While preparing for this post I kept coming back to Barry Smith's metal leaf forms. Barry is a generous soul who creates his metal artworks with love. He teaches his craft to others and sends his leaves into the world like little ambassadors, spreading peace and goodwill wherever they land.
Leslie Avon Miller's art speaks to me on an emotional level. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm thinking it has something to do with meraki.
"Please keep demonstrating the courage that it takes to swim upstream in a world that prefers putting away for retirement to putting pen to paper, that chooses practicality over poetry, that values you more for going to the gym than going to the deepest places in your soul. Please keep making your art for people like me, people who need the magic and imagination and honesty of great art to make the day-to day world a little more bearable". - Shauna Niequist
When Donna was struggling with a creative block I kept thinking ..... when she returns she will create art that will catapult her to another level ..... and I wasn't mistaken! Her new pieces incorporating cold wax, oils and collage are beautiful.
A lot of research goes into Mary Ann's art. I enjoy tracking the ideas and thoughts that gently meander through her blog, culminating in beautiful artworks.
I visit Gabriel Lalonde's blog regularly because I enjoy his work. I detect a playful spirit with a "what if" attitude when it comes to his art.
This exhibition of Hanelore's work is well worth the browse. I enjoyed reading the press release too.
" I would like to envelop myself ..... to enclose a sense of space, of landscape, within clay. Creating day by day, like putting entries in a diary" -- Ikuko Ando
"And what is it to work with love?
It is to charge all things you fashion with
a breath of your own spirit."
- Khalil Gibran
I felt a deep connection to this piece. The person who commissioned it shared just enough of her story for me to recognize similarities in my own life. I could relate to her story and was able to create the totem for the both of us.
"One of the loveliest words in the English language is the word 'inspiration'. It signifies the creative breath. It also has to do with spontaneity, with the arrival of the unexpected image or idea in the mind. Inspiration is the flash of connecting light that suddenly comes from elsewhere and illuminates." - John O'Donohue
another moving and beautiful post Robyn
ReplyDeleteyou inspire me on so many levels every time I visit
meraki - a word to hold close to the heart
I love the way it sounds
grounded and spirited at the same time
and the meraki-work that you have shared here
some known, some unknown,
and concluding with the out-breath of your beautiful totem
a meraki community of connectivity
I am releasing a deep sigh...
thank you,
xox - eb.
The comments you leave have a lot to do with meraki too. Thank you for adding flavour to another of my posts, eb.
DeleteRobyn, This is such a beautiful post and some of these artists are among my favorites. Your totem is stunning. Doing work with love is the only way and even when we get frustrated with a piece we are working on in the end love brings it through to the finish. xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Annie. I think it's the feeling of meraki that brings us back to creating our art over and over again.
DeleteRobyn I connect deeply with your new totem. She holds her dear ones in protected and revered spaces created just for them. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI see the artist's hand and soul beautifully expressed in the work here. I too need the "magic and imagination and honesty of great art to make the day-to day world a little more bearable."
Thank you for sharing your own work with us, and the other work you find which is so inspirational. xo
Thank you Leslie. I did feel her protective strength as I carved her. It was such a wonderful feeling. I'm grateful for the lessons learned while creating her.
DeleteYes, we all need the magic and imagination and honesty of art.... which is probably why we enjoy art blogs. So many artists sharing their magic!
Inspiration is the best drug. I love the rush of excitement when an inspiration comes. Love seeing your totem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lisa. That creative spark is the best!
DeleteWay cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue :-)
DeleteAll wonderful links to follow. I have several of Barry's leaves...in the form of earrings. Lucky me.
ReplyDeleteI have two of Barry's leaves resting on a turtle shard in my studio. They are like peace flags .... a daily reminder.
DeleteWhat a wonderful word.......
ReplyDelete...and an inspirational post....again....
Thank you
x C
Hi Chris, thank you. The word inspired me.
DeleteHi R - thank you for continuing to search out and share words, poems and artists to inspire. I'm honoured that you have shared my work. The word you share is so apt. Whilst there are works that we do because they need to be done. Most of our work, much of my work, is done with a purpose and conscious input of energy. Our art - our small fragments can carry bits and pieces of love, peace and stillness into the lives of others. Isn't it brilliant that we have the time, inclination and resources to be able to do just that. Go well - peace. B
ReplyDeleteBarry, I love the fact that we are able to communicate this way, through our blogs, sharing inspiration.
