A Couple of Notes
I just finished co-facilitating my first online collage class with a group of wonderful folks dealing with cancer. I am grateful for the experience and learned a lot through the process. I am bringing a couple new things into this creative inquiry format.
I have added, see below, a "warm up exercise". Besides having the art inquiry as content to explore deeply, this exercise offers a little something concrete to play with in terms of collaging techniques. This week, it’s an exercise to create layers in your collage.
I have also added back into my closing of the inquiry the note to remind you that what comes into the world through you is unique and beautiful. And I believe what the world needs is more of your authentic expression. Thank you again, for all your creative efforts and the difference they make to your life and others.
This Week’s Inquiry
This week’s inquiry is "what happens when you allow your experience to
be?" Can you watch your thoughts and feelings arise in your experience
and just let them be? Nothing needs to be changed, fixed, added to. No
one and nothing is wrong or right. Your experience just is.
So, part of this inquiry may be noticing your judgments of yourself,
others and what’s happening in the moment – "Good, job. l like it. This
sucks. It’s your fault." Just notice it all. Stay present with
yourself. Feel your feelings. Have your thoughts. Watch yourself moving
away from the uncomfortable places and trying to make something else
happen.
Life is a complex experience for most of us so I recommend choosing one
area to focus on this week. An area that might work well for you (it
does for me) is art-making. I consider "studio time" making art to be a
mini lab where I watch myself and my experience. I can notice the
feelings, thoughts, impulses, judgment and wherever arises in my
experience. Since I’m working alone at my own pace, I can pause when needed. And a pause can bring space to what’s happening in my experience.
Art-Making Inquiry- allowing your images, no corrections
Here’s an exercise to explore this week’s inquiry "what happens when you allow your experience to be?" Give yourself a few minutes to make an image using whatever medium you like. While creating the image, don’t change anything about it – no erasing, no covering over the bits you don’t like, no corrections, no taping the rip, no gluing down the edges.
See if you can notice when the impulse to "control – change – fix" comes up. Feel it. Feel the discomfort of the way you think it is and your opinion about how it should be.
Pause. Take a breath.
Don’t act on the feeling and thoughts. Let the image be.
Continue with your process. Pause as often as you need to.
When you are finished, write in your journal about your experience.
Warm up Exercise – A Three Layered Collage
Create a collage with at least three layers to it. Something glued down is layer 1, something glued on top of it is layer 2. Something glued on top of layer 2 becomes layer 3. Simple.
You decide whether you want the layers below to show and if you do how much and how to let them be revealed.
My Art Work as Inspiration for Your Art Work
Note: If you are local to Redwood City, CA and in the downtown library, I have four collages on display until the end of June.
I share my artwork here with you to inspire you to create your artwork. It is through your art-making that you will discover more about who you are.
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| 60608.jpeg, magazine images & paper, 2008, 12" x 12", |
60508.jpeg, magazine images & paper, 2008, 12" x 12" |
52808.jpeg, |
You can click on an image or its title to see a larger version within the online
gallery.
I always welcome a connection with you. If you would like to share about
the inquiry, art-making or other things happening in life, please feel
free to contact
me.
Previous inquiries are online at www.artasaccess.com/resources/inquiries
Have
a great week and live in the remembrance that in all of time, there will only be one you. Your greatest gift to yourself and the world is the expression of your authentic self. By using art-making to connect deeply with yourself, may you find the courage and strength to share your beautiful, joyous self with the world.
-Ryl
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