November 2009

Nov. 27
"For brightness to be, we need that which throws a shadow."

"Leave time for an experience and just as much time to reflect, and just as much time to accept in a greater context."

The words of Henrike Holdridge from The Nature Institute on perceiving color (Nov. 14th) reverberate inwardly -- not just in relation to how we see color in context, but in application to this whole Free Columbia process-- and in application to life! November has been helpful and rich with echoes of these processes in our art. Although we are the beginning, there is already a deep richness that is affecting life.

Nov 19
What is the relationship of money to responsibility? to value?

Nov. 9
The studio fills with fiery red, gold and rosiness. As I walk through the door I am confronted by this spirit of light. There are so many experiences of it laid out on paper but they all warm us as winter breaths upon the land and the last leaves flutter to the ground. The trees are but skeletons now and I feel us reaching deeper into the world of color now that the earth has turned to duller tones.

November 6
I'm happy and grateful to be working within a group of artists and art supporters. I feel like for the first time in my life that I am a part of something real and I feeel like my potentiality as a human being and artist is ripening.
I'm happy to be here for the community's first year. It makes sense to me in where I am in my life. I can lready feel the shortness of a year. I can already feel that if a place or role unfolded for me as a student or participant, to continue with Free Columbia, I will.
Aside from these impressions, I'm enjoying how topics in color in class assignments, outside life, lectures, and reading are interweaving. I find Peter Stolfo's approach to teaching Art History both nourishing and engaging. It's great how many different participants there are in Free Columbia. From students at Triform Village, locals, us painters, and fiends. Henrike's discussions and sytematic approach to understanding light and color shares a whole other set of experiences. The studies that she shares with us help me to understand the workings and wonders of seeing. Her teachings bring value to regular observations and practice.

October 2009

Oct. 28
Two weeks of block two behind us. I think a rhythm is beginning to take place and be felt. It is helpful to know where my place in the room is. I carry paints to my easle like my painting is a table ready to be served, or maybe its ready to eat. and with this customer I sit, converse with, feed, eat from, to the extent that apainting becomes a giveaway dance. And we eat together amongst a restaurant of painters. Incorporating parts of their sharing into our dialogue.

Oct 9
I am struck by the strong impulse in this space to go on learning and studying and seeking higher knowledge forever-- that we can hold the spirit of study in our lives always.

Fri., Oct what?
Yes, and the awareness of this willingness to change quickens. Sometimes we need to pause, breathe, and step back many lengths to see the changes with some field of depth between ourselves and the echoes of our marks. color, glorious color. And how wonderful color is manifest in the leaves outdoors around us.
I am grateful to be painting and to be meeeting different people taking the time to learn to trust themselves and paint.

Thursday, Oct. 1
I love that people are changing their lives. Somehow they are willing to change, as hard as it may be. They must move somewhere. Into unknown space.

September 2009

September 28
...following the warmth down
to the ember
a beginning glowing
of hope to fan a flame
that is not quite fire
the feeling of possibilities
in open sharing
emerges...


Wednesday
Well into week 3. Is it really week 3? We are stronger and eaking into courageousness despite spelling and technical difficulties. Color is mighty. And we speak of looking into a color, letting it enter our being and experiencing what happens. And we learn patience, the year of painting is still in a fledgling stage. We learn paitience as we pick color in water up onto our brushes and apply our brushes to pages with our own forms of intention. Well, we are in week 3. Painting continues. Words follow.

September

What is it like?
artistic process
social process
economic process
or anything else

What is it to tell each other this way? How different than verbally?

What record do we create?

Maybe this time we come out of chaos early instead of late...