Today’s blog is simply food for thought. Does it ever concern you that too few testimonies are written about about man’s search for meaning and about finding one’s way through creative endeavors?
If so, give a nudge of encouragement to others to express themselves artistically or imaginatively without regard to their own opinion about their ability.
More than fifteen visual artists stopped by the weekly gathering yesterday on May Day, to say, “Hey, take a look at my new painting!” It was a great day to be outside. The sun was shining and there was a gentle, moderately warm breeze which swept across the lawns and portico at the historic Palladian Mansion, “The Liriodendron.”
The art talk was as interesting as always, with creatives sharing their methodology and their visions about what they brought to various surfaces. The exchange of questions led to insight about their individual style preferences, favored art supplies and so much more, such as when their paintings will make their debuts in future local, statewide and regional shows or beyond. Thus, I restrain from posting photos of individual works of art, most of which were very colorful.
It was so good to be among these artists once again. The only disappointment was although the wisteria overhead was still dripping with flowers, their purple shades of color have faded to mostly shades of gray to white. Then watch out! It is known to become wild, carefree and unruly. The new shoots of green will quickly wind and twine along along anything they can grab onto and hug.
It was a fabulous May Day with some of the many talented Harford County artists at the historic home and estate of Dr. Howard Atwood Kelly and his wife Letitia.
Good Morning from my Grandmother’s 1920’s Spinet Writing Desk. I inherited it, but unfortunately, I didn’t inherit the story behind it. Why? Sadly, I didn’t ask. My grandmother was born in January 1900 and married in the early 1920’s, so I can only surmise it was given to my grandparents as a wedding present. She enjoyed it all ninety-nine and one-half years until her passing.
It was only recently, after having moved it, I was able to get the writing surface to slide out. A drawer knob or two are missing but, she is solid as a rock, with her shapely legs. Not bad for an ole girl who is 100 years of age. I meant to clean her up before taking this photo, but then I forgot. Oh well, her imperfections give her character and in my opinion, a rich patina adds to her value and it is better than being all polished up.
Every antique and painting has a provenance or story behind it. So next time you are wandering an art gallery or museum and the artist happens to be in attendance, don’t forget to ask about the painting, sculpture, mixed-media piece that you find enchanting, enthralling, exhilarating, captivating or controversial. Backstories are what allows us see fragments of an artist’s soul. Every item that sits on my antique writing desk has a short story, too, including the “Mona” lavender clivia which I foraged from an old abandoned lot yesterday.
Yesterday, on the Sabbath, I rested my eyes on the glories of springtime at Maison Nord Garden. The private gardens were open to the public to benefit the Harford Community Action Agency.
Rhona Frank and her daughter Chrissy own the 7 acre property. Rhona’s creativity along with her her collaborator, Kelcey Degnan and their other botanical helpers is evident everywhere. Chrissy’s claim to fame is “chief duck-keeper” and event assistant. Several outbuildings were colorfully painted to perfectly accentuate certain areas. As I spoke with the elder of the two ladies, it became evident great thought is put into the design and the species of flowers she wishes to highlight at various times of the year. I was charmed by the succulent display which was planted and overtaking the roof of the children’s playhouse. The red flowering quince trees and the tulip display were beautiful as well as the woodland flowers which have poked up from under the earth – lenten rose, bleeding heart, primrose, ajuga, Virginia bluebells, just to name a few.
As I strolled the paths and the gardens, I reflected upon how God’s magnificent powers along with seed, water, soil and light, yields nourishment for both body in the way of food, and for soul, particularly after the barrenness of color all winter.
When the property was purchased, it was a farm. Now viola! Seventeen years later, many labors of love have been put into transforming it into floral gardens. The owner explained other garden highlights which will appear throughout the gardening season.
I’d like to thank this mother and daughter team, who were both delightful, for my experience there today. I jumped in on a portion of the garden tour which provided me with the names of a few plants I was unfamiliar with.
What a wonderful way to support a vital community organization, by sharing the beauty of the fruits of their labors. Look forward to returning!
Artist and Quaker-raised James Turrell once said “It was important that people come to value light as we value gold, silver, paintings, objects.”
Happy Solar Eclipse Day! I guess today is a good day to put our attention on all things celestial ~
“Hallelujah,’ I said to myself the day after Easter, “I can see the light from both sides now.” What prompted this thought, was a move I made on Easter Day from one place to another. Where I was living, faced in one direction. All light came from west-facing windows only. When I awoke on April 1st in my new abode, I realized how my exposure to the sun had changed. The day starts with the bright light coming in the Eastside windows and then moves around to the other side throughout the day. I can now see both sunrise and sunset.
