BAHAMIAN MASTER WOOD CARVER: KENNY WHITFIELD OF SAN SALVADOR

KENNY WHITFIELD, MASTER CARVER OF SAN SALVADOR,  BAHAMAS (all photos are taken by Chiboogamoo, aka Tony Martin)

Kenny Whitfield, a Bahamian wood carver, was born in 1964 on San Salvador in the Sugarloaf community.  It is the beginning of January 2012, and my Chiboogamoo and I are sitting with him at his carving station out in front of his Sugarloaf home situated on the main road that loops around the island of San Salvador.

We have almost missed him on this small island absent of traffic lights and without one stop sign. Things move differently on “island time,” and when I had asked to schedule an appointed time to interview him, he had insisted that we come see him at his open air studio “whenever.”  This request had made my task of interviewing him slightly difficult for several reasons (*which you can see at the end of this interview).

OPEN AIR STUDIO. Kenny Whitfield carves his animal figures on the main road of San Salvador. Field station students, professors, and researchers stop by to buy this master wood carver's work. Notice the national fish of the Bahamas painted on his booth. Kenny often carves a blue marlin.

It is the morning of January 5^th, and my husband and I have swung around the south end of the island in hopes of finding Kenny after dropping off two Emory University students to work on their class project at Pigeon Creek. To our disappointment, the master wood carver of San Salvador was not present at his carving stand, which hosted a variety of carved turtles, fish, and birds. Someone came out to assist us if we wanted to buy a carving but could not tell us where Kenny was. We drove off knowing with just two days left on the island, I might not get a chance to talk with this San Salvadoran artist.

But TA-DAH! We had only driven 30 meters, when we sited Kenny on the road coming towards us in his distinctive truck that he must use to haul the wild tamarind wood for his carving. We waved him down and he invited us back to his studio to conduct the promised interview. This chain of events is how things are done on “island time.”

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How did you get started as a wood carver?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  I grew up on the island, left for Nassau to find work, and then returned back home to San Salvador. Before I went to Nassau, I learned how to carve from a cousin, Wilfred Baptist.  He was the Bahama’s best, but he is not around now, and I’ve been carving for 30 years.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Where do you get your wood?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  I get my wood from Sandy Point from the other side of the island. The wood is called wild tamarind, and it is native to San Salvador. You can see the dark on the outside and the light on the inside, and you can see the two–toned color. Besides it is an easy wood to work with. Just chop it down and you can carve it. Carve it while it is soft. After it’s chopped, it gets harder and harder—too hard to work with.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How did you develop as an artist?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  It came easy. After being taught in school.

We had a discussion about art classes being taught in the schools of San Salvador. My understanding was that art was not included the curriculum. But Kenny said that when he was in school, there were art classes.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Describe what kind of art you make to sell tourists.

KENNY WHITFIELD:  The small gifts, turtles, owls, pelicans. I find it interesting. It’s what I love to do. Otherwise, I would be in a different job.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How long does it take you to carve a piece?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  It will take an hour-an-a-half to make this grouper.

Kenny refers to the piece of wood he is carving while I interview him. In fact, he finishes the grouper, a common fish around San Salvador’s coral reefs in 45 minutes!

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Do you make art just for yourself?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  No. I make work to sell.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How does living on an island affect your art?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Pretty good. No one else does it. I’m the only one.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Does being Bahamian influence your art?

KENNY WHITFIELD: I believe so. It’s different. It is not from Taiwan, Italy, or Japan. It is made right here by hand.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: What is nationalistic about your work?

KENNY WHITFIELD:  I make a lot of blue marlins, sail fishes. Basically, the majority of people like to buy stuff from the sea—9 out of 10.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Do you incorporate local stories in your work?

Kenny shakes his head “no.” He draws my attention to his carving and explains his method.

KENNY WHITFIELD: First stage is using the axe. Second stage is using the chisel to smooth it off. The third stage is to use the v-gouge to put details on.

FIRST STEP. Kenny starts his carving with a hatchet.

SECOND STEP. Kenny uses the chisel to refine.

THIRD STEP. Kenny uses the v-gouge for detail.

He has finished using the axe and is alternating between using the chisel and v-gouge.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Do you make large pieces?

