CREATIVITY BUZZ ~ Raise Your Creative Vibration

QiGong for Artists

Paula Graham — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:54:32 +0000

Creation, Evening Day One (private collection)

I was seeking advice from my qigong practitioner last week about a challenge I’ve been having in the studio.

When paintings are near completion — but not quite — I stop myself. Unfinished paintings are becoming an inventory problem.

Knowing when to put down the brush is part of our art. My first watercolor teacher stressed the less-is-best perspective with her phrase Kill the Artist Before She Ruins the Work. But I was sensing a blockage, a resistance to painting to the edge. Dr. Larry Stoler of Whole Health Chicago suggested I cleanse and strengthen my liver with a qigong meditation and move.

He explained that the liver is all about flow. The liver hates blockage. And the challenge to the liver is stress. Stress? With selling my house and moving recently, I’m at the top of that chart. I watched Dr. Stoler’s QiGong Master on uTube. I’ve been practicing a QiGong meditation and the Tree Shake Movement for Cleansing the Liver. My energy shifted immediately.

Check out Master Lu at Stonehenge on uTube, where you’ll also find a link to the Tree Shake Movement.

Happy Flow.

Art and Wine for Medical Care in Haiti

Paula Graham — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:37:27 +0000

October 7, 8 and 9 2011

Twinbrook Winery

5697 Strasburg Rd.

Gap PA 17527

Judy Petersen and I are sharing a 10 x 10 at the Winery this weekend. In fact, we’re going there this morning to set up our booth. We join 25 artists and crafters, sharing their talents to support a worthy cause.

The sale will benefit the Bridges of Life Medical Foundation of Haiti. Bridges of Life was founded in the fall of 2010 to assist Dr. Patrick Jeudy expand his medical ministry in Haiti. The first phase was to rebuild his clinic damaged in the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake. The second phase is to build a clinic in Cabaret, located in an area where there is no access to medical care.

The weather goddess will bless this weekend with sun and warmth. What is more beautiful than Lancaster County in October? What could be more fun than tasting wine while looking at art? What could be more satisfying than helping a doctor expand his medical ministry in Haiti?

The festivities begin Friday at 7 p.m. with the opening reception. Saturday 10-4; Sunday 10-3.

ARTISAN GIFT SHOP AT ALLIANCE GALLERY

Paula Graham — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:51:04 +0000

The Oxford Arts Alliance will promote itself as a shopping destination for the holidays, displaying and selling area artisan works throughout the month of December. To participate, artist must be or become members of the Arts Alliance ($30 individual/$50 family) and agree to donate 15% of sale proceeds to the Alliance to cover gallery upkeep and the cost of processing credit cards for the month. Items for sale must be priced under $200, and items in the $20 range are particularly desirable as gift items for this seasonal event.

Drop off of items will be Nov. 29 and 30 from 11 to 4 p.m. Artists who wish to drop their items off on the 30th will be encouraged to help merchandise/display the items to best advantage in the gallery. Artists whose jewelry or other valuables should be kept in display cases should supply these. Specialty display racks and equipment are also encouraged.

The exhibit will open Friday, Dec. 2nd with a reception from 5-8 p.m. coinciding with our town’s second largest (after the Halloween parade) downtown event, Country Christmas. Please join us, though this is not mandatory.

Finally, pick up of items will be Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 from 11 to 4p.m.

Hope this answers all questions, and I look forward to working with everyone!

Tina Skinner, managing director, Oxford Arts Alliance

POETS AND ARTISTS EXHIBITION

Paula Graham — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:18:58 +0000

Poets and Artists

Oxford Arts Alliance Juried Exhibition

April, 2011

Opening Reception: Friday, April 1, 5-8 p.m

Poetry Readings: Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m.

Oxford Arts Alliance 38 S. Third Street Oxford PA

610-467-0301

Tu, Thurs, Sat 11-4; Fr 12 N-5 pm

I am spinning: my painting Dwellers of the Blue World accompanied by my poet pal David L. Harrison’s poem Fish were juried into the show Poets and Artists at the Oxford Arts Alliance Gallery. I delivered the art last Friday. The opening reception is Friday April 1, 5-7.

In March I received via email the following Casting Call for Creatives:

Homage to Horace: Ut Pictura Poesis

(as is painting so is poetry)

Curators: Mary Louise Meyers, Richard Beards

Our aim is to explore the enduring relationship between poetry and the visual arts, “ the two equitable neighbors” according to Horace, 1^st century B.C. roman poet. We are seeking artwork in all media and poetry which responds to the same subject matter (as in William Carlos Williams’ poem “The Great Figure” and Charles Demuth’s painting “Figure Five in Gold”) or poems which react to a work of art.

Hmm. I was awakened one night with the inspiration to connect with David. I zipped off an email the following morning, asking him if he just happened to have a fish poem in one of his 80+ books for young readers. The deadline for submitting proposals sat close on the calendar.

David did have fish poems, in magazines like Highlights for Children and in a few of his 80+ books for young readers. He wasn’t certain if he could use a previously published poem for such an exhibit. And it might take precious time to secure rights, etc. Besides, he said, his poems didn’t go with the spirit of my painting. “I’ll try to squeeze one out for you,” he said. I contacted the curators of the exhibit and received an extension.

