from photo up knox mountain

If by support, you mean they attended a musical event or play that had an ’80s rocker or a play that was popular in other cities in the 90′s, then yes. I guess that is support. But what of the local artists, musicians and performers. The real question is what is happening to make sure that we keep these people alive (as in fed), give them an audience (as in inspired) and build a fan base (as in future security). Is that happening? Most artists and musicians that I know are working on their art at a cost. It is financial with the need to find other sources of income to feed the fire. It is emotional in the attempts to garner a respectfully paying gig, or customers who will buy enough to keep them in paint.

the bridge is the answer to all problems

Why were there 50 fewer artists in booths at Propera this year? The economy is down. But it has always been “down.” We rely so heavily on outsiders to support and appreciate our local talent that most artists end by feeling like creative buskers in a tourist town.

Further to the issue of passivity and apathy, is the up coming by-election. I am really curious as to what percent of individuals here will bother to go out and vote. The last major election it was under 20%. What are you guesses as the interest of Kelowna residents in their future?

The all candidates forum is on Wednesday, November 25th. How many care? How many will come to the forum? Which individuals will have the energy and commitment to the future of the city to go to a polling booth? We will have to watch and see.

where are the dolphins

Meanwhile, I am tired and happily in bed after the Potters and Artisans Show at the Rotary Centre which has just one more day. Hope to see you there Sunday and at local voting station November 28th. We deserve the kind of government we get.

taking risks

It reminds me of a more pure and direct question that was asked of me once in a Korean restauarant in Victoria. I was marking provincial exams and alone. After the hours of reading truly puzzling and frustrating prose, I needed something to wake me up and clear my mind.

local library windows

I headed to a Korean restaurant and ordered hot and sour soup. “How hot do you like?” the waiter asked. I said ,”Give it to me. I like hot.” He went into the kitchen. A puzzled cook came out to check if this was true. Did I, a middle class white woman eating alone want the hot, hot soup. He seemed concerned and obviously didn’t want to take any responsibility for whatever my reaction might be. I felt as if I should sign a voucher so there would be a legal record.

believe nothing but your own heart

When I lovingly sipped the soup, I looked up to see two waiters, the cook and the owner of the restaurant all staring at me. “Do you like it?” the owner asked me.

“Oh yes,” I replied, “it is wonderful.”

They spoke together and one waiter leaned forward slightly. “How did you get like that?” he asked.

cd cover design

And that, I think is what most people mean when they ask how I know when a piece is done. How did I get so intense and brave? What is over the top or a stopping point for someone who works in a magically technical world?

“I know when it is done”, I tell them, “because I feel it in my body.” How strange that it is never the response they expect.

scrape on edges, deep grooves

Awoke to the acid green leaves setting on the window outside my bedroom. The morning light touching flaming yellow patches translucent in their purity. The room zen like in its bamboo flooring and yellow walls does not feel bereft of nature because the trees on both sides  are part of the visual unity of the space.

My mind, so trained for anxiety began to sweep the terrain of the day like a sniper looks for movements of emnity. Perhaps that is why I feel so negatively charged when I am with people who are in defensive mode. It pulls me in and out of myself. I see mirrored in their attitudes the worst of myself. Judgment. Fault finding. Attempting to establish status and as always various types of anxiety. What I call this is the war zone mind. Some live as if they were in Lebonon or Sri Lanka during the worst of the inner city battles. Always looking for the next assault. Times of relaxation and friendship are just breaks in the vigilance necessary for survival.

I am aware that my childhood has wired me for this state. However, I am gently working to loosen those roots. The work is to be kind, gentle and loving with myself. When I falter, when my mind goes to a place of judgment and competitiveness and negativity, I see it and realize that most of that response is internal.

Yesterday while we were carrying a large piece of art out of a furniture store, I was saddened by the fact that the owner had obviously just shoved the 5 x 7 foot piece in a truck with no protection. I was saddened by the fact that they had moved their store and left no sign. When I went to leave off promotional material, the store was empty and my 3 thousand dollar piece was gone. I tried phoning the numbers on their business card and was told it was not in service. Feeling anxious (again) I sent them an email indicating that I was not notified of their move, I couldn’t find them and I wanted my art back. I over-reacted and also said that I did not want to have to take “further action” to retrieve the piece. Almost immediately I got an email back telling me ,”we don’t want your art. Come and get it out of the store.”

When I arrived, I found that the piece had suffered damaged and was scratched to the point where it is unsaleable. I will have to do hours of work to fill the gashes and get an even surface. I felt both disappointed with myself for assuming the worst and disappointed with them for not protecting a valuable piece. All I could do was to remind myself that in the future, I must be more careful about the placement of my art and be more skilled in my dealings with galleries and art dealers.

