More Journal Work

I have been spending a lot of time in my journal- finding that is the best way for me to get my emotions out of my head and onto a spread.  I can't seem to do  other art for right now at least.  I have posted these spreads in other art groups but those are closed groups so some of you may not have seen those.  I will include  what I wrote  about each spread. These spread were created from February 8th to the 18th. This first spread below was done on the 8th- the last was done yesterday the 18th.

I am in a group on Facebook, target resistance: first 100 days that is doing art to express ourselves using targets in the work some where. No Where To Run is the title- yes this is a political post do if you get offended please scroll by- Ted Cruiz has or plans to soon introduce legislation that will allow people to deny services to LGBT people and other groups including Muslims because it goes against their religion- so if my husband was hurt and went to ER and the attending doctor had an issue with gays he could refuse to treat him- so yes I feel like a target.

The next spread is Dive into the Fray. I am trying to do more active things not just signing petitions but actually calling my representatives and joining groups and giving money to organizations that are helping people. This was done for that Target group.

This spread is Be Brave.  This quote really says it all to me right now: Be strong enough to stand alone,
smart enough to know when you need help and
brave enough to ask for it.

I spent the morning going through things on the tables in my workspace and got things sorted and picked up a bit and couldn't resist sitting down again. This is really an illustration to this small story. Sharmon Davidson Jennings shared the story on her blog. I am in a facebook group Target Resistance-The First 100 days. It's a group for doing art that deals with our reactions to what is going on in the country right now. The only rule is you have to use a Target somewhere in your work. Here is the story.

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.”
“One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
“The other is good – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Well with all the hearings happening in several states about why people should be able to discriminate because serving a gay person or a Muslim or other religions because it is against their religion is demoralizing. And the anti-woman tone from several lawmakers is also so disturbing- where are we headed? I filled the background of this spread with Love is Love over and over and over- it was cathartic and I believe that Love is love. I included the face of the statue of liberty- I can only hope we continue to have the liberties that we do now.

This spread is dealing with something I think a lot about- in the past I am amazed at all the vintage photographs of men being affectionate with other men- perhaps some of these men were gay but in my research I found that it was common then for men to be openly affectionate with one another- friends- holding hands and hugging. Why did this change to the point now where men have been beaten for holding hands or kissing. This spread is my wistful look at the past.

 

Well yesterday was a Wake Up call and that is the Title of this spread- cliche as it may sound. Our clinic recently had a screening for heart and vascular health- they sent me the results of my vascular scan yesterday but I didn't see the notice until yesterday morning. I am so glad we decided to go for those scans- they are able to tell now if you have a calcium build up in your pipes. Turns out I do and I will have to meet with a cardiologist soon- mine isn't super severe but is enough that I will have to deal with it. Some medical intervention will be needed. I already eat a very healthy diet and exercise at least 5 times a week sometimes 6. I do know part of this is hereditary. So yet another reminder that everyday really is a gift.