The Next Chapter

The pages in "My Life's Book"  have been pretty normal daily stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary.   I thought the next chapters would be very similar - well let's just say no, they will not be.  I have been blessed with raising my 4 year old granddaughter.  I say blessed because having her has opened up a whole new part of me that I didn't know was there.  Yes, the chapters I was writting for myself have been thrown out, but the ones that are being written now are ever so much more exciting! 

The opportunities for working on my art have been few and far between over the last year.  However, things are settling down, a routine is finding its way back into my life and art is happening!  I have been ever so slowly updating my website and will attempt blogging again.  The exciting aspect of having a 4 year old is being able to see the world through her eyes.  The simplest things are so very important.  The reasons things are done are very deliberate - no wishy-washy areas in a 4 year old's mind!  I am excited to be unfolding this next chapter - hopefully I can share some of it with you.
 

Cleaned

Today is absolutely wonderful!  We have not seen moisture of any significance in months so to awake to the pitter-patter of rain drops was very thrilling.  While I am normally a “sunshine” girl – needing the brightness and warmth to energize my soul, I am really enjoying the grumbling grey skies and very subdued light. The world looks clean and refreshed, plants perking up reaching for more, rocks and earth looking so very rich and warm.  The colors just pop.  Taking a lesson from mother-nature – it is good that we stop, take a deep breath  and “wash” our thoughts, our souls….our being…..rid our minds of the dry, dusty sludge that builds up – allow a clean fresh new warmth to wash over us.  I hope you get your “rain” soon.

Where did it go?!

I am having a hard time tracking where the last few months have gone! It seems like I just posted and wow – no it has been several months. That is not to say that I have been sitting around eating bon-bons – but then I didn’t think I had been that busy! There have been a lot of changes in my personal life – most for the better. I resigned from my position on the local Fiber group with the intent of concentrating on developing a good body of art work. I was looking forward to having only to make decisions of color or shape or stitch….well as you know the best laid plans….. it seemed the universe had different ideas for me. I ran and was successful in being elected to Converse’s City Council. I know in my heart there is a reason I was put in this position as I don’t believe that anything happens without being planned long before our feet hit this earth. I must be patient and let my job unfold and reveal itself to me. I will still work on my art – just not as much as I originally had planned. I still have several “finish lines” that are coming up fast and I have been working on smaller pieces.
It will be interesting to see where this path leads me and how my art work will be influenced by it. I can only open my mind, heart and soul and accept the opportunities that will present themselves to me. I’m looking forward to a wild ride over the next few years!

Art Cloth Network Call for Members!

Art Cloth Network is open for a few new members. If you'd like information about the group, see our website at http://www.artclothnetwork.com/.
Those of us who are members find that the opportunities for community, conversation, sharing of techniques, inspiration and resources benefit our art and creativity. We have recently increased our membership limits to 30 members in good standing, including those on formal leave. When the number falls below 30, we accept new member applications. We currently have openings for up to six new members.
While some of us also make art quilts or mixed media work, the group is focused on art cloth and its specific surface design techniques and approaches. This includes making lengths of cloth, rather than small samples or fat quarters. Please read the information about art cloth on our website and look at examples, to make sure that you are interested in this field. Only those artists who submit examples of art cloth that meet this description will be considered for membership.

We meet as a group every 9 to 10 months in different regions of the United States, usually between August and October. Since these meetings are critical to our growth and vitality, we require attendance at 2 out of 5 consecutive meetings. Membership begins with the first meeting attended. Members bring and discuss their work at these meetings, and we share other professional concerns and opportunities. Previous meetings have been in Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, California, Georgia, Arizona, and New Jersey. The 2011 meeting will be in Florida.
We also produce a new exhibit annually, with a call for entries each year. Since opportunities for showing art cloth are limited, this is an important membership benefit. Members are required to enter two of five calls for entry in order to maintain their membership status.


Only applicants who can and will attend the next meeting will be accepted into the Art Cloth Network during this membership call period. That meeting will be in or around St. Petersburg, Florida on either October 13-16 or November 10-13, 2011. Full details about the conference and this financial commitment will be mailed to those extended a membership invitation.
The current deadline for membership applications is March 15, 2011, and you can send in your application materials at any time prior to the deadline. You will be notified by April 15, 2011 whether your application has been approved.
Send a request to susiemonday@gmail.com in order to receive the POSTEROUS application site address.

