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#WorldPoetryDay and the Poet in You
March 21, 2016
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Today is World Poetry Day, so twitter is all aflutter with haiku. UNESCO is running a thread for pros and amateurs to enter the fun using the hashtag #tweetku.
There are some funny and inspiring poems flying around, and we see coffee houses where they are accepting poems for payment today. This celebration has grown and become more popular since last year. I urge you to join the creative fun, even if you are not feeling very poetic at this moment. Read some of the other tweets for inspiration or just to tickle your funny bone. I know that we are all poets because I write a poem each day for poetry month in April for #NaPoWriMo. I have no particular talent or style, but after 30 days of poetry I feel very accomplished and more creative. I use original art or photography on my April poems to make them a little more interesting. The important part is the practice rather than the poems themselves. I am hoping to expand my subject matter again this year. My first year was way too drippy, all about spirit, dreams, and tinkle tinkle reality..pretty dull and one dimensional. Last year I did some new topics like my ancestor’s beheading at the Tower of London. The art and the poem were infantile, but I did give it a whirl. Practice does not really make perfect in my case, but it does make psychological inroads into my own thinking and ability to write. I am warming up for next month today:
Here is one I love, with a little pun:
https://twitter.com/BarvanderVossen/status/711979640378826753
Let the poet in you loose on the town today..or at least read some.
Sonoran Light by Bruce Munro
March 11, 2016
— 4 Comments
Last weekend I drove to Tempe to enjoy the light art show at the Desert Botanical Garden. Bruce Munro installed this impressive exhibit which has been a popular temporary addition to the gardens. Sonoran Light is incredible, immersive, and impossible to capture on a camera. I have made an attempt above, but I highly recommend that the gentle readers see it in person. The Field of Light is the most expansive of the installations. It has vast sections of the gardens covered with light strings on the ground that change color and illuminate a large hill seen from a distance. There was a concert last Friday which was sold out, but still audible in the Field of Light, adding to the night’s special quality.
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- painting show
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- painting show
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- Chihouy at the entrance
I arrived early in the day and took advantage of the day pass for just $5 added to the evening ticket price. For a total of $30 I had hours of botanical fun in both day and night lighting. There are many details not visible at night that I loved seeing during my day trip. I took an Uber to the evening show, and was so happy I did. The parking lot becomes super jammed for the event, and I was tired from my hours of walking during the day. I happily waited by the entrance for my Uber driver while others drove themselves home.
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- cactus sun dial
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- yucca
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- succulent
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- Installation with bottles
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- Installation with bottles
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- Installation with bottles
saguaros
lighted arch
field of light
Chindi
Chindi
Community Spirit, Beer and Yoga
February 1, 2016
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yoga class
art studio
art studio
stout
yoga class
yoga class
yoga class
yoga DJ
yoga DJ
yoga class
I was lucky to find a perfect celebration for my birthday this year. I just discovered my local beer garden, Tucson Hop Shop. I am not a big beer drinker but am enthusiastic about supporting local business and local craft products, including beer. This classy yet casual spot is perfect for our neighborhood, located in the Metal Arts Village, a space for metal artists’ studios. The Hop Shop has developed a following and has instigated new events that bring the community together for fun. My big birthday gift this year (besides Medicare) is a visit from two Swiss ladies on vacation. I have been enjoying showing them around town because they are really open to culture and ready to party. The SyncHOPation event not only happened on my birthday but was walking distance from home.
SyncHOPation
Spiritual Gangster is a team that teaches yoga classes around the city in pop up locations. I have never seen yoga with a DJ before, and now I am a complete fan of the idea. I have taught and taken plenty of yoga classes, with and without music. To have a creative DJ work the class is another level of wonderment. The other aspect of the pop up that can be very popular is beer. The participants in the class at the Hop Shop were presented with a pint of beer when they turned in their class tickets. The $5 fee for both yoga and beer is a screaming deal.
My visitors and I had a fine time meeting people, drinking beer and dancing. The art studios were open, the parking lot was blocked off for the event, and the crowd was in a very good mood. Pizza and popcorn food trucks were serving delicious snacks. We enjoyed both with our beverages. My friend Steffi took the yoga class while Pia and I watched from a table on the patio. We toured the studios, did some dancing to the DJ, then walked home. There could not have been a better way to celebrate. If you like beer I highly recommend a visit to the Tucson Hop Shop. It is the perfect place for a party.
Friday is for Venus
January 15, 2016
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signs in order
The days of the week are assigned to planets. Friday is the day of Venus, the goddess of love, known to the Greeks as Aphrodite. Since it is the final day of work in most western countries it holds special meaning. Thank God It’s Friday, and Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday are acronym phrases invented to celebrate the arrival the free time on the weekend. Happy hours, romantic dining, and entertainment beckon to workers as they finish the tasks in front of them. The magic of payday often happens on Friday too. In the ancient world the 40 hour work week was unknown, but the day had meaning as a weekly holiday dedicated to art, beauty and love. Today I like the idea of setting aside time for art, beauty and love. In our home I take time every Friday to follow some small but significant rituals.
