Surface Matters

I remember one of my Design teachers giving us an assignment which had to do with creating a textural board that would give information on shape, form and feel to a blind person. After we all turned in our projects, he proceeded to critique the work by blindfolding himself and going on a sensory trip through our work. Back to one of our first learned languages being the touch of our Mother's skin we learn to develop this sense. Nature helps by guiding us, through a world of textures starting with the bark of a tree, or the smoothness or roughness of a rock. In my heart I feel that texture marks the layers of time, like the layers of the earth marking the impact of weather patterns through time. It shapes the surface into something rich with history.

What is Love?

Love can be represented in many ways. With a simple gift or a kind gesture, by listening, making love, taking care of someone, making a loving call, cooking a meal, sharing a moment and the list goes on. A good thing that there are so many ways to show love. But when it comes to being the one on the receiving end... selfishly all we want is to be number one in the eyes of the one we love.

My favorite time of day...

For many years the blue hour has been my favorite time of day, for several reasons. First, its blue color is rich and intensifies by the second. Second, this time of day, al least for me, represents that work has been done and its time to relax. Makes me feel that I am looking into a bottle of a rich elixir which pours beauty into my eyes.

Observation of a landscape...

Nature is one of our teachers. I spent some time focused in using my macro lens to look into the detail of a leaf, observing its delicate veins running through it. Also marveled at looking for the negative space, the space between the leaves of a tree, not the leaves themselves. This gave way to the abstraction of shape. All this, has certainly been something that artist Jan Hendrix has done for many years. Dutch-born artist who has lived and worked in Mexico since 1978. Hendrix received the Order of the Aztec Eagle from the Mexican government for his work in art and architecture. He has spent many years observing the landscape. He moves between representation, figuration and abstraction. Then he renders a literary representation of the landscape. I share with you a video of his work and inspiration. https://vimeo.com/318236081 To see the video, please copy this link into your browser window.

Fiber...

I was observing this beautiful yarn, spun and died by a local artisan. It was beautiful and raw. It is amazing how all these flecks of hair come together and find their strength by bonding together with other fibers and become a form. Not unlike the way our experiences, environment and emotions get woven together as individual strands into the fiber of our lives. It becomes part of the blood that runs through our veins. It becomes the representation of who we are.

A labyrinth.

Recently during one of my walks I found a labyrinth marked with stones. The Labyrinth is an ancient symbol that relates de wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. It represents the journey to our center and back again out into the world. Finding it was a gift. I have been using it as a meditative tool. Walking it has helped me find time, and in that time find thought, grounding, direction and flow. Our lives get busy and the container gets full. We barely ever make it to the center, before something distracts our attention. Finding time this summer has given me space.

First language...

Recently I heard artist Judy Tuwaletstiwa quote "Our first language is the beating of our Mother's heart and the second is the touch of our Mother's skin". Having become a grandmother recently this quote touched me deeply. I used to pray everyday to the Virgin of Guadalupe for the safe birth of my little grandson. During this meditative prayer I used to try to sink the beating of my own heart to that of my daughter's as her heart was connected to his. I witnessed these languages while observing the magic of Motherhood right beneath my eyes.