your expression is unique

Since starting this blog, I have had a running dialogue in my head of ideas and thoughts to explore .... continuing on the theme of self consciousness and self awareness I feel like blogging is an exercise of putting yourself out there. You don't know who is going to read this or how anyone will react but you still post.

Here is a quote that was read to me recently that has given me great self assurance and belief in my work!!!! It made sense to me & has given me a new creative freedom.

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

Martha Graham to Anges de Mille (I was told)

good-bye monkeys!!!

As I was reviewing my first entry and editing my blog, I realized that this all looked really serious and that I had become very self conscious about this whole thing ~ which I don't want to do!! In fact, I would LOVE to remove self consciousness from my vocabulary!!!! That is one of my new year’s resolutions, to shed these ‘monkeys on my back’ (as I call them) ~ the little voices that suddenly appear – ‘why that color?’ ‘what will look better?’ ‘is this a serious piece of art?’. I can hear the augment in my head…. Don’t listen, just do!!! Stop thinking and just follow your muse, but my brain can get in my way a lot!!! Yesterday I went to a vision class with Michael Dowling where we discussed many aspects of being an artist, and one thing discussed was not being self conscious in your work. Sounds good to me!! SO…. I am looking at this blog as a place where I can ramble, rant, explore, question, giggle, goof and have fun. And for the monkeys on my back – I have an idea – I am planning a sculptural dress of them – that is a good place for my monkeys!! Peace!

diving in

Well I guess it is time to take the plunge and post my first post!!!

Also there is some news to post from the Dress Project front...my Wire Dress was accepted in the Concord Art Association's (http://www.concordart.org/) member's show, juried by Peter Alpers of Alpers Fine Art, Andover MA . The show will run from Jan.10th to Feb. 3rd.