While I was feeling so many things at once, we were trying to get the giant piece out of the store, without any help. A man walking along the front of the building opened the door for us, smiled and took care of us. A woman driving past stopped to let us cross, smiled and took care of us. I let myself appreciate the kindness of these people. Things are as they are.

All I can do is try to catch on.

Images of the damaged piece are included.

deep gouges in the piece

For all artists out there, what I have learned is that whenever your work is out on display in any situation, have a contract for the owner to sign. Make one of your own if they don’t have one.  There is no guarantee that they will comply but it does teach people how to treat you as an artist and as a person. The more we surround ourselves with respect, the safer we feel. The safer we feel, the less vigilant we are. The less defensive we are, the more the universe supports us.

We never catch up. However, we can catch on. Go forth in joy.

I wish to share a few of the images that I have been working with the universe, or maybe just the world, or maybe just with you. Heading off to Vienna, Austria for an upcoming show has my generosity juices flowing. Also, some of my works can be purchased as postcards or art cards which I can ship to you quickly. Sample some possibilities and come back if you wish to purchase some of my energizing images for your home or office space.

Anyone wanting a one on one two hour class for $45 can contact me at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, 250-763-4269.

Happy spring.

old building new condo with library

It rains. There are businesses that have gone broke. Art Galleries have closed their doors in the downturn.

But the basic vision that this vibrant city was built from is still shining brightly. Wikipedia states, “The city and region are noted for strong land-use planning^[9] and investment in light rail, supported by Metro, a distinctive regional-government scheme.”

What this means for those who reside or visit the city is longitudal parks, free light rail, public art available for discovery in every section of the city and a population of hardily dressed citizens whose intention is to walk, ride their bikes and inhabit the out door spaces, no matter what the weather.

Public art in hall above Whole Foods parkade

The Portland Art Museum is always worth a visit. The current display of mixographia is fascinating. A process that uses the building up of layers of paper to form a mold. The three dimensional prints cry out to be touched. But I was responsible in stead of responsive.

La volupté du goût: French Painting in the Age of Madame de Pompadour was a thoroughly researched exhibit that gave the viewer a glimpse into history and the mores of the Boroque period. Pale colors, curving lines, ornamentation for its ownsake gave way to Neo-classicism. It is much fun to walk through history and see the cultural norms and measures for beauty changing before your eyes.

No visit to Portland is complete without a visit to Powells Books. The coffee is freshly ground and great. I particularly like exploring the cart with books on it that others have placed there as they left. It gives me an opportunity to see what individuals have seen as an area of focus. A quirky sense of humour, a dark vision, a desire for self-improvement, dealing with depression, mold, children, or training a pet are all a reading thumb print left on the cart.

The reading room now offers shelter to more street people than I can ever remember in over ten years of visiting the store. The few we saw were quiet and simply slept on a table without disturbing anyone.

The architecture is brilliant. Old buildings are housing new sleek condos with ultra-contemporary furnishings. The sense of connectedness to the past is everywhere. In terms of fashion, the cut and fabric of clothing is important…to keep off rain and cut the effect of winds. Shoes, coats etc. are well designed and expensive; however, there is no sense of display. The colors were quite muted. Perhaps a skirt had an extra frill of dark beige on black. Buffalo Exchange is a place that we always visit. The store is designed to circulate clothing through the customers. Buy a delightful sweater coat and wear it for a year. Then bring it back to the store and get credits toward another piece of clothing. Powell’s Books does the same. You can buy a new book, read it and they will buy it back as a used book.

The whole concept of cycle of use is wise and supportive of a feeling of community. Flex cars, as well, can be seen everywhere. The citizens are aware of use and share as a centralized philosophy.

We explored both the Portland University and the Portland State Campuses. They were both wonderful. Portland University is a small catholic university with a campus that harkens to the past. A central green surrounded by brick buildings felt homey. The athletic field was shared by a practicing soccer team and an rotc group going through drill. It was a sad reminder in this place that should have been an ivory tower that young people were at risk in a war.

public art

Portland State houses a very utilitarian tower for Engineering studies that reminded me of the architecture of the art museum in Vienna. But there was more glass and light. The campus is a fascinating place to just sit and watch people. Serviced by the free trolley, one could walk here for an hour or two exploring and just hop on the light rail to get downtown to the Pearl District.

Here is where the art galleries and up scale restaurants are clustered. The Pearl is not a place to explore if you are in a hurry. Every corner takes you to a new adventure. Take time to go through all of the stores and galleries. Funky rooms, labyrinthine hallways, discoveries are encouraged by the use of old breweries and buildings for the new stores.

The people in Portland are very polite. Doors were held open, people at counters took the time to talk with us. I think the thing we were most impressed by was the eye contact. People look at one another and smile. It is okay to make contact; in fact it is just plain normal.

