Blog

October has been, and always will be, my favorite month.  The crispness in the autumnal air, the feeling of change, the ending of growing and moving toward harvest -- they all speak to me.  This will be my second autumn living in Pennsylvania, and watching the fields harvested one by one, and each morning just a bit cooler than the one before, all make me realize this is a new way of living for me.  

As an artist, I am branching forward into sculpture and clayworks, glass fusing and slumping, and generally moving into three dimensional work.  I still paint, and enjoy it, but moving toward a more tactile medium seems to be a natural progression.  I am truly fascinated with shaping different types of clay, different colors in glaze, feeling textures and shapes. I have developed a fully functioning clay studio over the summer, and hope to continue to work through the coming cold months in the extra space of my garage.  It is well lit, dry, and clean, and when firing the kiln, will be warm too.  My auto may have to live outside from time to time (especially when firing), but for the most part, there is room for all.  

My mind is full of explorations in what I hope to create.  My new class in sculpture is exciting! I am studying with a nationally known sculptor, who also has a background in commercial pottery, so you can imagine how much I can learn.  It is often said that when the student is ready, the teacher appears.  I believe that is true for me.  The gallery I am in here in West Reading has juried me in for my ceramic and glass works, so I will begin to show publicly with those projects.  It is an exciting time. 

My grieving process over the loss of my husband is moving forward.  Never forgetting, but feeling that he, and I, have found peace. There is much more life to live, and the days that remain will be filled with hope and creative endeavors. I want to honor him by living a full and meaningful life, and I am taking my days in that direction.

A pandemic still reigns, so precautions are required. Wear a mask, keep your distance, and wash your hands. With a national election looming, full of distrust, turmoil, and acrimony, to local, hotly debated mud-slung contests, it would be easy to be drawn into the reactive atmosphere of FEAR.  I believe we should act on our conscience, make our vote count, and respect the results, whether they are what we wish to see, or the decisions swayed by others. Then the very next day, take action for peace.  Coexist in peace. Treat each other with respect and peace.  Life is so very short, and fragile.  I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to live with purpose, making the most of each moment. Seek kindness over division. Step into the light.