- I clean and clear the house of clutter, discarding anything we no longer need
- I care for all my houseplants and do touch up work on the outside garden area
- I cook some special foods. This can vary, but at least one dish is prepared as a treat
- I workout at the gym and take a long steam bath to pamper my body and mind
- I come home early in the day to relax and finish the food preparations
- I watch the PBS Newshour with Shields and Brooks political commentary
- I drink cocktails of my own creation
That is all it takes to make my weekend start with a bang. The clean house and the food treats make home feel like a trip to a resort. Home is where the heart is, gentle reader. What are your Friday rituals?
planet Venus sign
Tempting Tempe
December 9, 2015
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Beer flights on the balcony
A quick weekend trip to Tempe to take in the sights and sounds of the Festival of the Arts was a perfect get away (but not very far away) for us last weekend. I found a great Air bnb apartment in the perfect location for walking to the action. We discovered new places to drink and dine, and purchased a few pieces of original jewelry at an artist’s booth. My parter Bob is a big beer fan, so we sat for a while overlooking the fair on the balcony of the famous landmark Gordon Biersch Brewery. The beer is okay. The view is fabulous.
Our favorite new spot for food drinks and a lively crowd is Culinary Dropout. We enjoyed wonderful service in a very jovial atmosphere there before we went to the fair. The menu was innovative bistro style food. It was tempting to eat all our meals there, but we wanted to do some investigating into other places. Tempe is full of bars and food offering of all kinds. If there is nothing you like to eat or drink there, you are just too picky.
Culinary Dropouts
Culinary Dropouts
appetizer Culinary Dropout
cocktail menu
Culinary Dropout
The Arts Festival turned the town into a large outdoor party with plenty of opportunity to people watch. We had such a good time we may just make a habit of visiting Tempe. There is much to discover.
art
art vendor
art
reflection
Ikebana in the Garden
November 29, 2015
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Ohara School
outdoor exhibit
outdoor exhibit
outdoor exhibit
indoor exhibit
Tomorrow is the last day of the annual Ikebana event at Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson. This delightful addition to the garden’s peaceful atmosphere is wonderfully worth a visit. The works are displayed in all parts of the gardens as well as in two interior galleries. There are well defined spaces that allow contemplation or mindfulness practice at Yume any time you visit. To see these adorned with Ikebana is a real invitation to deep meditation. The work itself is done as a meditative practice, finding the best way to use the plant materials to express art. The relatively short life of the materials is an element of the contemplative experience for me. Like sand mandala they will be discarded in the future, with less ceremony.
I was very lucky to be invited to the arranging pre party where I met artists and teachers working on the show. The universe of Ikebana was unknown to me, but it took a very enjoyable guided tour. It was clear to me that in the group situation some found it more difficult than others to be immersed in the creative process. I asked questions but did not want to get carried away and become a big distraction. Once I tuned in to what was happening it reminded me of yoga. The teacher comes around and gives assistance and guidance to to student while the work is in progress. There is a reverent attitude toward the plant materials, and quiet concentration. When I saw all the finished pieces in the show I was impressed with the work in all of them. They caught a seasonal natural harvest in whimsical harmony with the moment in which it was created. The curation of the show is done so that every piece looks natural and harmonious with the surroundings. For this Thanksgiving weekend Yume, which means dream, is one big flower arrangement containing many arrangements. It is the perfect place to be one with nature right in the center of the city of Tucson.
Ikebana in the garden
Ikebana in the garden
Make sure you take a look around all the corners because there are arrangements tucked into the gardens like a treasure hunt. The indoor galleries are also very well curated to show a range of styles. I am a happy newcomer to this exciting form of art and meditation.
indoor gallery
indoor gallery
indoor gallery
Stay Calm, Restore Balance
October 26, 2015
— 2 Comments
look up
Life can throw challenging circumstances and people into the mix at any time. Our own composure and resilience is our biggest investment because the quality of our time is tied to it. The sayings on tee shirts about keeping calm then doing something are not only comical but are also practical. We can hardly accomplish our best work if we are flipping out about something. Remaining calm in the face of tense situations is an accomplishment. We need personal tool boxes ready to employ when stress becomes hard to handle. Although many practices work, the tools must be tailored to the individual. What lifts my mood might not be fun for you, so this takes some discernment. Packing the right tools for the job requires concentration as well as honesty. You need to know not only what will work for you but also what you will actually practice.