KENNY WHITFIELD: The majority of times I make a big piece it is just for show. Big pieces take up so much time a lot of people can’t afford it. Small pieces move on faster.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How many pieces do you make in a week?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Twenty or thirty. It depends.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Who buys your wood carvings?

KENNY WHITFIELD: I sell them to the field station (Gerace Research Centre), homeowners on Sandy Point. Just any tourists that come about.

STUDENTS FROM THE GERACE RESEARCH CENTRE. Some professors are kind enough to stop and let their students look at Kenny's wood carvings. Out in the field, no one carries any money with them. Kenny knows this and will come to the field station at some point before these students leave so they can have a chance to purchase something from him.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: What state of mind are you in when you are carving?

KENNY WHITFIELD: In a regular state.  I always be feeling all right. Thinking about what I am doing. Happy about what I am doing.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: How did you know that piece of wood was going to be a grouper?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Basically, you are going to have a piece of wood that looks like a grouper, so it comes easy. That big piece looks like a turtle. Kenny points to a wide flat piece of wood. A piece of wood that is y-shaped (he points to a branching piece of wood), I will make an owl or a kissing fish.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Do you identify with any of the animals you carve?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Cats and dogs—people normally like them. Everybody will buy a cat or dog because they are regular animals around humans. I identify with them because they are always around humans and are easy to sell.

OUR INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS. Thank you Chiboogamoo for taking this as a memento for me!

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Have you ever created something from a dream?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Yeah. Last time I carved something from a dream, it was a marlin—a huge one—six or seven feet. It took me a while to finish it. 

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: Where do you see your work going in the future?

KENNY WHITFIELD: Actually, I see it developing and going over to the U.S. and all over the world on the Internet. I liked to do this the rest of my life as long as it keeps my head above water.

HALLLELUJAH TRUTH: What’s your definition of creativity?

KENNY WHITFIELD: This is what I am doing is art. Just creating for the love that the world can see.

CONTACT KENNY WHITFIELD: BAHAMIAN WOOD CARVER ON SAN SALVADOR through his sister’s email. Kenny promised me that his sister is on the internet daily.

Email: bossladycarol@hotmail.com

REASONS WHY IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET TO KENNY WHITFIELD’S OPEN AIR STUDIO TO INTERVIEW HIM:

REASON NUMBER ONE is restricted vehicle use:  At the Gerace Research Centre on San Salvador, my husband is assigned a vehicle for Emory University class and science related activities, not for hunting down local artists.

MASTER WOOD CARVER WITH MY PHOTOGRAPHER AND BOON COMPANION. Kenny came to sell his work at the Gerace Research Centre at dinner time. Students and professors waiting in the cafeteria line had a chance to talk with him and buy his work. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

REASON NUMBER TWO is limited time: We were on a tight and challenging class schedule in order to visit the numerous various coral reefs, lagoon, and outcrops that Chiboogamoo wanted his Emory students to see. There was no “free” time for non-science related activities.

REASON NUMBER THREE is no direct line of communication.  We did not have a phone number or phone to agree on an established time to meet with Kenny Whitfield. We were to rely on either word of mouth (telling employees at the Gerace Research Centre to tell Kenny we wanted to see him) or chance (he might just be at his open air studio if we were driving by and had time to visit him).

ACKNOWLEDMENTS: Thanks to Thomas Rothfus, executive director of the Gerace Research Centre, for allowing local artisans to bring their work to the field station. I am very grateful to the generosity of Kenny Whitfield, who was happy to be interviewed and answered my questions forthrightly. Great appreciation goes to my Chiboogamoo, who supports my interests in the arts no matter where we are, no matter how tight is his “scientific” schedule. Without his sincere cooperation and excellent photography skills this interview would not have taken place!

SHOWING KENNY WHITFIELD MY ARTWORK. I took a moment to show Kenny my drawings for the children's story, The (Mis)Adventures of Maria the Hutia, a conservation story about indigenous Bahamian animals. I asked him if he would consider carving a hutia. He said he could carve anything if he had a picture of it. Since hutias have not been sited on the island of San Salvador, I doubt that it will be profitable for him to carve one--unless our conservation story takes hold of people's imaginations and the hutia becomes a symbol of endangered animals (I think I will write about this idea in an upcoming blog!)

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#REVERB11: HOLY TRINITY OF SHEER BLISS

#REVERB11 (December 17) PROMPT: BLISS. What are three things that make you feel the most blissed out? What can you do in 2012 to invite more of that in your life?

