Sunday, November 29, 2009

a little somethin’ sweet ~ bob messes around with poems which proves intelligent music loves language:) ….oh oh oh! and a little ‘four’ magic

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand an interview I am so honored to have been invited to do with Erin Faith Allen

This week’s lesson coming up for my e~course is ‘creative space’ so I shot this little film this afternoon ~ I had my dog and two boys and was suddenly infused with the idea of making a gallery down by the sea…the boys held the string (fishing tackle) the dog chased the seagulls..and I believe I shot this video (on my little point and shoot camera) ohhhh…5 times because the boys kept laughing and messing up my natural soundtrack. It was a very misty evening but I quite like the moodiness of this little film. I just love the idea of an outdoors gallery, or an organic clothing shop in the forest (with clothes hanging on branches) ~ I am so completely at home in the wild expanse of nature.

Oh! Oh! Oh! and speaking of creative ~ pop by here and see what these two beautiful women are up to:)

This morning I awoke to a soft breezy sea~scented day, hopped on my bicycle and peddled up to a local cafe for coffee and almond croissants to do a little writing. Fall is tiptoeing into the year wearing a crimson beret and scarf with gold~struck leaves so I celebrated by wearing my favorite scarf ~ a raw silk handspun beauty from India with lovely little ‘mirrors’ sewn into the fabric throughout. What is it about slipping into a corner table by the window of a machiatto infused cafe to scribble in my notebook with uptempo jazz and chatter in the background? Perhaps it was so beautifully expressed by Natalie Goldberg when she wrote ‘the deepest secret in our heart of hearts is that we are writing because we love the world, and why not carry that secret out with us?’ Yes!!!!!

I do love the world:) This year I will be teaching a personal expression through photography course at a Fine Arts Elementary school to grade sevens which has me so tickled and impatient to begin. It is a wonderful school where the curriculum balances the academics with the arts teaching drama, music, art and dance. I am bursting at the seams with ideas for my classes and am planning an exhibit in the school with the children’s photographs which will also have a ‘photo booth’ (with a ‘live’ ‘fuji instax mini’ photographer ready to take your portrait) and a writing booth where you can purchase a free verse poem written just for you as you wait:) Oh my ideas are flowing! The school is incredibly beautiful with views of the ocean, a theatre, a gallery and dance studio. Such a wonderful place to grow and learn.  As this project draws to a close, I will using my notes and experiences to begin an e~course for children based around it.

In the next day or so I am also unveiling my new e~course, ‘Bones of a Poet ~ Yes!’ which is a wonderful blend of writing and photography. This course in particular is so personal to me as it is the path of self expression through writing and images that called so much beauty and possibility into my world. Pop by here for course registration information in the next day or so:)

Today I am making pumpkin cookies ( a yearly tradition with the children) taking photo’s down at the beach of a wonderful little red typewriter I found at a thrift shop, looking forward to my trip to new york to see van morrison with my love, and pondering the question posed in this podcast ~ I am so curious ~ do you need an audience for your art?

Have a simply perfect Sunday…and oh oh oh! i love this so! and i would dearly love to own this… and this girl cracks me up

Happy hour early! I spent such a lovely afternoon in my girlfriend’s studio while she worked on a mural. What is it about being around art in progress…or music….photography…dance…cooking…anything oh anything that is lost in the whirlwind of creation that makes me lose myself completely to the gust of that nativity? And then suddenly…that happy ‘hour’ has been hours and I am so tired but utterly content ~ filled to the brim with the fierce love and passion of conception.

My happy hour today can be viewed here:) and a some music here:)

Susanna’s winged messenger placed quite joyfully on the ferry I took over to the Island while visiting my Mother:)

A very spontaneous day when suddenly I felt compelled to visit an art gallery and went down to the AGO ~ and oh! there was a wonderful exhibit called Surreal things which seemed quite suited to my state of mind oddly enough.

I was utterly transfixed as I wandered through room after room of stage sets filled with ballet costumes, gorgeous illustrations, ’shocking’ perfume bottles, furniture, Cocteau’s films and seriously stunning photographs. I have to say there is nothing more enlivening and meditative all in the same breath as an afternoon spent wandering through an art gallery. As I was leaving I stumbled upon a bride and groom who were getting married in the gallery and snapped some  photo’s of the ‘kiss” and let it be said here and now I love kissing.  Kissing makes the world a better place for sure:) Tomorrow is Sunday and I plan to celebrate with cupcakes and a day in Kensington Market ~ what are you up to?

immerse yourself in a little improv joy to bring a BIG smile to your Sunday:) ~ read all about Improv everywhere here:)

Have a splendid Sunday!