So why go to Portland? Why not?

I read a wonderful art blog which I wish I had remembered and could link you to right here. The artist said, basically, that you work on your technique, you work on your voice and then make attempts to get your work out of your studio in any manner that you can. The secret is NOT to attach to the outcome. As Pema Chondra says, “Keep your seat.” Fall off of your central, balanced point neither on the side of depression or of reactive elation. It makes sense in the artistic process as well.

How does one keep in the flow, in the connectedness to self if one turns over the feelings of proper actions to others? You become a puppet just waiting for your strings to be pulled one way or another.

What others can do for you, is feed back the feelings and associations that they have as they interact with your art. I have learned how people feel the energy dance in my work and the joyous, alive feeling that they get from my work. It changes my self-concept. I have often thought of myself as guarded. Frequently, I pull back because I feel as if my life force is too much, too energetic, too colorful.

Now I have learned to work my art until it gets to that central place where “the furnace” lies. It is the force that fires my life. It is the force that has turned me aside from possible destructive behaviours, that has kept me dancing to my own tune.

Yes, of course I want people to throw themselves into my arms weeping over the beauty of my vision and while they are clasping me close to their hearts, shove thousands of dollars into my pockets. We all want to  be loved, accepted and validated. We all want power. And what I am coming to realize is that I am quite ambitious. However, I am also a warrior. I am ambitious to create beauty, to attract riches and to leave a trail of kindness behind me. Life is NOT a battle except with the self.

If one can live in a way that is about being self without feeling that one has to protect oneself… then there is no hooking into others’ reactions. Unless, of course, they are positive. I’ll take thousands of dollars and expressions of praise… but I am not hungry for them. I feed myself.

The art of living is about living artfully. We all do that in differing ways. Some create art. Others create a beautiful life. Blessings on all who go into the world with intention and a calm heart.

Waiting for spring and flowers

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/yourgallery/artist_profile/Cherie%2BHanson/33709.html

The above link is to my image at the Saatchi Gallery competition. If you wish to see the image, or vote for it, just click on the link.

Last night I spent three hours researching galleries in Montreal. Today my intention is to, finally, get to the appointment I have for a hip x-ray and to get my files in order in my studio.

So much of life is about the flow. The flow of circulation in the body, the flow of energy as we move, the flow of finding and sending out jpg files with the correct information attached. When I lose focus, the flow stops. It is only after a “pain” errupts that I notice that the maintenance necessary for qi has been disrupted. Slowly, slowly it gets better. Now I am aware of how much better my life is if I am aware of the ebbing of possibilities for growth, movement, going beyond. Two years ago it took a major scream before I heard life speak to me. Now I can hear the gruff voice growl before it becomes a scream.

The intention to keep life organized, to use that as a platform from which to launch off into the chaos and wildly unexpected possibilities of creativity is where I start each day. How to be patient with myself and with those around me who keep grinding over the same lessons much like my hip grinds on the nerve.

If life was a place where we have programmed learning until we go to the next level, then I am ready for moving out of these lessons…. these lessons of order, flow and patience and on to the next inevitable set of frustrations.

Locally, I received the opportunity to hang work in the Mission Library. It is really wonderful when the local arts council takes on the responsibility of finding venues for artists to present their work. I was working on my business plan just this morning and examining my “perfect customer.” Most of my sales have been to people living in the Mission, so this is really a happy coincidence.

Arriving in my email was a newsletter from my hard working friend and fellow artist, Julia Trops. She has a studio downstairs from mine in the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna and she is actively helping the Livessence Figurative Arts Group with a newsletter. In addition, she has set up Gallerie Diamante as a fundraising site for the Rotary Centre. The idea of the art exhibition this year is to create an art auction open to the world through the web site www.galleriediamante.com

Livessence will hold a holiday show on Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15. A Gift of Colour will exhibit the work of members using the elements of color. I don’t see the hours posted in the newsletter however, the Rotary Centre at 421 Cawston Avenue is open from 8 am until 10 pm most days.

This Thursday is the First Thursday Art Crawl with free food and wine. Come down with your family if you are visiting Kelowna as a cultural tourist or if you are a tourist in your own town. To check out events and classes offered at the Rotary Centre go to http://www.rotarycentreforthearts.com

Now I am off to crate up my art to ship to Ferrar, Italy and to write some poetry for tonight’s reading at the

library. Sunlight beckons.

The Rotary center for the arts will have two events. The first thursday art crawl is from 4 until 7 pm…October 2nd at 421cawston avenue. We invite you to come down for food, drink and to meet the artists. Also, WAM is Wine Art and Music om October 11th. We hope to see you.

For more information about the Okanagan Wine Festival and the fantastic events go to www.owfs.com/