Sometimes you just have to go against the tide....

Rebel With a Cause

This little yellow flower *burst* her way out of the pink and purple fuchsia plant basket. I don't know how she got there or where she found her moxie - but there she was! As strong and confident as if she were surrounded by nothing but a field of other yellow flowers just like her. Instead of worrying about being the oddball, the little flower assumed she was as "routine" and "typical" an occurrence as anything else in that plant basket - and in that way she could grow and blossom to her full potential.

The little yellow flower didn't trip herself up on the fact that she was the oddball. Instead she made a choice to allow for her difference, honor her difference, and embrace it. This little yellow flower accepted herself and so presumed that her sense of belonging, among the very different fuchsias, was nothing but inevitable. She expected and projected the acceptance she gave herself and wanted from others, and so she received it....

Soul-Swaying

I'm learning that part of the trick of growing into my authentic self is to go with the flow. To allow life to unfold for me and to be open to the detours it presents for me -- for those are the opportunities of growth, and eventually (hopefully), wisdom. I am not to be daunted or discouraged but patient, trusting and steadfast....

ArtCares Cleveland

Thanks to a good friend I was made aware of an upcoming art auction benefit to which I have donated these three images as matted and framed prints:

The proceeds of the event and auction will go to the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland to help them to continue their important support of persons with HIV in Cleveland. I will be attending the event and am looking forward to seeing all of the donated artwork. If you are interested in attending the event too here is the official information and maybe I'll see you there!

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"ArtCares Cleveland will be held at the Battery Park Power House (in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood on Cleveland’s Near West Side) on Saturday, April 16th at 7:00pm for VIPs, and 8pm for the public. All proceeds from the event directly support the AIDS Taskforce.

 This year’s event will honor the Zone Family for their unwavering support of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, the arts, and the City of Cleveland. Councilman Joe Cimperman will serve as auctioneer, and the event chairs are John Farina & Adam Tully, and Noelle Celeste & Jon Benedict. Honorary Chairman is Howard Lake. Entertainment will be provided by the always irreverent and fun, Lounge Kitty, and DJ MisterbradleyP.

Ticket prices are $50 for General Admission and $100 for VIP. Please contact Rebecca Strong at rstong@atfgc.org, or 216.621.0766 x232 for more information.

Initiated by the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) in 2003, ArtCares is now an established collaborative tradition between the CIA and the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland. This event arose from awareness of the devastating impact the AIDS epidemic has had on individuals involved in the creative arts community, and from a consequent awareness that artists are uniquely positioned to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS. ArtCares celebrates contemporary art with both a silent and live auction of donated work."

 

No Rush Toward the Inevitable Farewell

I find this image to be quite sad but hauntingly lovely and dignified at the same time.

At first I see what was once a lovely Queen Anne's Lace bloom that is now, not only dried up and past her prime, as she is trapped among the bars of the rusty fence, but she is also frozen in this untimely moment of capture. I'm guessing that the regal flower would not want to be seen caught in this way.

But, in looking further, when I concentrate straight into the heart of the image, I also see a quiet, meditative stillness. I imagine that the spirit of the old bloom is still going strong and the cold and ice of this day, as well as the stabilizing structure of the fence, only serve to help the flower as she slowly moves closer toward her final farewell.

It is a fact of life that the bloom will eventually break down and return to the elements of the earth but on this day she is hardened and solid in time as she is helped by the fence and ice and, in no pressing rush toward the finish line, the queen flower is standing still and strong.

On my daily walk this morning, just for the heckuvit, I made a snowball.

Then, to continue down my path of whimsy, I made a snow angel.

I’ve been missing whimsy in my life lately. It’s much easier to get bogged down in all the “musts” and “should” of life. Those things are all clearly explainable as to why I do them.

But why did I make a snow angel? I don’t know. I don’t have a clearly obvious answer for that. Because I wanted to? Yes, but it was more than that. It made me feel good. It was simple but it was a tiny adventure in my otherwise sober hour of exercise. It made me feel childlike and simple and free.

I don’t know how else I can pursue a path of whimsy in my life but I know that I will try. If a detour that small and nearly insignificant can make me feel so good, then I want to try to find more of that…

Winter Stumblings

I am smack in the middle of winter here in northeast Ohio with no clear signs of the season letting up (in spite of what the little groundhog had to say) and I am stumbling between hibernation and exploration. Although I am staying as much inside as I am able I am also ready to get out again with my camera and investigate my world!

So yesterday I ventured out a bit and saw what beauty the ice can bring. This old and dead flower bush that is left over from a late summer blooming has become nearly immortalized as it is frozen in the drippings of a melting icicle higher up. It must be very weighted down by the heft of the icicle but it is mustering through and waiting for the thaw.

 
That is how I feel. Winter is always heavy for me but on some days I see the bright sun and know that it is coming back again soon and strong. Like this old bloom knows that even as I am taking the picture of its frozen existence the icicle encompassing it is slowly melting away...

The Young Family

Waiting for Spring

First Light

I've been walking very early in the morning when it is still dark (and cold!). I am very much looking forward to when the sun will start peeking out as early as I begin walking.