ONE

Sentry III

Laura Ann Beehler

Available Wednesday February 16, 2011

One Cause, One Wednesday, One Hundred Collages

One Cause – The Fight Against Cancer.

One Wednesday – February 16, 2011.

One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star team of artists: Natalya Aikens, Pamela Allen, Laura Ann Beehler, Liz Berg, Pokey Bolton, Laura Cater-Woods, Jette Clover, Jane Davila, Jane Dunnewold, Jamie Fingal, Gloria Hansen, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lyric Kinard, Jeanelle McCall, Linda Teddlie Minton, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Judy Perez, Wen Redmond, Cynthia St. Charles, Virginia A. Spiegel

The goal – Raise $8,000 for the American Cancer Society in just one day. More details and a preview of artwork: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/ONEFundraiserPreview.html    

Fiberart For A Cause has already donated over $205,000 to the American Cancer Society through the generosity of fiber artists and their patrons.

 



RENEWAL

A weekend spent with wonderful women letting their child play…..

time to reflect…to breath…to refresh our spirit…
laughter…singing…..wonderful stores….
insightful conversation…nourshing food.
Sharing….understanding….listening…. talking.
Letting our hair down within a warm circle of friends.

Time spent gathering artistic energy
to fuel us through the coming year

poetry…music…meditation...making art.
Searching our inner desires, wants and needs

making a plan…

what a wonderful calming way to begin!



Creative Mess

This comes from Hugh MacLeod.  A very humerous individual on so many levels.  Very down to earth!  Check him out at http://gapingvoidgallery.com/ .  He often has pearls of wisdom that really make you stop and think - yeah he's right!

Creative Mess

Creativity starts off messy. Youthful creativity is very messy.

Often starting off randomly, and then as one thinks, and works, its form takes shape.

Over time, when one works their creative muscle over and over, creativity gets easier and less messy, more precise.

That is the challenge of being a creative professional. Exercising your creative muscle sufficiently so that your ability to create is not so random, or messy.

That goes for visual artists, writers, marketers, managers.

Focus, intent, exercise, repetition.

Intimidation

I recently had a conversation with an artist friend of mine about becoming a member of a small group. Her response held many reasons for NOT joining such as being over extended and time factors. The one that I zeroed in on was "I feel intimidated". I had to laugh because I knew exactly what she meant. There are so many times that I am intimidated by others. She is more polished.... her speaking abilities are so elegant....she has such energy....her knowledge about X is tremendous....she is so in control.....her work is sooooo good and the list goes on and on and on! What I have finally learned is that we like to think that we are unique... that we are the only one feeling this way. I love it when I hear comments like this because they ground me. I have confirmation that I am not alone in my feelings! BUT, what do we do to overcome them? I am sure that even the most accomplished artist feels intimidated in some way by some person. She may not show it on the outside, she may have found ways to disguise her intimidation, she may have learned to put that negative thought on the back burner, but there is always that tinge of intimidation with her. I struggle with this on a daily basis. I am trying little by little to control this particular feeling - intimidation. It is a killer feeling! When WE LET ourselves be intimidated we give up our sense of self. We give up our belief in our self. I am the only person that can allow myself to feel this way - no one can make me have this feeling, no one can give or take it. It is mine to do with what I want. I can let it overtake me, numbing me to the outside world or I can put it on the back burner - stuff it way down in the dark depths of my mind. We each have skills that we are very good at as well as lessons that we still need to learn. We all have much that we can share and teach each other - we have to trust in ourselves and each other and be willing to give and take. I believe that it is important to respect the feeling of intimidation as it keeps us aware that we have room to grow, but don't let it hold you hostage!

What's in a Name?

