Become a Collector of Words, A Creator of Images...

Last Saturday, participants came from Atlanta, Charleston, Hartsville and Columbia to gather at the Columbia Museum of Art to pause from the hectic pace of life and delve into the creative process.   They came in search of inner phosphorescence, that glowing luminescent quality that enlivens and inspires the direction of our lives.  I Heard A Voice - The Art of Leslie Dill , an exhibition on display until January 23, 2011, was the catalyst for this workshop.

Leslie Dill calls herself a collector of words and she finds great inspiration and guidance from others, poets who eloquently weave words together into magical nuances of what it is to be human. Leslie takes words, poetic fragments and integrates them into powerful visual meditative "knowings".  

Emily Dickinson is one of Leslie's muses.  Emily loved words and phosphorescence was one of her favorites - "Now, there's a word to lift your hat to, to find that phosphorescence, that light within, that's the genius behind poetry."   I would say that is the genius behind all art and life itself.

 

Marion Woodman teaches us that the light within, that still small voice "burns away what is no longer relevant and gradually reveals our essence.  Until, at last, we are strong enough to stand in our naked truth."

Being able to dip in and out of the spacious galleries that are holding the artwork of Leslie Dill allowed everyone to become closer to that naked truth.  Leslie's work inspires that within us and encourages us to unearth, to find the courage to reveal the next layer of personal unfolding. 

Reading out-loud and silently reflecting on the words of poets such as Emily Dickinson, Mary Oliver, Pablo Neruda, Rumi,  Marge Piercy...ushered our inner voices forward.  

Consider picking up a book of poetry and seeing which lines might sing to you.

Become a collector of  words...and images...and see where it might lead you.

Finding Your Inner Phosphorescence

Last month, I had an unintentional retrospective exhibition at Benedict College that included works over a 20 year period.   It was unintentional in that I thought it was scheduled for 2011 not 2010 so I scurried around to gather up enough work for a cohesive show.   Dreading the thought of showing “old” work, I was delighted during both of my gallery talks that these young students were fascinated by many of my older works focusing on Lilith. 

Lilith, Adam's first wife had a strong individual voice and  definite opinions!  She was too much for Adam and he banished her from the Garden. These college students and I had lively insightful conversations about Lilith and how her powerful, strong, independent voice got her into trouble.  Lilith symbolizes what many feel our world needs more of today.

Inspired by this, I decided to revisit some of the archetypes of the sacred feminine.   This weekend I finished a painting for Vista Lights, entitled Lilith’s Reclaiming.   This idea of reclaiming and moving our voices forward continues to be relevant.  Our voices as individuals, as members of a community...when do we speak out-loud and when do we acquiesce our voice?   What causes us to fold inward, to loose trust in our uniqueness, our inner knowings?

  
  

  

This work by Leslie Dill, I Heard a Voice #1, prompts the viewer to root around for new ways of thinking about voice and hearing.  What are your associations with these words?  What kinds of outer and inner voices are there?  Can we use other senses to hear?  How are voices related to our soul?   Can we hear even though no words are spoken?  Can voices in our dreams have relevance in our lives?

Who are the poets, the dancers, the musicians, the artists who nudge you forward in life?

Mary Oliver is one of mine...

This Saturday we will explore the idea of moving our voices forward in the  workshop,  Finding your Inner Phosphorescence through Word and Image based on Lesley Dill’s Exhibition I Heard a Voice currently at the Columbia Museum of Art. 
 

The genius of others, their words, their poetry, fuels  Lesley Dill's creative fire, inspiring her, leading her closer into her own essence as well as inspiring her visual imagery.   One of Lesley's favorite poets is Emily Dickinson: 
 

"PHOSPHORESCENCE. Now there's a word to lift your hat to,

to find that phosphorescence, that light within, that's the genius behind poetry."  

That is the genius behind art.   The art of continual becoming. 

Today is Day of the Dead

Did not get down to the 5-Points Fountain this Halloween weekend? Well give yourself a few minutes after you go to the voting polls today and visit our Autumn Remembrance.   Pause for a few minutes to remember...


Today is Dead of the Dead.  

Enjoy this website to see what is happening today in other parts of the Latin World.

Healing Icon's intern from USC's Moore School of Business is assisting me with strategic planning and marketing. Little did she know her interests in Entrepreneurship would lead her to create a Day of the Dead altar. 

Memorials and Offerings

Our 2010 Autumn Remembrance will come down tomorrow,
Wednesday morning, November 3

...many hundreds of candles were lit
offerings were left
stories shared
hearts warmed and comforted...

"There are two ways to live:
 You can live as if nothing is a miracle:
you can live as if everything is a miracle"
 Albert Einstein