Beauty of the Third Age

I was very pleased this past weekend when a customer at the craft show was taken with this photo.

I love this photo but since it's not your typical, easy to understand, photo of a fresh and pretty delicate flower I had thought that no one else out there would like it like I do.

But there was someone!

I explained that this is a photo of an old, dried out and "wilted" hyacinth blossom. She suggested to me that the bloom wasn't wilted but was "weathered" and I agreed wholeheartedly. That's why the name of this image is, "The Beauty of the Third Age."

As a woman over 40, who is nothing but *thrilled* to have turned that corner of the aging milestone process, I see this weathered hyacinth flower, in its third phase of existence, as a gorgeous, vibrant and enduring bloom which portends only continued strength and increased self-possession as the days, and time, inevitably will march along...

Old Wheel Barrow

I saw this old relic of a wheel barrow while walking yesterday morning and just *had* to take its picture. I like it!

Upcoming Show!

I have a show coming up and thought I would let you know.

I'm quite excited about this one because I have been working, working, working, busy as a little honeybee, to get lots of new products created and made. I have been feeling very inspired lately!

Let me just say though that this Artisan Bazaar is truly a great show. There are lots of vendors and they *all* have such creative, cute and unique items. It's hard for me to go there as a seller because all I want to do is roam the aisles looking (and buying!) all the amazing creative gifts I see. If you are able to come and see for youself I highly recommend it. It's a great show with a warm and welcoming atmosphere where you can stock up on truly artistic and special gifts. Hope to see you there!

Graceful Transition

We still have warm, sunny and peaceful afternoons here in Northeast Ohio but nevertheless, the summer *is* coming to a close.

These Queen Anne's Lace flowers peaked in the middle of the summer and are now closed up and brittle but I like how they maintain their dignity as they stand tall under the autumn skies...

Chipmunk Flirting

Detour Without Grudge

When I look at this picture I feel a sense of kindness and forgiveness.

The small, pink, delicate flowers are regrowing after what was probably years of misuse. It was probably years of the meadowland serving as a foundation for the train and the advancement of industry and all the disregard to nature that came with it. During that time the meadowland likely could not grow and flourish as it was meant to since the oil and dirt and debris of the train rumbling over it kept it stunted and tamed.

Time has moved on though, and the train is no longer in use so that the small flowers are able to peak out again and, somewhat tentatively, regain their purpose. Slowly the flowers are finding their way up through the stones and are stretching in and around the rails to gently reform itself as a meadow.

The flowers don't seem to me to be angry or holding any grudge about the detour or lost years from their original purpose. Instead, it seems to me as if the flowers are simply, maybe even humbly, carrying on where they left off and are softly returning to the journey of their destiny.

Busy as a Bee

So I'm still finding my way with all this creative expression stuff. I started with one thing, moved to another, moved to yet another and now I am coming back to the beginning where I started.

That is, I am regrouping and restating my creative outlet as "Bloom Spirit Expressions" (instead of also having PhotoCardArt). I found it confusing and distracting to have two different (yet barely distinct) outlets going on.

So I am back to where I started -- I am Bloom Spirit Expressions.

I am now in the process of changing things so they can all be found under that one name.

And in Greek my name, Melissa, means Honeybee...

The Focus of Determination

I still haven't gotten enough of my persistent little "lonely-only" duckling... :)

Intrepid

This "lonely-only" duckling followed her mom around so diligently and bravely. The mother duck really did nothing to change her behavior as she sped through the water with the greatest of ease. The duckling must have needed to make six paddles to keep up with her mother's every one paddle.

But still the duckling did it. She may have fallen behind at times but she made up for it when the mother duck slowed down or rested a bit. The duckling never got any rest herself during the journey and, to be only one or two days old, she really showed her strong will.

I wonder about my own will (which wavers much more than I like.) Would I have kept up like this little duckling did? Could I have? Would my mind be able to push me to keep up beyond the point my body wanted to? What kind of inner strength do I have?

After a turn of the lake and surrounding grounds, when they both arrived safely back at the nest, I saw the mother duck tuck the duckling under her wing for a well-earned nap...

Gold versus Gray

I have loved this painting ever since I first saw it on a school field trip to the Cleveland Art Museum many years ago. I love the ominous drama of the dark clouds combined with the sturdy and stable sustenance of the wheat fields.

I only discovered, last year when I was at the art museum once more and I took the time to read the caption, that the painting (called "Gray and Gold" by John Rogers Cox who was an American painter) was painted at the beginning of World War II and could be interpreted to represent the crossroads the U.S. faced when considering entering into the war.

I can often feel this sense of looming danger. That's when my fears are stepping forward during times of change and unknown futures.

But I can choose to focus on the impending storm clouds or I can choose to feel comfort from the plentiful wheat. Focussing on the wheat won't make the clouds go away, I know, but it's a more stable grounding for me than the ever-changing sky. When the clouds have passed, the wheat fields, in some variation and most likely not without trauma, will still be there. Or, at the very least, the land for more wheat fields to be planted will still be there.

I have recently done some traveling to England and was taken in by a similar scene. I do *not* attempt to replace or recreate the original painting but it feels good for me that I have made my own photographic version of a painting that has quietly captured my spirit for many years: