Days are curious in a world where art guides your way. You never know what the lock through the secret keyhole will hold. As you open your eyes, that are awakened by pure white light bouncing off walls, you wonder just that...
Some days, I might have one thing planned, but I drift in waves of other worlds and stories, and other people's lives, and memories, some seemingly not my own. Dreams, moments & thoughts swirl...
There are days, where you are aware that you must allow yourself to flow out into the vast sea of thoughts and emotions, a time to refuel, a time to catch inspirations. These are the days that new art pieces may be making their way to you. Wanting to become reality on canvas... Sirens swim all around you while you float on a giant petal in the sea of endless thoughts, much like Thumbelina...
Many times, the ticket master to such a voyage comes in the form of song. Music works its way in and takes you to places...
On this one lovely little day, I turned on my radio in the studio, which normally plays my Ipod, and I was greeted by the CD that sits permanently in my player... It is the soundtrack to Frida, the movie... (If you have not watched the 2002 film, it is lovely, as are all the special interviews in the extras section)
Often I think about Frida, her life, her endurance, her exit (I have shared this in other posts). Growing up in and around Mexico, you learn of Frida very young. I have one of her quotes written on my studio door. It is covered in hundreds of coats of paint, but I know it is there, and it sometimes peeks out...
Lila Downs was in town 2 weeks ago or so, and I missed her, but there is a song, sung by her and Caetano Veloso called Burn it Blue (part of the movie soundtrack), which is so beautiful, I listen to it often. Yesterday, it inspired me into another world...
I went for a walk in the garden while humming the tune. I came upon a shrine I made out of terracota clay many years ago. Oh, it was a fragile creation. It went through so much.
Mass cracking during drying because my coverlet was moved, so it needed rebuilding (mind you, it was already caving in). Then the kiln broke during the first firing. It had to be pulled out and was rained on through a crack in the porch at the Tucson Museum of Art Studio, while the kiln was being fixed. Then, cracking again due to the rain and the bad cooling process when the kiln broke. And finally the actual firing cracked the bottom, but not enough to break the whole piece.
So, here it sits today - a little miracle shrine... (it is huge and heavy actually)
I was inspired to turn it into my version of Burn it Blue. Frida being taken in her bed, to her last exhibit of her work that she would attend. She passed away soon thereafter and beautiful myths of her cremation and funeral are left to haunt the mind...
I had a wonderfully magical time, in this moment. I get really emotional when I hear stories of people's lives (especially artists), and feel what they left behind for all of us to grasp, to learn from, to be inspired by. It is beautiful really...
I always get a knot in my throat when I read what Frida said as she reached her last breath. It is moving and understandable after the difficult life she had...
"I hope the exit is joyful, and I hope never to return"
I also love, "Art and life are one..."
The shrine never seemed so happy...
It sits protected in my bedroom in the country, by santos and angels and dried flowers that I can't get enough of this year. I am so glad I saved Mister Primavera from loneliness at the city house. He sat there for years, and I thought, why not bring him to the country, to make all my lady friends happy ;)
Isn't it odd, how you make something 6+ years ago, and barely enjoy it and love it today? I am funny like that. I have to be right smack in the middle of a dream flutter vibe, and then, I can embrace something madly, that was always there...
Have you ever been minding your own business, and then, you remember something you have, and you go looking for it in the basement, closets or attic like a mad person? Forgotten treasures we already had. Or you just have to see a photo of someone's hands, and you can't find the photo...
I can't even believe I plunked my shrine in the garden all these years, and it survived... Sheesh...
So, there is my tale of how I spent half a day of necessary time, immersed in my shrine... You can see Frida's burning bed at the end of this video made from movie snippets & accompanied by Burn it Blue at about 4:30. (video is probably not for children)
Oh, and did you know that some people have angels with them all the time and don't even know it?
Yep, angels flying about them...
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzing around....
Lucky duck
his little angel tucked
in tendrils and curly cues
given naturally
Yes
totally perm free
Mister Lovee
Haha! He doesn't believe me about his angel. Perhaps these photos shall convince him? You think?
Oh and did you hear, of that other pink flowered curly head. So belov-ed - Fluttering through paradise???
I guess, I best be off to conjur up some more entertaining mischief. Oh, did I tell you that I have a virtual partner in crime? (not real crime of course, goodness no, more like recipes and whimsies) My friend Marjorie, who I call, Marrrrrmmmseeee. Anyhow, she made a lovely Coffee Filter Corsage from my wee tutorial, take a peek here... She did scrumptiously!!
Well, I best be off. Oh but wait, I forgot to share a few things , Miss Lisa is opening her shop today!!! And Miss Collage Contessa was nudged into making a pie & she is sharing her recipe!! And Miss Johanna from Good Girls Studio made a coffee filter corsage and put it on a vase, isn't it just lovely? And, I know I am forgetting something...
If you have not watched this Annie Leibovitz or this Leonard Cohen or this Keith Haring film, they are wonderful! (Netflixed) Oh, and I saw Bridewars. I laughed, I liked it. It was good - girl afternoon munching veggie sticks kind of a flick. Even though, I fear weddings :)
Now, I really must stop my endless chatter, chatter, chatter - chatter chatter. I promise no more, Oh Oh, I forgot to say this and that... ;) In this post, at least.
♥ ,V
ps: I am back :) But just to answer some questions about my wooden Santos. They are old antique wooden dolls (with jointed arms that come out) that I got at an antique store, years ago, at different times. They were used in religious processions, and dressed up for the events. A man who was very very old, who had lived in the Philippines collected these and brought them back to America, and over time sold them to an antique store where I bought them. I also got my life size wooden religious procession mermaid there. Funny enough, although purchased at different times, all three came from the same man's collection. So that is how I came to own those.
But I am coveting some creche treasures here at Ruby Lane, and here at Historia-Antiques...
