Erik Gonzales. See more of Eric's work at the Costello Childs Gallery website here
I suppose we all have a place in our hearts, perhaps from childhood or another life time that makes the heart ache when you think about it. A place that has a strong pull but is sometimes too painful to think about because you know you can't go back. I learned to love nature in such a place. When I feel a connection to all the things that live and grow in the countryside I also feel a connection to the farm I grew up on.
Erik Gonzales. See more here
I find this poem by Pablo Neruda particularly moving.
Lost in the forest, I broke off a dark twig
and lifted its whisper to my thirsty lips:
maybe it was the voice of the rain crying,
a cracked bell, or a torn heart.
Something from far off: it seemed
deep and secret to me, hidden by the earth,
a shout muffled by huge autumns,
by the moist half-opened darkness of leaves.
Wakening from the dreaming forest there, the hazel-sprig
sang under my tongue, its drifting fragrance
climbed up through my conscious mind
as if suddenly the roots I had left behind
cried out to me, the land I had lost with my childhood --
and I stopped, wounded by the wandering scent.
- Pablo Neruda
An Unwritten Book by Fiona Watson. See Fiona's Flickr photo stream here
Fiona Watson. See more of Fiona's work here
Fiona Watson. See more here
One-of-a-kind artist book by Jill Hubley. Click here
Everything/Something, a unique book with wooden pages, screenprint, gouache by Karen Kunc. See website here.
Bee Mapping by Cas Holmes. This piece is currently on tour in the 5th European Quilt Art Tour. See website here and blog here
Rosie Turnbull textile print. Click here.
Exquisite Leaf by Francis Ooi. See more here
Mayumi Sarai draws inspiration from organic structures and other natural processes to create her carved wooden sculptures. See more here
Bronze sculpture by Mark Hall. See more here
Stephen Croeser
From the poem WHAT TO REMEMBER WHEN WAKING by David Whyte
Now, looking through
the slanting light
of the morning
window
toward
the mountain
presence
of everything
that can be,
what urgency
calls you to your
one love? What shape
waits in the seed
of you to grow
and spread
its branches
against a future sky?
Read the whole poem here.
Stephen Croeser. See Stephen's Face Book albums here.
When describing his work, South African artist, Stephen Croeser said "Architecture as metaphor might be a good starting place .... the threshold or portal .... here and there .... doorways, dimensions etc ..... yet also mark, music, time death, loss, longing, the spritual, memory, energy, and attempts to keep art and life integrated ..... "
Stephen Croeser. Ink, acrylic and pencil on paper. See more here and here
"When space and time are in short supply I tend to work on paper with ink and other water based mediums. It is a way of staying connected and also serves as a means to explore ideas, compositions or territories rapidly. One could say there exists some form of symbiosis between the drawings and the paintings, the mediums being very different with regards to viscosity and the speed at which one can work. However, these distinctions often blur or break down completely.
The creative process remains a mysterious one, one that, I admit, I do not fully understand. it is experiment, discovery and exploration that are the compelling agents at work here. Thankfully there is much that remains mysterious and hidden to us all." - Stephen Croeser
Stephen Croeser. See Stephens Face Book albums here
Photo by Elena Burj. Found here.
Photo by Avril on Flickr. See more here
Photo by racons on Flickr. See photo stream here.
Window Lighting by Beverly Slone. See Flickr photo stream here
Daniella Witte. See more here.
Passage Way 1 by Eric on Flickr. Click here.
View by Anne Valeur Erichsen. See Anne's Flickr photo stream here
Jennifer Smith. Click here to see Jennifer's Flickr photo stream
Joy Harjo's poem,
Perhaps the World Ends Here,
brings home the sense of family we feel
when sitting around the kitchen table
.....or any table for that matter.
A Table where family and good friends
gather to eat and catch up
with whatever is happening
in their day to day lives ....
Kenne Gregoire. See website here
PERHAPS THE WORLD ENDS HERE by Joy Harjo
The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what,
we must eat to live.
The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.
So it has been since creation, and it will go on.
We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe
at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.