Fission - Detail
20" x 80"

I was once asked how I come up with the titles for my pieces. Do I have a title in mind when I begin working or does it comes after the piece is completed?  I had to laugh at this question because coming up with titles for my work is probably the most excruciating exercise for me.  For most works I have a very difficult time coming up with a title. I dislike works that have long names – pretty much a sentence for a title. To me that leaves no room for the viewer’s interpretation or for the viewer to make their own story about the piece.  I like to use titles that are only one or two words.  In thinking about the pieces I have done there are very few that have been titled prior to the piece being started.  I think I don’t have a title in mind before starting because inevitably the work has a different idea of what it wants to be called! Sometimes the piece whispers its name during the making process.  That helps direct my endeavors in completing the work.  Sometimes the work has been finished for quite a while – it seems that I have to ponder about what the piece says to me before I can give it a name or title.  I like to use words that are not normally heard in casual conversations such as Frangible or Ephemeral. I also like words that may have more than one meaning or meanings that are rather obscure - not one that is normally associated with the word.  The viewer has to go outside of their comfort zone to understand the relationship between the word and the work.

What are you?

I was recently in a group that started off by introducing “self” and telling a bit about “self”. As we went around the circle people would say “I’m (name) and I’m an artist”. They would then proceed to tell everyone a little about themselves. We continued with these introductions until a woman stated “I’m (name) and I’m NOT an artist, I AM a crafter”. She then proceeded to tell us what she “crafted”. I thought about this for a great while. I was wondering why the artists didn’t tell about their art. I wondered what exactly makes a person an “artist”? An artist does not necessarily have to go to school like a Doctor or Lawyer. They don’t have to get a degree in anything in order to call themselves an artist. They don’t even have to go through any training. So when does an artist “know” she/he is an artist? And when does she/he know that its time to call themselves an artist? Is there a time period of working one must accomplish? Is there a measure of sales in order to be an artist? Are an artist and a crafter that different? I know we have what we call “fine crafts” such as woodturning, pottery and metal works where the maker has worked at his/her specialty until it is perfected. In my mind that person is an artist – what they create is not only a fine craft that has been accomplished by hours of practice but also a piece of art to be appreciated by viewers. They call themselves Craftsmen. Then the flip side – a person calling themselves an artist may take the newest fad in mixed media, slap it on a board and say it is “Art”. They call themselves Artists. So how does the person creating know what they are? Where does craft end and art begin?

ONE Cause ONE Wednesday ONE hundred collages

One Cause – The Fight Against Cancer.

One Wednesday – February 16, 2011.

One Hundred Collages – Created for this event by an all-star lineup of artists:

Natalya Aikens

Pamela Allen

Laura Ann Beehler

Liz Berg

Pokey Bolton

Laura Cater-Woods

Jette Clover

Jane Davila

Jamie Fingal

Gloria Hansen

Leslie Tucker Jenison

Lyric Kinard

Jeanelle McCall

Linda Teddlie Minton

Karen Stiehl Osborn

BJ Parady

Judy Perez

Cynthia St. Charles

Virginia A. Spiegel

The goal – Raise $8,000 for the American Cancer Society in just one day

More details and a preview of artwork here.

Fiberart For A Cause has already donated over $205,000 to the American Cancer Society through the generosity of fiber artists and their patrons.

Logo by Jeanelle McCall.

Time Flies

When I was growing up it seemed like an eternity from September until December.  The years seemed to go on and on  - Time was endless.  As I've added years to my life it seems that the years have become months, the months weeks and the days hours.  There doesen't seem to b enough time to get that one thing done.  I blink and the opportunity is gone - what happened to the time?  I know that I am busy, I'm not wasting time (for the most part) and yet it seems to be consumed at it much faster rate.  I know it was the middle of September yesterday and here it is already a week into November!  I seem to have lost the entire month of October. I can't afford to loose November as well!

I have such a hard time giving myself permission to work – to create –  to play - outside of the studio – outside of my chosen medium, fiber.  I have felt so guilty working in the yard and not dyeing fabrics.  Yet I am creating. I am designing.  I am making.  I love the feel of the dirt in my hands, of preparing the soil. I love the challenge of selecting just the right plants.  I have worked hard the last few weeks moving dirt, moving rocks, planting.  From designing, planning, arranging rock and dirt I have created an environment for me to be at rest in - A sanctuary -  A place to be inspired in. I should not feel guilty but should rejoice in the accomplishments and the progress that has been made. While there is still much to do I can now sit under the shade of the wisteria and stitch – at peace with myself and in a peaceful environment.

Whooooosh.......

