Part 2 - Reflections on Florida symposium on Art and Faith

More poetic reflections on www.lovefest2011.org .
Part one was about my listening to the stories embedded
in nature in Winter Park...now on to the symposium.
Mretrac, my phoenix greeted participants at the entrance
as did some of my other work and paintings by Diane McPhail.
Sonja Weber Gilkey's rope sculptures were displayed
inside the main room.

"I am amidst
Elders seeking, learning, relearning
Men and women together listening, questioning



Communing, gathering strength
To move forward, make a difference
Learning to articulate thoughts
Sharing experience and scholarly understanding



Young people searching
Wanting to believe in the sacred
In something more, something good
Something that will offer community
Help make sense of the world



Looking to find their way
Among the many paths

Swirling currents of sounds and words
Drift up through and around the room
Dance in and out of rope sculptures



Over and through paintings



Brush by phoenix wings and dragon spokes


Encircle a community of spirit.



I absorb the stories."




Journey on!.....Wendy

Florida trip inspires poem- part 1

My trip to Winter Park, Florida, for the symposium
www.lovefest2011.org last weekend landed me in a
landscape and gathering full of story...
A poem emerged...here is part 1:

"I awake to call and response of birds
Echoing through moist air.
Early sunlight reflects off
Back of alligator gliding by
Circling lake in ancient morning ritual.
Tree branches rustle with movement
As romping squirrel defies gravity.



I walk to witness
Cedar nubs emerging through sandy soil
Creating eerie villages.



A cormorant swims with comical dip and glide
Sits on dock railing drying wings
Happy to pose for photos.


Ospreys circle above, see prey
Dive with death defying speed
Plunge into depths, rise again.

Large creased smooth nuts lie in thick grass
Waiting to be picked up, or eaten.


Soft, energetic Spanish moss twists, twines
Attaches to itself and to offering branches
Transforming lakeside into magical landscape.



Autos add rhythmic click, click, click
As wheels stroke the brick street.
Plane overhead shakes scene
Reminding of balance of worlds.



I listen for the stories..."

Next week's post - more about symposium, my
presentation and the rest of the poem.

Journey on! Wendy

Interstitial arts and preparation for Florida symposium: Lovefest2011

As mentioned in my last post, on Sunday, Jan. 16, the Board of
the Interstitial Arts Foundation met at our house for an all day
planning meeting. Since we are scattered across the country,
our monthly meetings are teleconferences, but we try to meet
face to face at least once a year. Pictured above from left to right:
Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, Larissa Niec, Katya Pendill,
GeoffreyLong, Erin Underwood and below myself and Felice
Kuan with Deborah Atherton - via paper drawing and iphone.
It is a fascinating group to work with as you can see if you go
on to the IAF website and click on "about" and "team":
www.interstitialarts.org
We spent the meeting visioning IAF's future and elected
Larissa and Felice as new IAF Bd. President and Vice
President. (Ellen and Delia, co-founders of IAF decided
it was time for them to step down from offices. )
I joined the Board in 2006 with Ellen and Delia's
encouragement after discussions at Mythic Journeys in
Atlanta. I've loved being pushed to think outside the craft
show/art box and have learned a great deal about the world
of writers, use of technology, and realized more than ever just
how many creative individuals seem to thrive in the interstices
of art! The IAF does a good job of encouraging me to explore
realms outside my comfort level -those places where learning
happens.

Next weekend in Winter Park Florida I will be venturing
into such a world. I'm participating in a conference
organized by Florida based Gladdening Light called;
Lovefest: A symposium of Art and Faith www.lovefest2011.org
As you will see if you click on the link, they have invited
progressive Christian theologian, Marcus J. Borg marcusjborg.com
to lead the conference. In addition, four artists have been
invited to participate to share our views of the
interconnection of art and spirit. Painter,
Diane McPhail, textile artist, Sonja Weber, singer
Virginia Shenck, and I will be on a panel moderated
by Jan Richardson janrichardson.com Saturday
afternoon. Later, each of us will present a 1 1/2 hour session
exploring our creative journeys through image, movement
(Sonja uses yoga) and song (Virginia) reflecting on sacred
influences, mentors and inspiration.

I've been reading a lot of Borg to have a frame of
reference for the conference. Since I quickly saw that
understanding the metaphors underlying stories
was crucial to his view of religion, I knew this is someone
I will enjoy getting to know. On Sunday he will talk about
"Thin Places" - where the worlds of reality and non-material
reality meet and the veil between is lifted. It has occurred
to me that it is in those thin places that many writers,
singers, dancers, artists thrive...not unlike the interstitial
spaces the IAF talks about. As I look over my life and
my work, I realize it is in exactly those thin places that
I feel most at home....open to spirit and material reality
at the same time.

When trying to explain my art, I often think of
Isadora Duncan's quote: "If I could tell you what it meant,
there would be no point in dancing it."...but next weekend
I will try to use both words and art. I'll definitely report back
in my next blog post.

Journey on!....Wendy