#1 BLISS. I Am a Pilgrim. 

#2 BLISS. We Are Not Alone. 

#3 BLISS. LOVE.

INVITATION TO MORE BLISS IN 2012? BEING PATIENT AND TRUSTING JOYFULLY. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

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#REVERB11: TRANSFORMATION

TRANSFORMATION. (December 16, 2011)                     Art by Hallelujah Truth

TRANSFORMING. (During 2011)

AMMONITE BEGINNINGS. (January 2011)

#REVERB11 (December 16) PROMPT. TRANSITIONS. Over the past year have you experienced any major or minor life transitions? How has your life changed? (Tiffany Moore)

Hallelujah for JOURNEYS that bring TRANSFORMATION! During 2011, I have gone deeper and wider in the PURSUITS I love. I have gained a more confident and exuberant voice as a blogger! As an artist who draws daily, I have become surer of my line and the expression of my color. As a result of my persistent writing and drawing, I have exploded into the role of a MENTOR who supports others in their CREATIVE JOURNEYS!

THE CREATIVE WRITERS I MENTORED FALL 2011. It is a privilege to assist others in the ways they want to express their spirit. Thank you class!

TRANSFORMATION 2011. Read this series of three drawings from the ammonite origin (bottom) to the exuberant fleshy star creature (top)!



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#REVERB11: PILGRIM SCHOOL 2011--LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR ALL

LOVE OF REVERENCE FOR ALL (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB11 (December 13) PROMPT: Love. What are the things (or people or animals) in this world you love the most? (Carolyn Rubenstein, A Beautiful Ripple Effect)


Hallelujah for LOVE! And Hallelujah for the entire spectrum of feelings that radiate forward and backward in a cyclone around the topic of LOVE. In 2011, I have fallen most in LOVE with REVERENCE. I am in AWE of YOU and YOU and THAT, and ME! I honor the whole shebang!


Sometimes during the past year, I have found it difficult to LOVE the DESPAIR that beckons me from the opposite end of rainbows and fireworks of REVERENCE. But being authentically ME means accepting and honoring the BLAHS with LOVE.

DESPAIR. Being on a pilgrimage in search of joy and love, despair is sometimes confronted. Blah!

When, I feel this way, I LOVE listening to the song, The Way, on my most favorite album Donovan Sutras. Here are the lyrics:


The Way


I stay behind I walk ahead
Apart yet a part of everything
Nothing done and all is well
Never used yet always full


Out of nothing comes the one
Out of one comes the two
Out of two comes three
Out of three comes all things


The more it moves the more it yields
The valley spirit never dies
The root of heaven and earth
Empty now of everything


From above it is not bright
From below it is not dark
You  cannot see when it began
Follow it there is no end


It has no aim it is so small
It has no name it is so great
It is not seen it is not heard
Nothing done or left undone


The weak can overcome the strong
The supple overcomes the stiff
Everyone knows this well
Yet so few can practice it


Out of nothing comes the one
Out of one comes the two
Out of two comes three
Out of three comes all things

OUT OF NOTHING COMES THE ONE

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#REVERB11: MISTAKE--TYRANNY OF MY SOUL

MISTAKE 2011: ONGOING TYRANNY OF MY SOUL.  (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB11 (December 11) PROMPT: Mistakes. It's easy to focus on our mistakes--to reflect with 20/20 hindsight and berate ourselves for what went wrong. Bring your awareness to a mistake you've made over the past year. Unveil one positive lesson from that mistake. How can you actively use this lesson moving forward? (Tiffany Moore at Live Happy)

AWARENESS IN A WAY OF BEING. SURRENDERING TO BEING

As a Spiritual Art Pilgrim, I am on a SOUL JOURNEY. On this part of my SOJOURN ending in 2011, I have continued to cycle through a repeated behavior of mistake, realization, and positive resolution: 

1. ONGOING TYRANNY OF MY SOUL. 

I Judge myself, my art, and others harshly. The absolute power of my critical mind destroys the fruits of my SOUL. Suffering by all around ensues.

2. AWARENESS IN A WAY OF BEING.

After the cataclysmic destruction generated by absolute judgment, I return to the center of my HEART and SOUL. I allow myself to BE JOYFUL and I surrender to BEINGNESS. All around await.

3. JUBILATION IN BEINGNESS.

Time stops in this place centered in the SOUL. From this SOUL place all things are restored. Mirthful growth occurs. All around rejoice.

JUBILATION IN BEINGNESS. CELEBRATING THE UNKNOWN.

2011 AD INFINITUM

Acknowledgments: These images that I have drawn of Snowpeople resulted from last night's holiday outing to go see the Christmas lights in our local Atlanta neighborhoods. Thanks to Jacq Marie, Lesly, Matt, and my Chiboogamoo! Although there were engaging decorations of Santa, polar bears, penguins, reindeer, snow globes, the yard that captivated my imagination was the one with a large frightening tyrannical snowman towering over troops of about 30 small subjugated snow people in front of it. OH MY!

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#REVERB11: ANTICIPATION--LOOKING FORWARD TO REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL

ANTICIPATION FOR 2012: REBIRTH, RENEWAL, REVOLUTION OF THE SOUL. (Art by Hallelujah Truth) 

#REVERB11 PROMPT (December 11): What is the one thing you are most looking forward to in 2012? (Prompt from Carolyn Rubenstein on A Beautiful Ripple Effect)

PREGNANT

NO MORE 

NO LESS

HALLELUJAH TRUTH!

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#REVERB11: LIMITS! HALLELUJAH FOR LEARNING HOW TO BE THE HONEY BADGER OF CREATIVITY!

LIMITS TO CREATIVITY? Observe the product resulting from collaboration with my beloved ichnologist husband Chiboogamoo! Creating a work of art based on a scientific idea is tricky business especially when done with one's spouse! This triptych, Holy Trinity of Ichnology, seriously challenged my sense of creative self! (A future blog will discuss the development of our collaborative relationship!)

#REVERB11 PROMPT (December 8): LIMITS: We often learn about our limits the hard way. Were there any limits you realized this past year? Alternately, what self-imposed limits were you able to move beyond this year? (From Carolyn Rubenstein's  blog: A Beautiful Ripple Effect)


Pilgrims! When Hallelujah meets limitations, boundaries, restrictions, dead ends, parameters, detours, cut-offs, she REJOICES! Yes, of course, the hallelujahs are preambled by squeaks and squeals like a delicate mouse finding herself trapped in a laboratory maze without potential rewards of moist crumbly treats. Then I summon the honey badger of CREATIVITY!


In 2011, I traveled distances on my CREATIVE PATH, becoming a co-leader for the Atlanta Artist Conference Network, collaborating with Chiboogamoo for an art exhibit at Fernbank Museum of Natural History, leading a blogging workshop for a women's writing conference, and teaching three different English courses to international visiting scholars at the Language Institute of Georgia Tech. 

LIMITS TO MARIA THE HUTIA?: In the middle of two adult Bahamian hutias is Maria, the young hutia who inadvertently gets tossed out at sea and journeys far away from home. This image is the initial line drawing done in a size 5 micron pen before thickening lines with india ink and larger sized microns. Here Maria has succeeded in returning home to her parents. I feel such a parallel in my life with Maria the Hutia and  Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz--both stories of leaving home and returning to it. I love journey stories. During my own journey as an artist, I have confronted my "limitations" as a drawer. So I tell myself. Is this perception of my limitations TRUTH or ILLUSION? (art by Hallelujah Truth)

In addition to these CREATIVE high roads, which clearly invited huge IMAGINATIVE energy, I completed 90 percent of the illustrations for the children's book, The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia, and took on the coordination of getting this wonderful environmental conservation story by Ronald Shaklee into book form (publication to occur in 2012).


All of the above projects were done in the LIFE of my CREATIVE MIND while drawing daily, teaching, blogging, and participating in the group Spiritual Art Pilgrims. Did I CONFRONT LIMITS? YESSSSSSSSSSSS! As I crashed into walls, I unwillingly dueled with my numerous saboteurs (see how I defined saboteurs in a #REVERB10 blog), which caused me to practice saying the honey badge mantra "honey badger don't care--nothing can stop the honey badger"!

As 2011 comes to a close, I cannot proclaim that I "removed" any limits. What is the opposite of STOPPING? I can own that I "did the work." I kept GOING. I kept JOURNEYING because of my fascination with the UNKNOWN. In 2012, I have a heaping desire to become even more of the honey badger of CREATIVITY. 