I can’t believe that August just zipped by! I can’t believe that it is so far into September already! I remember when time seemed to move at a snails pace, nothing came fast and when you wanted time to fly it seemed to stand still. The good news is that I met all my finish lines. (I like that term – finish line….it does not sound nearly as ominous as deadline!) I have heard back from two that were calls to enter and I did get juried into both of them. One of the exhibits I entered I won’t hear from until the middle of October – talk about agony! I really HATE to wait on finding out if I made the cut or not. The last finish line was to get a donation piece done for Fiber Artists of San Antonio’s Runway show raffle. That was a mouth full! (Pictured above)

The one thing I will say about having these short working times is that I had little or no time to actually think about the work. I just did. Some I was very happy with, some not so much but they were still good pieces. I also noticed that not only did I finish the required work for the entries, I also made "spin off" work. It was a very productive few weeks. Regardless of the outcome of the work I absolutely loved being so absorbed in the making. Life is just better when you are creating. I know my whole attitude is one that is much kinder and gentler. (I am sure my other half appreciated that as well.) In spite of some long hours I never really felt tired – I felt good and at peace with myself and the world.

This past week has been one of catching up – I haven’t been able to be at the print table nor have I been able to get the studio cleaned up. I have not felt as good – I’m anxious, ill at ease – tired! You would think it would be just the opposite! Lesson learned – more time at the print table/in the studio is MUCH better for your well being!

I'M HERE.......i think

I feel like I have dropped from the face of the earth! BUT this is a good thing. I have been immersed in studio work as well as dealing with people working on the pool/yard It's finally shaping up!). I am a bit amused (no seriously….amused...HA...) that life comes at you all at once. You go weeks and weeks with no “finish lines”, no projects, no commitments and then all of the sudden everything happens at once! Now with four finish lines looming just around the corner – I’m talking days here – the pool/yard work at a critical point – like having to make decisions THIS instant (no they can’t wait until Tuesday or an hour for that matter!) – 11 parrots to care for (they are like children and need daily attention) - a spouse needing me…you know acknowledging that he exists!… plus keeping up with the company administration duties there has been little down time compose anything worth reading! I am however making ART!  YEAH!!

I will try to do better in the coming weeks – well after Tuesday! I can report that one entry has been successfully sent off – and early at that! Time will tell if the other three get completed in time. Then I can unbury my studio….I know I have flat surfaces in there....somewhere.... it will be an archeological dig!

Also, don’t forget about the drawing for a piece of my art work! Go to my website www.laurabeehler.com and sign up for the mailing list by August 31, 2010 and you are in!

Look Out.......

I “retired” several years ago from an 8 – 5 job so that I could devote more time to making. I loved the freedom of not having to answer to someone other than myself. At that time I had not really thought about the direction I wanted to go.  I hadn't develped a plan - no routine - no schedule -  no deadlines. Because there was no plan, no routine, no schedule it was very easy to say "sure, I can do that". I am very quick to “help” when needed at the expense of my own needs and work.  I have come to realize that by doing for others I have not been fair or honest with myself. Now I’m finding that it is very difficult to put my needs before others. My dreams have been put on the back burner because I have allowed others to push them there. The retiring from “work” didn’t happen, I just transferred “work” to a different setting, many times longer hours and of course at a much less pay rate! I am in the process of taking my time back but it is very difficult. It is hard to retrain those around me that have become dependent on me to be there when called. It is also very difficult for me to say “no”. BUT look out world the answer is - No, I can’t right now. Stand back and watch out for what I CAN!

Change

I follow Hugh Macleod at http://gapingvoid.com.  Hugh is a very interesting person.  His "working" job was as an advertiser and in his "spare" time he drew cartoons on the back of business cards.  He has recently dropped out of the 8 - 5 manic world in favor of a slower life in Alpine Texas.  However I don't believe that it is much slower - he just has control over what he does and when he does it! From here he runs an amazing empire of public speaking, "geek" parties, cartooning, creating art and in general doing what he loves.  I get a daily cartoon from him and in this mornings "cartoon of the day" was the above.  After my last post I felt it was very appropriate to re-post here.   If you get a moment check out his website - he has some amazing one-liners as well as great ideas for creativity!

