Friday, January 6, 2017

Quite the day!

Jammin

Work in Progress
Acrylic on watercolour paper
12 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017

There is a lot going on in my family right now that is
hard, sad and frightening.  This centers around health
and our worries about family members.  At times like these
when possible, I find it is never more important to do as they say in one
of my favourite meditations and "hold a little space 
around you that is just for you."  That meditation goes on
to say, "sink back into that space."  How lovely.

For artists the space we need to hold around us is a space
for art.  The visual is always with us.  We are a bit nuts
that way.  In the midst of trouble, we're drawing the 
people's expressions in our mind.  Tonight I spent a some
time working on a little painting I started in November.
The inspiration was in one of the worst traffic jams I've 
been in in a long time.  In this city that's saying something.  
Traffic is us.

And here's the thing.  In the middle of a terrible traffic 
jam, so slow I could have turned my motor off, I was
noticing how beautiful everything looked in a harsh,
urban way.  Light bouncing off the cars, the sun setting,
my view blocked by a huge SUV.   I worked on this a bit
tonight.  It isn't finished yet, but it's getting closer. 

Have a holding-a-space-for-art day. 

4 comments:

  1. Barbara, This one really grabs me. You and your wonderful family are always in our thoughts. Thanks again for the wonderful new year -- you and Steven throw the best parties-- crazy about your pets too. To put it succinctly, you paint beautiful paintings and Steven is handsome and a fantastic cook.
    ❤ M&D

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  2. Beautiful, Barbara. Love the golden light illuminating the dark traffic. Your post reminds me of line by Rilke: "Take everything in, the beauty and the terror....Don't lose touch with me."

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  3. Hi Marcia,

    Thank you so much. You are in our thoughts too. It was a wonderful party and great
    breakfast with you two. True Steven is handsome, and a fantastic cook, and you two
    put on quite the amazing dinners and incredible art and photography shows! Miss you.

    <3 Barbara

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  4. Hi Mary Lou,

    Thank you so much. I was very moved by your poem in the parking lot when your mother
    was dying. Moved by everything you and your family did. I'm not one for a long poem
    except to read, my feet start twitching, but your poem in the parking lot made Sam
    and I cry and it was so right. Thank you, and thank you for this. Also perfect. I am
    lucky to be happy, and an artist. So I am taking everything in. Wishing you much love.

    XOXOXOXOXO Barbara

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