Backstory: David is a featured author in my book Speaking of Journals. (Boyds Mills Press, 1999) Since our interview we have met in person and stayed connected via email.

Not to worry. Here is David’s delightful poem and my painting. Yes, I borrowed the name from a line in David’s poem.

by David L. Harrison

Lean down,

touch

the satin line

that separates us from

them, dwellers of the blue world,

slender darts suspended

between

earth and sky

where I, were I able,

might choose now and then

to plunge in and exchange

friendly bubbles

of fishy gossip.

GOURDS TO BIRD HOUSES

Paula Graham — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:08:02 +0000

What to do with a bumper crop of Bird House Gourds? Luckily, Tina Skinner, director of the Oxford Arts Alliance and gourder, knew just what to do. On Saturday March 19, 2011, Tina offered a workshop on transforming the gourds into bird houses. I supplied the gourds; Tina brought her power tools, patience then presto.

The hard part was ridding the gourds, which had been barn drying for a year plus, of their moldy skin. Lots of scrubbing with detergent and water. Next came drilling drainage holes and fashioning a front door. Then we decorated with a wood burner, coated with a leather stain, drilled hang-up holes and strung them with hemp.

For the last step Megan and her Aunt Gwen apply a coat of protective varnish.

Here’s mine–ready to hang, ready to welcome spring.

A CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY @ Oxford Arts Alliance Gallery

Paula Graham — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:19:35 +0000

Fifty plus artists from Philadelphia, Wilmington, Lancaster, Media, Malvern, West Chester, Kennett Square, Oxford, Perryville, MD and other villages and towns closer-by, visited the Oxford Arts Alliance Gallery Friday and Saturday to drop off submissions for our February Juried Exhibition. Beginning at 1 p.m. today, Sunday January 30, 2011, artist and dean at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Dan Miller will jury the show and select the top three winning entries.

A Celebration of Creativity opens Friday February 4, 5-8 p.m. with a reception at the Gallery. The show will hang until February 25. On Sunday February 20, 1-4 p.m. the Oxford Artist Connection, curator of the exhibit, will host an Artists Reception at the Gallery. Dan Miller will be discuss hear how and why he made his selections for the exhibit. Checks for the winning prizes will be presented to the artists.

YARD ART

Paula Graham — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:56:12 +0000

linking to a river of stones

What did Jack Frost say to Frosty the Snowman? Have an ice day.

Recipe for Creative Joy

Paula Graham — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:25:22 +0000

Gibbous Moon by Paula Graham

linking to a river of stones

Sign up for a workshop with fabulous painter/teacher: Sarah Yeoman

Assemble the following supplies:

Pieces of mat board

acrylic gloss medium

acrylic paint

bubble wrap, saran wrap and rubber stamps

Give yourself: Permission to play

The Muses Among Us

Paula Graham — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:42:43 +0000

linking to a river of stones

A River of Stones is a new international project curated by Fiona and Kaspa. For them, a small stone is a polished moment of paying proper attention. Their hope is that both established and non-writers will join them in writing a “small stone” every day throughout January 2011. I’ve decided to begin 2011 by paying attention all month to how people in my community of Oxford PA express their creative spirits.

Right now I’m thinking of Kim Stafford’s book The Muses Among Us. Muses are everywhere, if we only pause to pay attention. And engage them. And as Kim Stafford does, scribe for them. Yesterday morning I stopped in Morning Glories for a cup of tea. The woman pictured in the photo above was considering fabric swatches. I asked if I could snap her photo for my blog about expressions of creativity in Oxford for the river of stones project. She agreed happily and explained that the swatches belonged to her friend who was seeking chair-cover advice.

“It started with the kitchen, then spread to the dining room,” said the undecided decorator. “I was going to do half of the kitchen, then it turned into gutting the whole thing . . . painting cabinets turned into tearing plaster off the walls. Then came new ceilings in the living room and dining room and new paint on the walls. ” According to owner of the turn-of-the century home, she even renovated her turn-of-the century garage. “I’d better stop,” she said. “I’m running out of money.”

She can’t bail on the project until she covers the living room chairs in new fabric to enhance the newly painted walls that, she explained, look brown in a certain slant of light and green in another. Thus the fabric swatches. Many breakfast patrons offered suggestions, as she listened. She asked if I were free to join an 11 o’clock on-site consultation at her house on Pine Street. I’ve never been to such a creative conspiracy. Alas, I was due at the art gallery to help with a children’s art class and had to miss the group consultation.

Three Scoops of Creativity

Paula Graham — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:43:00 +0000

linking to a river of stones

Is it because I’m on the look out for expressions of creativity in Oxford? Or has it always been here, waiting to be discovered? Yesterday Oxford PA served up a triple whammy of CREATIVITY.

#1 the loan officer at the bank says, if necessary, she can get creative in her effort to secure a loan to finance my new business venture

#2 waiting for a table at Morning Glories Cafe, I spy felt-tip markers and colored paper spread across a table. As the trio packs up to leave, I ask a woman what she’s creating. “How did you know?” she asked. She explains with enthusiasm, leaves the shop then runs back with her email address. Today she was meeting with her production people. I’m excited for her, inspired by her energy and eager to promote it once it’s on the market.

#3 In the window at the Oxford Arts Alliance Gallery, a poster (above) announces their February Juried Show: a celebration for multi-media artists and gallery goes, too.