Susanna’s winged messenger poetically swaying in the warm evening breeze of the county fair

The other evening we went to the Fayette county fair where I found myself transported back in time to a warm country evening strolling the fairgrounds, admiring the blue ribboned prize winning tomatoes, pokeberries and runner beans. Snacking on fish sandwiches, (the perogies were all sold out, alas) french fries smothered in melted cheese whiz and ice cold Pepsi. (glancing longingly, but full, at the banana cream pies) The petting zoo was adorable as children lined up to purchase baby bottles filled with milk to offer the goats, llama’s and ambling piglets. There were soft rabbits, indifferent roosters and a horse named Ruby that captured my heart with his kissable nose and warm liquid eyes.

And oh, lest I forget, I am clearly not to old for the carnival as we hopped in line for the spinning rides, haunted castle and the twirling swings which spun us up up up laughingly into the indigo sky under the amiable gaze of the full moon. A word of caution however….french fries smothered in hot melted cheese whiz is not the best compliment to fiercely spinning rides:)

Strolling along I passed by a lovely carousel ride all bedecked in lights and color and music …and it was here that I decided to set one of Susanna’s winged messengers free. Children ran by with great exuberance and I happen to know for a fact that one happy child with four siblings was bold enough to take Susanna’s winged messenger home ~ cradled gently and admiringly by her astonished father. A most perfect ending to a wonderful night:)

and just in case you feel like jumping...the perfectly perfect tune:)…aaaaand out of the closet with sea to sky on a sunday

“Akeru’  (Japanese) ~ meaning to end, begin, to expire, to start, to unwrap, to pierce… to turn over.

Akeru. How beautiful ‘akeru’s’ gust and so true to my life this year. And ‘yes’. Oh that word ‘yes’ that sounds steadfastly simple and stands so valiant with those three little letters. It certainly isn’t  as  easy as it sounds however as someone once observed~ ‘Madelyn with her big ‘yes’ and hundreds of quiet little ‘no’s’ whispering away in the background.’ There are times when I have been so afraid to say ‘yes’ and that is where my writing, my photography have been my greatest lover. It is through my writing and my images that I have shouted ‘yes’ allowing my intentions, my yearnings, my dreams to guide me ever forward. Here lies the magic of self expression, whether it be in writing, in art, in music…in daydreaming. It is so present, so potent…so seeded. When I think back to when I began writing on my blog three years ago I had no idea of the l i f e of self expression. I could not even begin to imagine that it would take me on a trip to India with my son, to having my writing published, my photo’s represented by Getty images. I did not know it would encourage me one word at a time (before I was even ready to take the actual steps in my real life) to map out my dreams for how I wanted my life to look. And I certainly did not know that life could be difficult, messy, painful at times even when allowing my small dreams a stage to say ‘yes’ on. And yet. Art in all it’s forms of self expression is constant…it is movement…and is, in itself, a living thing ~ and therein lies the possibility.

So ~ here in this beautiful new home for Madelyn’s Persisting Stars ~ I pierce…unwrap…begin….and say ‘yes!’ Yes to beautiful new adventures…to wide open windows…to kissing. Because every story should begin with kissing:)

I have so much to say…so much to share as I have two beautiful projects I want to tell you about. But for today I thought I would take a moment to say a huge thank you!!!! to Kerstin who designed this entire website in just a few days ….working countless hours bringing it to life all the while dealing with my thousands of daily e~mails ‘just wondering…if ‘this’ could be done or ‘that’ added…’ She was always enthusiastic, patient and generous with me and I am more grateful than she will ever know. That she worked long midnight hours on persisting stars even in the face of a move in her own life is such an indication of the heart in that dear girl:)

It is my very first post in my brand new space and I wished to celebrate with a giveaway. Now, I have turned off my comments on this website for many reasons. I want visitors to come here and enjoy my little world that I share without feeling they have to comment. I am simply honored that people show up and that in itself makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. As well….I want to be true to myself in every way without wondering how people are reacting to my thoughts ~ freeing myself up to be even more honest in my self explorations. That said, I love e~mails and would love to hear from you anytime you care to write me ~ And on that note! If you would like to win 2 photo’s of your choice from my etsy shop please send me a little e~mail in the next week (at persistingstars2@yahoo.ca) ~ the ‘draw’ will be on Sunday. ( which is my favorite day of the week in case you didn’t know.)

Yes!