And very fortunate for me, as an early riser and one who writes first thing in the morning, there is a beautiful little window seat on the East side where the light streams in brilliantly. We will see what new thoughts and perceptions come from my new early morning writing space.
Read more on American artist, James Turrell, who “is known for his work within the Light and Space movement.”
An authentic Gaelic writer, also known as a seanchaí, I am not, but what fun it is to play with words while thinking about the characters found in Irish pubs on this day celebrating Saint Patty. Many are doing what seems to come natural to them – oral storytelling.
Hundreds of years ago the Irish placed great value on things of the spirit, mind and imagination because material goods were hard to come by. They put faith in their gift of gab to deliver a good tale in the local public houses, bars and pubs.
On this day when everyone seems to find a little Irish in them, Happy Wearing of the Green!
*****
An Ode to Irish Writers
Tierney O’Leary
Felt awfully dreary.
Lack-luster and paled
from too much ale.
The Irish fog had lasted too long
it was time to find a new song.
So, he went to the chapel
to kinda grapple.
A decision was made
which he obeyed.
Life became lived much safer
on grape juice and wafer.
He wrote with great fervor
it became a life preserver.
He was no longer sad
instead, an upstanding lad.
Oh, the power of art
when set on one’s heart.~~
©Sue Batton Leonard
Happy St. Patty’s Day to all
May you never stumble and fall!
“Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam. A country without a language is a country without a soul.” ― Pádraig Pearse, Architect of the Easter Rising in Ireland
March is here. I can already feel a wellspring of creativity bubbling up. Before every next leap I’ve taken in this creative life of mine, I’ve known it because I awaken around 4 am every morning. My mind becomes active and I may as well settle into whatever it is that is brewing, write it down and complete the dialogue I am having with myself. Or occasionally I’ll dabble with paint. Trying to go back to sleep before daybreak is a lost cause.
I am grateful for even earlier than usual awakenings because to me that means spring is in the air and creative energy is stirring.
Charlotte Brontë was right when she said, “A ruffled mind makes a sleepless pillow.”
“Hand-penned letters written by our ancestors are evidence of their human spirit, and in part, our own.” ~ Sue Batton Leonard
Does anyone share my opinion that a part of civility went out the window when the popularity of corresponding by handwritten letter went by the wayside?
I ended up being the “caretaker” of the largest part of the maternal family ancestral records, memorabilia and ephemera. Among them are letters to and from one of my ancestors, whom I believe was a woman ahead of her time. She held a position in the late 1800’s that few other women in the country did. Her treasured correspondence has details about her employment and resignation from her position. The letters are so properly and beautifully communicated, they put our dashed off business and personal-related text and email communications in this day and age to shame.
Every so often I reread the letters, thinking I will try to pair down what I am storing, but five years after my parent’s deaths, it is very difficult to do. It would be like forgetting my forebearers from several past generations ever existed. To me, that is a moral/ethical dilemma when I think an author’s literary influences and writings, in part, come from the provision of one’s inherited background.
“…man is a bundle of relations, a knot of roots, whose flower and fruitage is the world…” Ralph Waldo Emerson
So what’s your story? I’ve often wondered if people would live their lives differently if they considered every single day we are writing our own legacy by the choices we make, the way we interact with one another and the things we take an interest in. When reflecting on one’s life, sometimes the memoirist gets a glimpse into what an individual would like to do over, if given the chance. Unfortunately, we only have one chance at wholesome living here on earth.
What it is like help an individual reflect on one’s life? Here is a little insight into The Art of the Memoir
Inspire Your Heart with Art Day is coming up, thus the reason for this post.
Have you ever known anyone who seems to make an art out of everything they do? I have. I greatly admire them for it. I try to put a little touch of creativity into my every day tasks and bring beauty into my home any which way I can.
I enjoy casual crafting and find personal fulfillment in that. I had fun handcrafting a few simple Christmas gifts. Decoupage satisfied my desire to dabble with something I hadn’t done in a decades. The colors held pretty well on the pansies I had been pressing between parchment paper inside a book since last spring.
Photo Above: Three decoupaged art journals. Most of the pages were left blank, so the recipient can use the booklet however they wish. My sister called me immediately after receiving hers. “I know exactly what I am going to do with mine!” I look forward to seeing it. She received the journal on the right.
In my writing as with my crafting, I don’t wait for inspiration to strike. I’ve learned to start and see where my Creator leads me. Living without overthinking too much gives us freedom to live by what comes naturally. That’s wholesome living in and of itself.
Cheers for a creative New Year! Hard to believe the first month is nearly over.
All Things Fulfilling 