Give Me Back My Crayons!

Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the "creative bug" is just a wee voice telling you, "I'd like my crayons back, please" ~Hugh MacLeod

I don't completely agree with this quote, but I like it anyway. ;D Personally, I'm way more creative now than I was as a child and I don't think it's the distribution of algebra books that distracts teens from creativity... more the redistribution of clothing, sayin?

ANYWAY.

The whole point is, there comes a time in many an adult life when you need to reclaim some of who you were as a child. The wonder. The adventure. The sheer joyful exuberance! The sense that things were....possible. Because I don't know about you, but a lot of stuff happened along the way that sent the message some things were not for me. Since I don't want this blog to be my online therapy session (everyone breathe a collective sigh of relief and say "Oh thank God for that"...no, no...you weren't in unison and this time in the key of F major please) I'll pick a fairly trivial example. Besides, this is what I really want to tell you about anyway and I'm just trying to make it sound deep and impressive, now play along, 'kay?

I got a bike yesterday!!!

I did! I did! I was absolutely giddy in the checkout line, let me tell you. I have not ridden a bike in about twenty years. No kidding. But all four of my kids have bikes..and I was getting jealous. I loved riding my bike when I was a little girl. I could FLY. No hands and everything. I would ride to the creek. I would ride to school. I would sneak off and ride to the convenience store and smuggle home chips and eat the whole bag and.....well. Yeah. Hence the beginning of the end. Thus began a weight problem that lasted for 22 years. Obesity and bike-riding are not the most compatible of concepts. So you see... a few decades of being overweight had me convinced that physical fun was not for me. Not part of my identity.

But, I lost all the weight a few years ago and have been in a maelstrom of personal redefinition ever since. Buying a bike was no longer ludicrous. A little scary, perhaps, but not ludicrous.

Here's my new baby:



I call it Vie. Short for Violet Velocity. But just right for strive.

Helmets are required here, and I don't wanna tangle with an MP. (really, I don't) So here I am looking extremely goofy with my yewge cranium wedged into my new helmet.

I titled the pic "No Fear" when I saved it. But this was sheer prevarication. I was actually a skosh close to terrified. I know they say you don't forget how to ride a bike...but...but... Whoever they were, though, they were right!!! It came back so fast! I was a little wobbly on turns for a few passes, but it really didn't take long before I could fly again!

It felt incredible. Deliciously, delightfully, exuberantly incredible. I had the biggest, silliest grin on my face the whole time. Especially when I took off and rode some of the paths through the woods around here. The feelings of childhood - the good part of childhood mind you - came in with the wind in my face and it was total euphoria. I felt merry and brave and adventurous and POSSIBLE. Yeah. I got my crayons back.

Mojo on the go, yo. Later!

Steppin' Out With My Mojo

I'm still daydreaming about the future of my new studio... but you know, the proper care and feeding of mojo also involves taking it out of the studio, away from the workspace, and getting it some fresh air. Mojo needs room to breathe, eh?

This time of year, there's something going on just about every weekend that will delight the senses, even if it drains your wallet. ;) Back at the beginning of this month, I was delighted to attend Artisphere, the annual downtown Arts Festival. I actually went twice in one day. In the morning with my mom, and in the evening with my husband and four sons. Needless to say, I did more visual feasting on art in the morning....but in the evening I got my hands dirty. ;)

I wandered starry-eyed and sunburned from booth to booth, drinking in the incredible photography, painting, pottery, metalsmithing, lampworking, woodwork, and more. One display of the most amazing polymer clay work I had ever seen actually made me freeze in place and say "WOW". The artist was quite amused. I had many moments of "Wish I were rich-itis" for the paintings I coveted. And I fell head over heels in love with a sterling cuff that was festooned with bamboo pieces and a single dark pearl. It was sculptural and bold and stunning and I still wish I had bought it. Someday... Ah yes. Someday.

When we came back with the kids, I enjoyed revisiting the booths and showing things to my family, especially my oldest son. He was intrigued by one metalsmith in particular who was doing fantastic things with geometric layers of metal and cold connections. Then we wandered it the more kid-friendly part of the festival. As we meandered, we passed two men working their mojo on the ground...

Just the colors of the chalk make me feel all giddy and happy. Cool, huh? Then we went over the pavillion with activities. My boys sat down to make collages....and well...so did I! The sweet young volunteers who were working the kids' art table were a little startled as I sat down and started gleefully cutting up magazine photos and slinging glue about....for myself. But it was FUN! I haven't done paper art for a long time and I felt so refreshed just playing. Well worth trying again, sayin?

Now true, not every weekend nor every town has an Artisphere. But getting out of the studio, and out of the house, and just looking around can be a great way to rest and recharge. This weekend is a little road-trip to visit family. I probably won't even take any art supplies. (EEK!) But I'll be keeping my eyes wide open for sights that delight....even if it's just the grey beauty of falling rain along the interstate. Go on, Get out!