It is here that children are given instructions on what
it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts
of lovers.
Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms
around our children. They laugh with us at our poor
falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back
together once again at the table.
The table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella
in the sun.
Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place
to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate
the terrible victory.
We have given birth on this table, and have prepared
our parents for burial here.
At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow.
We pray of suffering and remorse.
We give thanks.
Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table,
while we are laughing and crying,
eating of the last bite.
Kenne Gregoire. See Kenne's website here.
Anna Williams. See website here and interview here
Katie Quinn Davies. See website here
Hannah Queen. See more at Hannah's Flickr photo stream, here
Anna Gawlak. See more here.
Philippa Stanton. Click here to see more of this Table series
Philippa Stanton. See more here
Philippa Stanton (This one's for Leslie and Donna :-)
I've written about the kitchen table of my childhood here and posted On The Table here . Perhaps there's a message for me in these posts.
Oshun, African Goddess carved by Robyn Gordon
OSHUN the African Goddess of beauty, love, prosperity, order and fertility.
Her name is synonymous with transformation.
"She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman".
Read more about her here and here.
Initially I was drawn to Oshun because she is the mother of the birds and the fishes. Fish (my husband is a passionate angler) and birds feature highly in our lives. At first I knew only a smattering of facts gleaned in books but later the internet provided a deeper knowledge of her qualities and I became even more intrigued.
I have a Brazilian friend living in the States who knows her as Oxum. With the African diaspora Oshun was introduced to the Americas. Her name changes slightly from country to country but no matter where she is, she is loved and respected.
Oshun, African Goddess carved by Robyn Gordon
Exquisite nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. See more here
During the festive season
I made time
over a slow cup of coffee
to think about
what I consider to be soul food.
Food for MY soul.
Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman. Click
This is my LIST OF TWELVE:
1. Nature
Taking a few moments to observe nature raises my spirits and restores my energy fairly quickly.
"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat
match the beat of the universe,
to match your nature with Nature".
- Joseph Campbell
2. Wilderness
Knowing I will be going into the wilderness once or twice a year goes a long way to keeping me happy. It's something we look forward to and plan from one holiday to the next. This category covers beach combing, pebble gathering, toe dipping, walking walking... walking, forest languishing, mountain perching and generally immersing ourselves in nature and the beauty of our surroundings.
"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity ... " - John Muir
Caroline Rannersberger. See website here
3. Space
Not only the wide open spaces of the countryside but also head space to hear myself think, to muse and to dream.
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." - Jean Shinoda Bolen
4. Stillness
Without stillness in my day I can actually feel myself wilt and it is just something I have to make time for or suffer the consequences. In quiet solitude my art blossoms. There is nothing more calming and replenishing than the quiet time spent carving.
5. Nourishing books
While it has been so hot I've managed to get through a pile of books.
My three favourites :
i) Every Day Sacred by Sue Bender
ii) Plain and Simple by Sue Bender
iii) Travelling Mercies by Anne Lamott
6. Poetry
"Good poetry begins with
the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispering healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then like a hand in the dark
it arrests the whole body,
steeling you for revelation ...... "
- David Whyte (The Lightest Touch)
7. Art
Immersing myself in my own art or wallowing in the glorious art of others. Pinterest is a good way to store art images..... and yes I do spend waaaaaay too much time there, but looking at the beautiful art on my boards is food for my soul. Follow the link and see for yourself.
"Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul." - Alice Walker
8. Writing
Forgetting where I am while writing my heart out.
9.The ritual of tea and coffee
A pause to catch up with oneself, family and friends.
Thomas Bucci. Website here
10. Discovery
New ways of seeing .... new ways of thinking .... new ideas ..... new places.
11. Laughter
Good rolling-on-the-floor belly laughs with my daughter and husband.
Infectious laughter circulating around a room of friends like a Mexican wave.
12. Blogging friends who share and understand my connection to all of the above
"There was a dawn I remember when
my soul heard something from your soul
I drank water from your spring
and felt the current take me." - Rumi
Nature photography by Mary Jo Hoffman
I hope you will share what you consider to be food for your soul.