Meditation takes many forms, not all of which require sitting still. Walking meditation and mindfulness training are both active ways to keep moving while training the mind to focus and stay clear. Mantras, chanting and other sounds are excellent tools to anchor the mind. Formal training is wonderful, but we don’t need to wait to start a practice. Artistic expression provides simple straightforward access to the unconscious. Making art requires a special sensibility, a focus on creativity that is strong. Tapping into the inner artist is a way to train the mind and liberate the soul.
look up
Here are a few ways I find inner peace and concentration through art:
- Visits to museums and gardens
- Photography
- Digital drawing and art
- Freestyle freehand doodling on paper
- Dancing at home by myself
- Singing while dancing at home by myself
- Poetry writing
- Cooking
- Gardening
look up
I have no professional aspirations as an artist, yet I consider myself artistic. I am not meditative 100% of the time I engage in the above activities, but frequently they lead to a calmer happier state of mind. I believe each of us has essential creative gifts to offer which we have the option to develop. Finding time to immerse ourselves in our own creative juices can be a path to peace and happiness.
look up
Legos in the Garden
September 10, 2015
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- Lego dragonfly
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- Lego dragonfly
Tucson Botanical Gardens has been a favorite place close to home where I enjoy nature. A recent building project has enhanced the garden’s entrance and gift shop space significantly. Tomorrow a special exhibit will open called Nature Connects, Art with Lego Bricks. Sculptural designs made completely with Legos are on display in the gardens. The pieces came assembled and will stay in Tucson until Jan. 3. They depict animals and a flower.
Lego spider
To pay for the exhibit the plan is to charge all members $5 every time we visit during the nearly 4 months that the Legos are installed. We have maintained a couple’s membership for many years. If I decide to renew when my membership comes due in February I will only buy a single. I have in the past felt generous toward the gardens, but now that they are throwing the members out for almost a third of the year that feeling has passed. I have started to think about where I will go to take a walk in nature without any membership fees. I can think of plenty. Nature without Legos works best for me, so perhaps our taste in botany has simply diverged. In my opinion the plastic animals are tacky and belong elsewhere. Poetry in the Gardens has moved to the U of A arboretum this year, yet another reason to drop my membership. The garden is an asset to the neighborhood that I will miss…at least for the next four months. I think they could have thought of a more respectful way to treat loyal members.
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- Lego deer
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- Lego deer eye
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- Lego deer
plastic pansy
Lego peacock
Lego turtle
Saraswati’s Gift
July 9, 2015
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Saraswati
The Hindu goddess Saraswati represents creativity and artful expression. Her role as an educator in the arts is combined with her inspirational qualities. She once was a river in India, so her fluidity is natural. Art turns emotional states into keen statements. She is a guide to bring artfulness to all aspects of living. Her inventive spirit sheds new light on the creative process. She is popular in India today. I enjoy seeing all the ways she is depicted. She rides a swan and plays music. Her influence is uplifting and encouraging, helping you to locate your muse. You can invite her into your dreams and meditation in subtle ways. I like to use a visualization which is a combination of some of my favorite techniques rolled into one:
- I imagine a hill with a stairway that I climb. The length of the climb varies each time I do the meditation. My stairs are always spiraling around the hill, and I am usually on an island where I can see the surf. Your own details will be different from mine.
- At the top of the stairs is a temple with pillars and special light. It feels like a sanctuary built just for me. I stand in the center of the round temple and observe the doorways through which I can exit. I ask Saraswati to join me in the center.
- When she has arrived she guides me to a door and leads me down a hallway to a room with a skylight made of stained glass. This room is even more personal and specific to my needs than the outer temple. I sit in here to meditate.
- Before leaving I ask Saraswati for a gift to take back to my regular life. This mysterious part of the visualization is the heart of the matter. She gifts me with symbolic items that are designed to spur my intuition, imagination, and creativity. Initially the items may seem to have no pertinence, but if you let the images soak in you will find meaning in them.
- I thank her and start walking back the way I came, back into my waking reality.
This exercise does not need to include Hindu deities if that disturbs your sensibilities. It may be too much for you to think of hanging out with a goddess riding a swan. This same sequence will work well if you go to the temple and choose any entity, alive or dead, to join you and give you a gift. In reality you are both yourself and the gift giver in this program. The insight comes when you grasp the meaning of the gift and are able to use it to be more inventive and artful.
Poet Hollow
April 30, 2015
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orchid
Woods dripping with Spanish moss and voodoo shrines
Down the hill from the oracle cave the hermit still declines
To give you the secret magic word you use to save the day
Find the sorcerer’s manuscripts then interpret what they say
Squandered youth, wild stormy stories, hidden truth of night
Dreams bring colorful vibrant myths, strong psychic insight
The realm inhabited by poetry and poets, invisible to some
Portrays life more intensely, gives clues to why we have come
flora
NaPoWriMo 2015
It has been a real privilege to inhabit the place of the poets this April. Thanks to all who contributed and read.
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