Sunday, October 9, 2011

A TANGLE OF TWISTING PATHS


Anne-Laure Djabllah. (Oil, mixed media on canvas). See Flickr photo stream here.


I have been planning this post for a while and when I re-discovered Anne-Laure Djaballah's blog it all came together. Much of Anne-Laure's work revolves around the fragile threads of life .... connecting ... disconnecting, tangling... untangling; Path's crossing, twisting, meandering .... beginning and ending. In most of her pieces there is a line, a thread, a wire linking elements .... much like life. Our lives are connected by threads, journeys and stories.

Detail from work in progress by Anne-Laure Djaballah. See blog post here.


"Lines, broken up, tangled, linking the dots, drawn by hand, made of paint, thread, string or wire, the line connects one place to the next, suggesting a path, and telling a story". - Anne-Laure Djaballah


Assemblage by Anne-Laure Djaballah.


I wallowed in Anne Laure's blog for a while before moving on to other artists who are intrigued by life's tangles, both organized and disorganized .....


Enthicket 2 by John Bonick. See more of John's work here.

...... and then this poem by Naomi Shihab Nye fell in my lap....

Life is a tangle of
twisting paths.

Some short.

Some long.

There are dead ends.

And there are choices.

And wrong turns,

and detours,

and yield signs,

and instruction booklets,

and star maps,

and happiness,

and loneliness.

And friends.

And sisters.

And love.

And poetry.


Life is a maze.

You are a maze.

Amazed.

And amazing.



-- Naomi Shihab Nye from the book A Maze Me


Stefany Hemming. See more of Stefany's work at the Bill Lowe Gallery, here.

Brice Marden. See more here.

Free Advice by DJ Simpson. See more here.

Alexander Faley. See more of Alexander's work at Koller Art House here.

Alexander Faley. See more here.

Sam Reveles. See more of Sam's work here.

Diane Cooper. See many more tangled pieces at Diane's website, here.


Kay Sekimachi

Necklace by Kay Sekimachi. See more of Kay's work at the Jane Sauer Gallery, here.

Ceramic piece by Gudrun Klix. See website here.

A whimsical sculpture I found on Tumblr. If anyone knows the name of the artist please let me know .

50 comments:

  1. This post really spoke to me Robyn - especially that poem. Thank you for sharing!

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  2. "Oh what a tangled web we weave......." The second part of that Shakespeare doesn't apply since noo ne is trying to deceive anyone ("...when first we practice to deceive."-from Hamlet), What wonderful chaos made sense of in that way that artists have of resolving complex elements. So nice you include extra material in each of the posts too.

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  3. You are are a researcher extraordinaire, Robyn, so much to explore in the links with this post - thanks for such a precise line of thought/artwork to follow!

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  4. Thank you Robyn. You've just provided me with oodles of fun browsing, and soooo much inspiration.

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  5. These are all such breathtaking pieces which really stopped me dead. I absolutely love the poem as well. Thank you for these entanglements. penny

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  6. Naomi Shihab Nye. Always. My favourite poet. And now that you've found the art to accompany her poem as well....bliss.

    Hemming's nest!

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  7. You seem to find the things that say things to me, that poem is wonderful, means so much. Love the tangled pieces, that and something else I saw on another blog have started me thinking of a slightly new direction. Thank you. How is Digby? new photo?

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  8. What an inspiring post.
    I love Alexander Faley's work.

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  9. Robyn, your posts amaze me. Each part opens a new world. I am intriqed by the fabulous work you show and such a great poem to sum it all up. Your thread has connected so many of us in a positive manner... heaven knows, the world could use more of this. Thank you.
    bb

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  10. Some of these remind me of my life. Sort of a tangled mess yet pleasing.

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  11. Your blog posts always seem so timely for me.. as I have been feeling tangled up for several months now..mostly in my studio of course!
    and that poem by Nye is perfect and wonderful and so are all these artists' works.

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  12. I really enjoyed this post Robyn. Just looked at more of Kay Sekimachi's work - very interesting - she certainly takes beach combing to a new level!

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  13. Naomi Shihab Nye says it all and you and your postings never cease to amaze me!
    Thank you!!!

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  14. cet avec joie je regarde ce post ,merci !

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  15. R-wow! some powerful stuff here. I was captured by the fragile design of Anne-Laure Djaballah's work when I first saw the images; and then felt that they so captured what she was saying about life and life's journey. So true about the fragility and twists, turns and sometimes caugh-up knots of life.Thanks. B

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  16. robyn you are a constant source of amazement!! I'll be a month visiting all those interesting people! thanks so much!