THE LIMITS OF CONFRONTING SABOTEURS. 2011 has left me exhausted, exasperated, satisfied, tried and true, honey badger initiated, and ready to see what is next. This water color that I did in collaboration with Chiboogamoo challenged me all the way to its completion. I absolutely adored my husband's drawing of "imagined traces once sea level changes," which he enlarged so I could paint. Painting such a large piece of paper without a visual plan felt like it veered on disaster. Following my intuition over such an extended project took all of my guts. The project was humbling. But the honey badger "don't care" because there is always the next creative project looming! (photo by Chiboogamoo at Fernbank Museum of Natural History)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! Soul Blog with me and tell me about your CREATIVE JOURNEY and the limitations you have confronted, survived, rejoiced in and removed! What are you the honey badger of?

MOVING BEYOND LIMITS. I gasped with joy when I saw children stop to look at my painting, Mother Earth, Mother Dinosaur. It was the first time I had seen children responding to my art! I love it that the little boy is scratching his head in thought! Look how one of the little girls slid to her knees to peer into my world of burrowing dinosaurs! It felt as if an old boundary had been eliminated! Children as viewers of my images! Wa Hoo!

Acknowledgments: Thank you Chiboogamoo for making the honey badger so present in my life! You are my little honey badger!

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#REVERB11: DEEPENING CURIOSITY AND ARTISTRY THROUGH READING

CURIOUS CUP LOGO. Kiona Gross, former Decatur, Georgia, neighbor and friend, requested I make a logo for her bookstore in Carpinteria, California, back in 2010. What emerged from my daily drawing practice were a series of images that were fun and surprising! (all art here copyrighted by Ruth Schowalter, aka Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB11 PROMPT (December 5): What has been your favorite book (or books) this year? Of course, tell us why! (Carolyn Rubenstein at A Beautiful Ripple Effect)


Hallelujah for BOOKS! Delving into books is like diving into a vast ocean. A dear friend of mine (Kiona Gross) moved to Carpinteria, California to open her own bookstore, CURIOUS CUP (see curious cup on facebook). In October of 2011, Kiona sent me a signed copy of Brian Selznick's new book, Wonderstruck, and I devoured it. Kiona knew how much I had fallen in love with Selznick's first book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Selznick's work speaks to the child in me. His books are told part in beautiful rendered images that make my SOUL gasp! As a language teacher interested in the different cultures that we humans must adapt to, I appreciated Selznick's exploring the convergence of the hearing and deaf cultures. The story is captivating and heart-full! I know that it will be made into a movie just like his first book that is now playing in theaters (Hugo).

CURIOUS CUP AND CARPINTERIA SWIMMER AND BOOK READER. Part of the practice of daily drawing. Kiona and I were working with the idea of a book and a coffee cup. It was fun when we thought that the curious cup might be a tattoo! Fun exploration! I adore collaboration!

Another book for 2011 that I would like to mention is Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening. My sister-in-law Elizabeth Schowalter recommended that we read the daily passages and share our ideas, possibly engaging in some of Nepo's exercises. Who wouldn't love a book that quoted passages like this one from Paula Underwood Spencer: 


"If you want to be truly understood, you need to say everything three times, in three different ways. Once for each ear...and once for the heart."


I was also inspired to make some artwork from his passage, "The Spoked Wheel." He writes about "the common center from where all life begins" and the spokes that emerge from this center that represent our individuality. (see a previous blog entry to see my artistic response to "The Spoke Wheel.")

CURIOUS CUP BRAINSTORM. The leaves of the book made me think of the famous sculpture,  Winged Victory of Samothrace. Again as process in a daily practice, I let my mind play. Not good. Not bad. Just is. 

The last book I will mention for 2011 is my beloved copy of Katherine Dunn's "Creative Illustration Workshop." I became deeply enamoured with Katherine Dunn's drawing and her relatedness to place, Apifera Farm. In addition to being a huge creative spirit, Dunn cares for donkeys and helps raise money to support castaways. How great is that (For more about my art related to Katherine Dunn, see a previous blog post)!

CURIOUS CUP AND THE SWIMMER CONTINUED. As the idea of a Carpinteria swimmer with a curious cup tattoo developed, I added a book. I envisioned a huge sign for Kiona's business! Kiona gently asked me to make the shoulders smaller, and we both thought it would be cool to add children!

