Happy

My husband is almost always happy.
He loves me.
I love him.
He is my reward in this life.

Dawn

Sat alone and watched the sun come up.
Paying attention to what I can. Simple things. No one else is up yet.

It really is all about the light. It reflects off the red bark of the Madrona trees and the seed heads of
the grasses. Everything  is tinged with the moisture of the Salish Sea.

And I thought I don't need to draw a tree or try to imitate this perfection. All my landscapes are internal. My textiles are a net to capture tiny beasts and furtive feelings. My sculptures are what crawls out endlessly.

And then I thought. There is a difference between a performance and a silent reflection. The difference for the need for the external and the internal. And what is true perfection.

I don't need to show my beauty. Or bejewel what is there. Because it is perfect. The life and death of it. I keep it hidden from sight because it is too beautiful to show. It is so precious that the light would carry it away.

Awkward Dance

Both times I lost you
it was about the duplication of cells
that were not released from me
or were
to become a scarlet stream
filled with what remained of the
last tender contact.

I will miss the two of you always.
Despite discretion.
And awkward dances.

For XXOOB

Packaging It Up For Good.

I am in for emergency radiation in one week. On my upper spine.
To knock the tumour growth in my bones back and to stop this
endless pain.

The treatment has started already. It is going to be a lot more
difficult than the last treatment. Once again I have to find a balance point so
I can cope. Some days I really can't and have to find a starting all over point.

Femke van Delft is here to do many things including documenting my
work and experiments. My hidden corners. The process.

I have been asked to talk more about my life. ...

I wonder what it is responsible for me to reveal. This freezes my blood.
Does that mean I talk about what is hidden and things nearly forgotten?
Failures? Desires? Obsessions? Accomplishments?

I am really not ready for this but time is pretty close to the bone.

So all my stuff gets hauled out and discussed in an objective but passionate way which will
hopefully leave this  trace of me with a touch of meaning.

In the meantime I will try to wrap things up into a tidy little package.

Add caption

Anonymous Flowers.

I hung my first pieces for public view on Mayne Island. It is for the show "Hot Rocks".
It was pulled together by the Southern Gulf Island's Arts Council. I just joined.

The show was hung with haphazard community delight. The hanging committee had really not seen any of the work before it was brought into the showplace. Tim stayed with me and negotiated a really visible place for my work. It had lighting and could be seen soon after entering the door. He would only hang the work himself. I suggested that we just draw an instruction map and leave it. Nope. He was armed with measuring tapes and a complete hanging tool kit. He hip checked all other helpers out of the way. He parked me in a rocker near the window so I could see the sea and my work.

The opening happened on Saturday night. The Island residents and holiday people attended.  Music and spoken word. Wine and really good food. The deal was...you bring a potluck snack and wine...the cost of the opening shared. And it was fun.

George Bathgate showed his antlered mask. Jen Osh showed her lovely doll. Drew Ferneyhough showed his beautiful transmorphic paintings. Kat Ferneyhough did this delicious little sculpture made from paper

There were four pieces of my work from the series "Underground". Not for sale and not new.
I was shocked at how well received the work was. Tons of people talked to me, asked questions, asked to buy, asked where else I was showing and asked..."What is it?" "How is it?" People seen since I moved here but had not yet talked to offered me hugs and kind comments. Invited me to other things.

I got home and there was a bouquet of little yellow roses at the door.
No idea from who. Anonymous flowers.

Colour Retreat

Sweethaven is starting to provide respite for travelling artists. So many people have visited
and both rested and created. This is what I wanted and this is the perfect time for me.

Paula Scott is visiting for a few days and Femke van Delft is coming in later today.

This morning Paula and I are on the side deck. I am burning away and she is painting backdrops for a show at Robson Valley.

Artist Paula Scott painting a backdrop for the Robson Valley Music Festival.