I M Perfect lady

Today I am one of the Featured Artist.  My art work will be splashed all over a gallery.  A tsunami of color, and the creative expression of me.  I will be on display and open to critique and judgement OR showered with compliments and approval. Neither of which I can control.

Their opinions of me are none of my concern.

Photo by OJ

I played with fabric and design, and both brought me peace and meditation and good energy. I loved each selection, and placement, and then a new little addition that made each feel so exciting, TO Me.

Art to me is very selfish.

It is joy I do for me.

I love the fabric.

I love the color.

I love the birth of each lady and her attitude and expression.

I love how she plays and explores and has grown.

I love me expressed in my Art.

I am not really sure you can leave yourself out of the art.

The gentleman who received my Art, commented on how it was whimsical.

Loved how playful it was compared to some of the art he has seen.

Perhaps the reason is I am not trying to do Art, but rather just playing. 

Literally, enjoying the process of co-mingling fabrics and expressing energies.

There can be a seriousness in art and placing it above and beyond. Art can be unreachable and unattainable. Or, it can be imperfect and achievable.

Mine is the later.

I am not trying for perfection.

That idea blocks art from flowing.

Daring to be imperfect is way more fun.

And without rules to follow.

Sometimes the more imperfect, the more perfect it feels to me.

It's the imperfections that make it stand unique.

Perhaps the reason I embrace imperfection in my art, is that I began creating and using quilting as Art Therapy, when I discovered my sexual abuse.  I was a broken woman getting my energy from playing in fabric.

I was shattered and would feel whole and okay, when I sewed.

I leaned away from the pieces of my life I could not fix, and concentrated on creating beauty to keep me from drowning in sorrow.

I would walk 2 miles a day, in one direction I cried.  When I turned to face the sun and home, I made myself dream of quilts and ideas. 

Today, I am healed beyond where I ever dreamed I could be, and I still enjoy the process of creating. Of adding art. Excess amounts of it, to my world. 

I wonder if now the joy, love and peace within me needs to come forth. Whereas before Art was a handle I used to keep from going completely under.

All I know for sure is that, as a friend said, "I like the idea of an embarrassing amount of art." 

And, what you will see if you go to the Calumet Art Center in January, is my art splashed everywhere!

Photo by OJ – The other artist (Birds) is Michele Cedarquist!