OTHER BOOKS THAT MUST BE MENTIONED: Next to my bed two other significant books live! Lynda Barry generously shares her creative process in such a different and unique way in What Is (2008) and Picture This (2010). Whenever I am feeling puny, these books make me laugh and begin life all over again as an artist devoted to this mantra: not good, not bad, just is!

Finally, there is my Chiboogamoo's book, Life Traces of the Georgia Coast: Unseen lives of the Georgia barrier islands, due to be published in 2012. My brilliant husband and I continue to LIVE this book as we return to the Georgia coast and its barrier islands as frequently as we can. We are both blogging about these Georgia islands, building on the knowledge we acquired during the strenuous years of book writing that Chiboogamoo did. How can a devoted spouse not be impacted by the creative endeavors of the romantic other? (see Chiboogamoo's website and blog and one of the all time favorites of mine!)

A FUTURE CURIOUS CUP LOGO? Pilgrims how fun is the daily process of drawing and seeing what you can discover! I know that the way to surprise yourself is to lend yourself to repetition. Start with what you know and build on what you learn each day! Life is a Journey and so marvelous when each step is taken with Awareness!

DEDICATION: This December 5, 2011, blog entry was done to honor my friendship with Kiona Gross! A good good friend! I know that the town of Carpinteria, California, is truly lucky for having her and her daughter Sid in their village! Happy Birthday Kiona Gross! Thank you for the time spent with me and developing my artistic vision! Your love of the arts and artists is deeply appreciated!

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#REVERB11: BEAUTY AFTER 50-- BEING MORE SPIRIT THAN BODY

JUMPING FROM THE EGG (art by Hallelujah Truth)

#REVERB11 PROMPT (December 4, 2011): Has your standard of BEAUTY shifted in the past year? Thanks to Carolyn Rubenstein (author, blogger, coach), who has stepped in to organize an exciting REVERB11. Responses to her prompts can be found here and on Facebook Reverb11.

In beauty may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
(from a Navajo Indian prayer found on Wildmind Buddhist Meditation)


Hallelujah for the SPIRIT, and the JOURNEY! With aging comes the opportunity to relinquish the attachments to the BODY and to joyfully embrace the nuances of the SPIRIT! 2011 has deepened my commitment to understanding that which cannot be TOUCHED--the ESSENCE that exists in each of us that can only BE EXPERIENCED. 


I continue to struggle with accepting the wrinkles that alter the contours of my face, the brown blemishes that emerge on my hands, and the extra pounds that encircle my waist.  My knees hurt these days. Ouch! Yes, on one level, I want to be immortal and infinitely young. Yet, on another level, there is profound BEAUTY in accepting my own MORTALITY.


As that which is EPHEMERAL changes (the body), I am so CURIOUS about that which is INFINITE and unalterable (the spirit). Being 53 brings such immense pleasure in releasing little things! This past year has been the practice of letting go of expectations, accepting what is HERE, and BEING PRESENT. At this practice, I am like a NEWBORN!


The shift in my standard of BEAUTY in 2011? BEING BEAUTIFUL. BEINGNESS! The Navajo Indian prayer has lines I am particularly fond of:

With beauty may I walk.
With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty below me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.

JUMPING FROM THE EGG! The image I drew for today's # REVERB11 prompt was greatly influenced by the lecture I attended last night at the Jung Society of Atlanta. Pamela Cooper White gave an exciting lecture on CG Jung as and artist by examining The Red Book which was only published in 2009. Many of his drawings repeatedly show an EGG--something with tremendous symbolic import! As a part of my daily drawing practice, I invite whatever has entered my life. This morning I invited Jung's "egg" to be the first thing I drew. Pamela Cooper White mentioned Odilion Redon as one of the artists that influenced Jung's drawings. I devoured his images on the internet once I returned home. The colors in his paintings were in my mind as I began to draw flowers around the egg. 

As the "new" ideas found expression, I returned to my mode of meditation...repetition. I drew Wandjina, Hallelujah, Mother Snake, and finally, my precious Misha! Dear Pilgrims,I invite you to interpret this painting! 


For now that is Coffee With Hallelujah! Soul Blog with me Fellow Pilgrim about your standard of BEAUTY. Write your responses here on my blog or join us in twittering your responses at #Reverb11.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.

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