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  17. What an enjoyable post - a very good choice visualizing the twisted paths of our lives, intertwined with those of others, what a spaghetteria!
    Again, you introduced some very interesting artists. Als always an inspiration!

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  18. lines, strings, threads, cords, warps, wefts...there is so much here, robyn, thank you. i'll be back to look at more links (i got to jane sauer gallery...only...)

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  19. Where would we be wihout those connecting lines? I love this post and what a treat to get another post so soon! Anne's work is wonderful. I will be spending the next few days computer time looking up these artists, thank you.
    Now back to painting :-).
    kisses to Mr.D
    xoxo

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  20. As usual, Robyn, you have hit the nail on the head with these photographs. And, what is more, they go so well with the poem.

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  21. Robyn, there are some pretty amazing tangles here, and the poem fits perfectly! That first painting is especially scrumptious. I must say I love them all, though some of them look exactly the way my brain feels right now...

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  22. This post is perfectly timed for me Robyn. Really perfect. Thank you! I just shared a link to it on my blog.

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  23. Fragile threads of life-I love that concept and the fascinating ways in which the artists you chose to include here weave their creativity with their lines. Thanks for another inspiring post.

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  24. When I went to the Stefany Hemming's link on tumblr, I was amazed to see that it was painted! And I enjoyed seeing Anne-Laure Djaballah's video working . . up close . . making marks . . very inspiring to me as it apears she's shown herself working intuitively. I'm always excited to see your posts!

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  25. Life is a maze.
    You are a maze.
    Amazed.
    And amazing.

    Love that stanza in Naomi's poem. Your blog is like that Robyn - a weaving of art work and poetry, truth telling and love.

    ;o)

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  26. great post Robyn, life truly is a maze and you are amazing... xx

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  27. provocative on so many levels Robyn, that is what I love most about your blog posts, fodder for the mind to explore one's own musings.

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  28. Dear Robyn-lots to think about in your post! I love the "tangled-ness" of life...our stories and paths intermingling with each other. I am taking it as a sign from the Universe really...because I am seeing this theme show up in so many places right now! And I LOVE the poem by Nye...it's kind of strange Robyn but I just bought that book A Maze Me about a month ago!!
    I have been reading through some of your very early posts and...I LOVE your painting Rmoving the Snake from Eden. LOVE!!! I love all the symbolism and the heady, rich (but muted) colors...it's totally YOU. I see the totems in there ...ready to emerge.
    Will be sending you an e-mail soon. xxx

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  29. Love Anne-Laure Djaballah's work. Wow. What a beautiful post, Robyn.

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  30. I knew there had to be something to my compulsions to scribble. Thanks for the guidance and wisdom here, Robyn (you have perfect timing!) and the exquisite examples. The poem makes me breathe out a sigh of deep contentment each time I read it. Thanks again,I'm going to record that one.

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  31. Just realized it was M.A. Wakeley's video of drawing . . not Anne-Laure Djabllah (when I went back to look). :)

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  32. I'm reminded of a passage from Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Wolf, where she meditates on the interconnectedness of life: life is like the gossamer threads of a cobweb, tenuous but with strands connecting strands that ultimately make up a stronger structure (the conections we make through life). One pull on the strand echoes throughout; with each connecting link, responds.

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  33. Wonderful - I wish the first image could have come out of me & I love Anne- Laure's assemblage. Also the mark making of Alexander Faley. I'm slowly untangling myself!

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  34. entangled
    enthralled
    enveloped
    enlightened
    enraptured

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  35. What a beautiful post...I visited the blog right away and still in awe of such a beautiful line.

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  36. That's great Heather. I love it when a poem hits home.

    Ms, reading aboutAnne-Laure's process i found her way of resolving connections between elements very interesting.

    Sweetpea, glad you enjoyed the post.

    Jo, I'm imagining Australian bush trails meandering through your work.

    Heavens2Betsy, glad you enjoyed the entanglements Penny.

    Priya, I've just discovered so many beautiful poems by Naomi.

    Penny, Digby is as fit as a fiddle and making up for his angelic phase with an extremely devilish phase. God help us!

    Art at Chesterbrook, There are some very exciting pieces by Faley on his link... painting and sculpture.

    Queenb2u, that's a nice thought.... positive connections through art.

