As Spring Flies Into Summer

The White Crane: Flying Into Dreams, Bonnie Joy Bardos, 48" x 60", oil

Once we recognize that all things are impermanent, we have no problem enjoying them. In fact, real peace and joy are only possible when we see clearly into the nature of impermanence. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Spring turns into summer, weeks of rain fade into hot sunny days. Here at the old Art House, River and I spend mornings out on the front porch: I drink a morning mug of coffee, and he basks in sunshine. We stroll through the daylilies, lush roses, pink honeysuckle, catmint, bright phlox, yellow suns of coreopsis. Hydrangeas in white, blue, lavender spill throughout the gardens. Knee Deep, the resident fish pond King, sits on his mossy rock. Birds flit, in the afternoon sun, crows wing low over the road, cawing.

This month, a new exhibit opens at the Upstairs Artspace, and the above painting will be part of it, along with alot of contemporary art. I'm in "Four Women/Four Journeys" which features Carol Beth Icard, Patricia Cole Ferullo, and Linda Hudgins. We've been friends and fellow artists for years. Downstairs, nationally famed Stoney Lamar appears with the likes of Dale McEntire, Dale Weiler, David Zacharias, Mark Gardner, Shane Varnadore and more in a sculpture show. Holland Van Gores shows his fine wood-turnings also--the exhibits will run through August 3. The Upstairs goes back 40 years: back to the days when Craig Pleasants opened the upstairs bedrooms in his house as a place for artists to show work. Not just any work, either. Craig had a vision. Out of those artists, a lot went on to become famous. The gallery moved, and the first time I found it, it was beside City Hall in Tryon, NC...and that was the beginning. Poetry coffeehouses, gatherings, and interesting art (along with people). A non-profit, the gallery has been in its current location beside the Tryon Theater since the early 2000's...in fact, I worked there for a good five years, up until 2011 or so, and remember "String of Pearls", the 30th anniversary gala we put on. Craig and Sheila Pleasants came. The mission of the gallery has always been Craig's: that the Upstairs would support artists, and show their work: work that would not necessarily be commercially sales-driven stuff. I hope that stays the same. Run by a Board of Directors, the Upstairs will hopefully go on another 40 years!

November Musings: The Artist's Life

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.” ~ Martha Graham

My blog post for November is inspired by an artist friend of mine, Carol Beth Icard, who has a link on this blog site (please visit her transcendent work) along with a quote by Martha Graham. As artists, we tend to question our worth in this world according to how much art we sell, how others react to it, how many galleries we're in--it's brutal out there. Buddhist teacher Pema Chodron reminds us that our job is “come as you are.” Over and over, through the years I've done this blog, I've spoken of how tough it is to make your way through this world as an artist: to stay true to self and soul, to keep on going even when your work may not be selling like hotcakes, when no one is knocking on your door to buy. To come as you are.

Yes, there are weeks and months when I wonder if I'll ever buy another bag of groceries, pay my old-house propane bill or make ends meet. Over the past decade, I have learned to find gratitude for my struggles along 'the path' of art making and creation, for the words I write. I don't do what I do to make money--that isn't the driving force, nor do I want it to be. But let's face it, this is the real world, where you need something in your billfold to get through. Somehow, every time I question myself and think I'm going to fall, something happens. A show, a sale, a commission, or someone out there in the world who discovers my work and gives me the gift of their belief and joy in what I've created, the pouring out of soul onto the page or canvas, or in a sculpture. A couple years ago, an art supporter who had just chosen several pieces pointed out to me "No one does it like YOU do." We all need to get those reminders to keep those channels open, to express our unique gifts.

Daily, I'm at it: again the old Zen saying comes into play: chop wood; carry water. Chop wood, carry water. The drum beat grows louder in my soul: time ticks loudly, and I remain ever resolute about carrying on, despite the weight of the water bucket. Or in my case, the paint bucket! On we go, amid the noise and haste (Desiderata) carrying our water, chopping the wood. I hope someone sees that sparkle on the water: for it's what gives us all life. Think about it. Buy art, not knock-off art from China: buy from an artist you know, or like. Keep on feeding their spirit, their physical body. Keep them going.