Wednesday subject because I have plenty of work on my walls and my new work is progressing very slowly...I'm buying time! The question is to share what you have on your walls, be it children's art (some of the best) collections, your own art, etc. So, every Wednesday (if I remember) I will share work on my walls, mine or other artists work.

As far back as I can remember, I have loved the planets, moons and stars. ..I'm not an expert on the science but I'm always ready to read the latest findings. My love for the planets extends to a fascination with the mythology connected to the cosmos. I once did a series on my travels to the planets....metaphorically speaking!

This piece measures 18" x 18" and is mixed media, collage, magazine photos and acrylic. I began this work by first loving the tension between this cluster of circles and from there I developed a vision of planets and moons. I have it in my hallway so it is a view between rooms...like a window.

It's raining today...very Spring kind of rain...sunshine, showers, wind, overcast and then all over again but not always in that order. I'm going to quit the studio , clean my brushes and go to the kitchen to start soup...plain old-fashioned turkey and rice.