WATER THERAPY

Rain. Fiberglass sculpture by Nazar Bilyk. See more of Nazar's work here.

I love to be near water though I rarely swim. I would much rather walk in the shallows, soothed by the wavelets lapping at my ankles .....

Robert Rauschenberg. I found this image on Tumblr.

... or paddle knee deep in rock pools searching for pebbles and cowries that have been trapped there on the out going tide.

Jen Bradford. See more details of her work on Flickr, here.

I can't resist mountain streams whether I'm wading in them or sitting on a rock staring into the water.

Baleen by Andrew Wyeth. There are many more images here.

There is a stream on the other side of our garden wall and though I can't see it unless I'm at the wall peering over I can always hear it. It is the music I listen to while I carve or when I'm falling asleep at night.

Detail from The River Map Scrolls by Lorna Crane. I love this piece! Read blog post about The River Map Scrolls here.

Water from the River by Lorna Crane. See Lorna's website here.


WATER by Pablo Neruda
Everything on the earth bristled, the bramble

pricked and the green thread
nibbled away, the petal fell, falling
until the only flower was the falling itself.
Water is another matter,
has no direction but its own bright grace,
runs through all imaginable colors,
takes limpid lessons
from stone,
and in those functionings plays out
the unrealized ambitions of the foam.

Water Overflowing by Linda Nardelli. This piece takes me straight to the beach shallows. See Linda's website here.

Oh if only ! Water Swing (in Dalyan, Turkey) by Emma Holland. Flickr photo stream here.

Shallows by Hanna Kay. See more of Hanna's work here.

Tryptic by Stuart King.

Beach Walk by Cindy Tonkin. Acrylic and collage. See more of Cindy's work here.

Kathryn Frund at the Chase Gallery. See more of Kathryn's work here.

Corroboration by Anthony J. White. Oil on Linen. See website here.

ONE RUNG AT A TIME

Photograph by Dan Taylor. See more of Dan's photographs here.

Ladder symbolism in art could mean anything from climbing the rungs of success, ....... to a means of communication between man and God .... earth and heaven.

Journeys 2 by Lin Lisberger. See more amazing pieces in this series, here.

I am drawn to the ladder for its symbolism .... it's shape .... the rhythm created by the rungs .... as well as the memories attached.

Another wood sculpture by Lin Lisberger. See more here.


I'm thinking of an old oak tree from my childhood .... far older than the oldest person on earth..... I was told. Propped against it, the top rungs disappearing into the foliage, was a tall (and wide) weathered ladder. To this day I don't know what it was used for.... maybe roof repairs ... but the thing that stands out in my mind, is the view from the top ..... which made me feel very heady and almost powerful enough to fly. Almost....

Studio Ladder by Igor Kamyanov. See Igor's Flickr photo stream here.

For me, the ladder in Igor's painting symbolizes my dream of having a studio built above the garage where I will have a view but more importantly I will have my own space to work in.

Jacob's Ladder by Lyndal Hargrave. More of Lyndal's work here.

This piece is by Robert Rauschenberg. "The work consists of two separate canvases, each the height of a man. A wooden ladder bridges the gap between them, and its legs extend to the floor, inviting the viewer to climb into the picture".

Photo of Anselm Keifer's work taken by catheadsix on Flickr.


Reverie #3 by Graceann Warn. Encaustic, Oil and objects on wood panel. Website here.

Awakening Breath no.1 by Patti Roberts-Pizzuto and Johntimothy Pizzuto. See blog here.

Ladders by Adrian Lawson. I wish we could see each painting individually but you can visit the Hand Held Gallery and click on the picture to enlarge it.

"Every positive change -- every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness -- involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception." - Dan Millman

THE DOOR: A POEM BY MARGARET ATWOOD

Inside the Birdhouse by Kathryn Campbell Dodd. Kathryn's website here.


The door swings open,
you look in.
It’s dark in there,
most likely spiders:
nothing you want.
You feel scared.
The door swings closed.

Le Strade Di Firenze. Mixed media collage and acrylics on wooden door panels by Naomi Rachel Muirhead. Website here.

The full moon shines,
it’s full of delicious juice;
you buy a purse,
the dance is nice.
The door opens
And swings closed so quickly
you don’t notice.

Assemblage by Robert Rauschenberg

The sun comes out,
you have swift breakfasts
with your husband, who is still thin;
you wash the dishes,
you love your children,
you read a book,
you go to the movies.
It rains moderately.

Green Door by Giancarlo Venturini. Website here


The door swings open,
you look in:
why does this keep happening now?
Is there a secret?
The door swings closed.


History Repeated. Mixed media, encaustic wax and recycled materials by Michele Ledoux. Website here.

The snow falls,
you clear the walk while breathing heavily;
it’s not as easy as once.
Your children telephone sometimes.
The roof needs fixing.
You keep yourself busy.
The spring arrives.

Wellfleet Abstract 3 by Michele Ledoux. Website here.

The door swings open:
it’s dark in there,
with many steps going down.
But what is that shining?
Is it water?

The door swings closed.

Behind Closed Doors by Jane Simpson. See here.

The dog has died.
This happened before.
You got another; not this time though.

Where is your husband?
You gave up the garden.
It became too much.
At night there are blankets;
nonetheless you are wakeful.

Toria by Clay Ketter. See more here.

The door swings open:

O god of hinges,

god of long voyages,

you have kept faith.

It’s dark in there.

You confide yourself to the darkness

You step in.

The door swings closed. - Margaret Atwood

Door by Susan Lenz. Blog here. Many amazing things to see!

Poem from The Door by Margaret Atwood

Street art on doors. See more fantastic street art here.