Letting Go

I have a very difficult time letting go. This past month I have spent a great deal of time reflecting and letting go. I am fiercely loyal to my friends and I also become very attached to material things – why I’m not sure. Some things I do understand - like my mother’s fabric stash. That is one of the things I managed to go through this past month. Although it was very difficult for me to let her wonderful fabrics go, I know that I would not open the boxes and use the yardage inside. I sent 14 boxes out into the world – some I know went to a woman’s shelter so they could learn to sew, some to crafters and some to others that have the need to collect.

 

Another letting go was a friendship that was not what I thought it was. After being let down on numerous occasions this past year I realized that this was not a friend as I would define a friend. Perhaps the other party’s definition is different than mine but I have to live with me! After giving and giving then being left out in the cold I realized that it was time to let go. I need to move on. This has possibly been one of the hardest things for me to understand and I still tear up when I think about it. I wanted to believe the best in this relationship but I realize now that it was a one way street.

The last major hurdle for me this past month is giving up the old and accepting the new. We are closing down a water garden that was 18’ across and 24’ long. It was full of life –wonderful water lilies, Koi, Goldfish, Turtles, and of course snakes. It attracted many birds and small animals to its banks. This was the site of our wedding – lots of sentimental attachment to the area. I know that it is for the best that we taken it down but I also know that it is difficult to see something so beautiful be destroyed!

I know that in order to move forward you have to let go – it is just hard to do that.

Does it Matter?

I am often asked “How long did it take you to make that?” There are so many answers to that question – how long in terms of technical skill – how long in terms of artistic development – how long in terms of inspiration – how long in terms of interpretation and on and on – so is “how long” an important part of the definition of “art”. Is that a question that should even be asked when viewing a work? Is a work a piece of art if it is put together in 15 minutes? Should there even be a thought given to the “time” a work takes to complete? Is a work that takes six months “better” art than a work that takes 6 days? So I would think the better question to ask is what does the work say? Does the work speak to you? Does it send a message to viewers? Is the message one that you wanted to convey to the viewer? Do you “get it”?


Then there is the “is it good” question. As I look at art works today I am often puzzled at why this work is considered “fine art” or “a work of art” and to me it looks as if my grand daughters made it. The colors are awful, the composition is awful, there seem to be no skills used in the production of this piece of “fine art”! So how does a work become considered “art”? Does the infamous “they” make the rules as to what is acceptable “art”? In looking at the journey art has taken over the years I’m thinking the rules change with society’s ideas, thoughts and views. What is considered a “major work of art” in today’s times most likely would have seen the maker or artist run out of town on a rail 50 or 60 or 100 years ago. How do we as artists make this happen? Are the artists the ones that are actually providing the viewers the works to mould what is “a work of art” or are the viewers molding the artists?

So the bottom line for me is – it doesn’t matter! I “make” because I like what I’m doing. I “make” because I have something inside I want to express. There are times that need is only to say – hey look at these colors – aren’t they pretty! Sometimes that need is to express something deeper - regret, loss, anger. It may not be so “pretty”. If a viewer is touched by my work then they get it. I have been successful in conveying my message.

Lisa Kerpoe and I have curated  Fiber: A Closer Look. This is an invitational exhibit of Fiber Artists in and around San Antonio, Texas.  The works represent a range of artforms including art quilts, wearable and functional art, 3 dimensional sculpted fiber, artcloth, basketry and weaving. Fourteen artists are featured, including Laura Ann Beehler, Jane Bishop, Laurie Brainerd, Jane Dunnewold, Martha K. Grant, Caryl Gaubatz, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Lisa Kerpoe, Lisa Mittler, Susie Monday, Susan Oaks, Linda Rael, Letitia Rogers and Linda Sura. Most works in the exhibition are new or have not been shown in this area.

The exhibit will be held at the San Antonio Visual Artists' (SAVA) gallery from May 6-29, 2010. Please join us for the opening reception on Thursday, May 6. The reception is from 6 to 8 pm and the gallery is located at the RiverCenter Mall, Suite 205 (near the Commerce Street entrance).  When you pull up the "map" of the mall the SAVA gallery is located in section "G" - street level. SAVA is to the right just inside the entrance door off of Commerce. The entrance door is in between Foga de la Chao Restaurant and the Parking Garage.


http://www.shoprivercenter.com/main/rivercenter.pdf

Please show your support for Fiber Art in San Antonio and attend the opening. You will NOT be dissapointed!