    Lisa at G ..... that's life I suppose. Lots of tangles but hopefully balanced with straight smooth roads. Wish my studio wasn't such a tangle.

    Donna, as long as you are tangled in the studio you must be happy
    :-)

    Caroline, oooo yes Kay Sekimachi's work is certainly interesting and some of it so simple.

    Thanks Anna Mavromatis, it's a new poem for me too.

    Elfi, glad you enjoyed this post.

    Barry, yes I am also intrigued by the delicate connections between elements in Anne-Laure's work.

    Lyle, have you caught up with all the links yet :-)

    Sue, the twists and turns and tangled webs of life ... not to mention a spaghetteria ... I like that :-)

    Velma, you could get lost in all the beautiful art at Jane Suaer's.

    Annie C, how's the painting going? Mr. D has undergone a character change and found his inner devil but that's puppies for you.

    Weaver, the art seemed right with the poem ... or should i say the poem seemed right with the paintings. I found the paintings first.

    Sharmon, it's something we all seem to be going through... tangled brains ... or tangled studios. Perhaps there is a connection. if we tidy the studio our brains might feel less tangled.

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  37. What a great blog!! So informative, you are really doing a nice job and I will definitely be back again. I especially enjoyed Anne's work. The theme of Tangled resonates with me right now and yeah, I *get it* about tangled studios. I have recently spent a lot of time re=organizing/minimizing. And I think that helps.

    I originally stopped by because I saw your comment on Seth's blog. I am the Wood Icing person. Anyhoo, I am giving some away if you might be interested in entering.
    http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-in-pulse.html

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  38. Seth, I think we are easily inspired with such a wonderful selection of art on the internet.

    Jann, I searched high and low for the video enjoying Anne-Laure's work all over again.... but nowhere to be found.

    Leslie, A-maze-ing to you too ... :-) Thank you!

    Cat, and back at you :-)

    Kim ... to explore one's own musings ... that is the great thing about blogging. Inspiration is sparked and off we go on our own mind wanderings.

    Soraya, interesting that you bought the book and I noticed in one of your photos that you have Mary Oliver's Thirst... a book I have been dipping into too.

    Karine, thank you.

    Shayla, it's a simple poem but meaningful to all of us.

    Debrina, now I will have to read Mrs. Dalloway!

    Emma, I know the feeling.

    Nancy, .... enmeshed... ensnared ... entranced :-)

    Mary Ann, she also has a Flickr photo stream to get lost in...

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  39. Robyn, Oh no! Well give him kisses anyway :-).
    I got a dog, a wonderful girl, not a bullie. but still wonderful, just blogged about her.
    Painting is now slowing down as I am bringing something new and it is taking time and lots of process :-).xoxo

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  40. I've been away from the blog world for a while and it is wonderful to come back and see such a wonderful tangle of images. A fine catch indeed! I think that the words of Naomi Shehab Nye also speak to the gentle beauty of the road not taken or road mis--taken...and it makes me feel that all of the twists and turns create something beautiful in the end.

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  41. Another enjoyable post!
    A magnificent collection as usual. Love the work you've shown, Robin, especially Anne-Laure Djaballah's collage and Diane Cooper's tangled piece.

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  42. You should get an award for the most creative blog on the Internet.

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  43. Robyn, So glad Digby is back to normal :-). I too love Cesar! However my "Foxy" in this case is a cat and a little harder to train.
    Bella is easy to train except for the cat who taunts her. We won't give up though :-). xoxo

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  44. I read with interest your blog. I like your Totem too !
    But my englich is very bad !

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  45. hey Robyn, another wonderful post. I had not seen Alexander Faley's work before, really like his courage of expression.

    hope you and your world wellness and lots of sawdust :)

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  46. MB Shaw, Thanks for mentioning the lucky draw. I'm holding thumbs!

    Annie C, hope Bella and cats are getting along :-)

    Hannah, glad you are back!

    Gaby, I think Diane Cooper specializes in tangles. Lots of wonderful pieces on her website.

    Thanks Blu.

    Mireille, thank you. I think your english is good!

    Mansuetude, I really battled with Alexander Faley's Russian name when I first discovered his work but now I can hit the translate bar which makes it easier to remember his name.

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  47. Amazing catch. Love Djaballah's work. Love.

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  48. The assemblage of Anne-Laure Djaballah intringes me more then her paintings, it leaves the viewer behind with something unfinished.
    Love this log!

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  49. your posts are inspiring and thought provoking, thank you

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