Deletenice work here :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula :-)
Delete'Meraki' - even the word sounds inspirational. And your examples of those who create from this place are stunning. I also love the O'Donohue quote -'creative-breath' - the perfect description of that illuminating energy.
ReplyDeleteI love your totems and love the idea of creating for both of you . . . because when someone has our art - they also have a piece of us. I like hearing how you honored that. Great post - as always.
Thanks Judy. I know that you are creating from that space too and I feel privileged being able to follow your progress on your blog.
Deletemeraki is a very nice word we use in the greek language for all things made with love.
ReplyDeleteit'is as well used for a good meal as for painting your house. of course art has always to be made with meraki and the man who is acting with meraki is "meraklis".
in its concept meraki has a also a hint from the spanish "douente".
Irini, thanks so much for the extra info. The word Meraki has intrigued me ever since I discovered it on Tumblr.... of all places. I can imagine it would be a good word to use for good meals.
ReplyDeleteI always love my visits here and the words and works that you share. Love the totem pole you created.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn.
DeleteOne of the loveliest words in English is indeed ‘inspiration’, but like ‘passion’ or ‘awesome’, these words have been so overused they have lost their resonance. Meraki is a beautiful word which describes that reason and quality which sets some art apart from the rest. I’d love to incorporate it into my vocabulary but I must be careful to do so sparingly. All the art you’ve shown in this post are disparate but they are hold my attention because they all contain that element of meraki in them.
ReplyDeleteps: it was good to read the previous comment by Chirine Nour! :-)
I was pleased Chirine Nour gave us a little extra info. That's what I love about blogging, Priya. Your illustrations for the last post was another treat. As you say, words become fashionable and lose their resonance.
DeleteBeautiful collection of words and images... thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post Ruth.
DeleteWonderful word! Thank you for sharing other artists work. The metal leaves look like a tree in my neighborhood. It is shedding right now. Cannot think of the name of it. The pods look like cigars.
ReplyDeleteDiscovering the word Meraki and it's meaning lifted my spirits. The thought of people all over the world putting themselves into their creations is very inspiring.
Deletewhat a beautiful post Robyn, full of "The Muchness" as The Mad Hatter (as played by Johnny Depp) said to Alice
ReplyDelete"Muchness"... I like that :-)
DeleteRobyn, Beautiful post ... your totem is beyond words as it is at that place of feeling. Thank you for including me in this post ... a joyful gratitude!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU, Mary Ann. Reading the thought process behind your art often has me trotting back to the studio feeling very inspired.
DeleteThank you, as always. Peace.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Jo :-)
Deletewhat a wonderful word. it speaks to me, for sure. Your totem carries with it the strength of the Mother to me. Generations held within her belly and heart.
ReplyDeleteI love what you've written about the totem Bridgette. Thank you.
DeleteAll of these works just shine with 'meraki' - infused with spirit, for sure. I can hardly believe those leaves are metal, they so look like real leaves dried and curled by the heat of the sun. Your totem seems the embodiment of protective love, and Hannalore Baron's work has always spoken to me of feelings presrved in memories. Beautiful choices to illustrate a beautiful word.
ReplyDelete"the embodiment of protective love" ..... I know these words will resonate with the new owner. Thanks Sharmon.
DeleteRobyn, the totem has come home at last, after having traveled about for introductions to friends. She is now the first thing I see when I arrive home. She is still, as far as I'm concerned, a living spirit. I knew this is how it would be when I first saw your other work. Thank you.
DeleteYou've made my day D!
DeleteAll my favourites plus a couple new favourites - AND a new word to casually drop into conversation.... I am fed and it's before breakfast..
ReplyDeletelove,
Dxxx
.... well I hope breakfast was good too :-)
DeleteThis post is filled with such beauty. You have filled my soul this morning, Robyn!
ReplyDelete... and that's good to know. Thanks Roxanne.
DeleteYou have highlighted some of my favorite artists here Robyn. This is definitely a treat. Wonderful, as always, to see one of your totems!
ReplyDeleteWe do rub noses with some wonderful artists don't we Seth?! You have met many and I have yet to meet them face to face but I'm forever grateful to have contact with so many inspirational artists/
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, I have been so busy I meant to leave a comment here some time ago... and now I see you have a new wonderful blog post. I love the word meraki and its meaning.... and I am so pleased and honored to be included in this beautiful blog post with all the wonderful artist you have included here.
ReplyDeleteDonna, it's a treat to see one of your new pieces on my blog!
DeleteThank you for this post, Robyn. Some of my favorite artists here, and some others I wouldn't have found without your wonderful blog.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the post :-)
Delete