Bring a Little Cheer On December 10

 

Card from Inge

 

A day of great celebration for me happened on December 10, my birthday.  Here are a few of the joy filled cards that came to me.

Card from Latifa

Card from Pete

 

 

 

 Card made by Dawn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A goat saying, "Happy Birthday," from Bob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card from Lyn 

 

 

 Card from my sister, Joan 

 

Card from my sister-in-law, Ruth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card from my BFF Kim

And a beautiful new Yoga mat from my daughter, Amaliya and her sweetie, Luis.

 

 

My honey, Bob baked me a delicious birthday cake and sang to me.

I am over the moon grateful for the gifts of love, connection, hope from my family and friends.  Thank you all for being in my life.

Anne George: Proximities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The current exhibit at the Watkins Gallery on the Winona State University Campus is called Proximities created by Anne George. She gave a talk at the gallery last Wednesday, 11/30/2022.  I was intrigued with her interest in this textile discovery that she made during COVID.  She sits on the floor and puts the colorful yarn around her and chooses colors as she goes.  She punches the yarn through from the back side requiring her to turn the frame often to look at the front of her art.

 

George talking with a student about her work.

Students discussing the art.

She adds words to some of her art.

Interesting texture is created through the use of the the yarn colors chosen.

Ann George, Contingencies. yarn, fabric, wood, 

25" x 55" x 11", 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibition, Proximities, includes a range of of fiber-based works as well as sculpture. George's practice makes use of a wide range of materials, embracing different artistic gestures and histories. 

 

Anne George

 

 

 

Proximities

 

 

November 16th–December 9th

 

The Watkins Gallery is located 225 W King St, Winona, MN 55987. Gallery hours are is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am - 4pm. On Wednesdays the gallery is open from 9am - 8pm.

 

Free to the public.  All are welcome 

 

 

 

 

 

Blooming Underground

 On 11/11/2022, Mai'a Williams preformed Blooming Underground at the Winona Arts Center.

 Mai'a shared writing, video and installation about feelings of isolation felt everywhere by the  Pandemic that ravaged the world.  She created a space to herself and others to be with the feelings of so much devastation and loss of lives, fear, and terror.  Through her words, video and installation, she allowed us to rest in being together on a very cold evening of 11/11/2022.

She created this evening with her voice and with video that was filmed in Costa Rica, South Carolina and Winona, Minnesota.

She shared stories of her grandmother.

The videos were of mystery and beauty.

Mai'a created the installations around the room.  Here are a few pictures.

Mai'a talking with her daughter, Theresa and friends.

The Winona Arts Center is celebrating 60 years of performance, films, and visual arts.  Find more of what's happening at the Winona Arts Center. The Winona Arts Center is located at 228 E 5th St, Winona, MN 55987, USA

Find out more about Mai'a Williams and books that she has written.

Giving Permission to Creativity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been playing with creativity my whole life, and working to do it more consistently without fear, comparison, doubt or any of the other mean voices that want to come into my head.  My dear teacher, Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici just published her book, Creativity Unleashed, A Woman's Guide to Unlock Flow and Finally Finish Creative Projects Every Day on October 10, 2022. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On her book launch day, she held a 12 hour Create-A-Thon.  She invited some of her friends to guide us in making.  In one of the sessions, Kiala Givehand led us in a mixed media painting and writing session to create a booklet filled with permission slips. 

Here's the beginning of the creating--I came back to the project a few times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we took an old manila folder and put drops of paint on it and spread the paint all over using a discarded credit card or piece of cardboard.

Then we tore the folder in half; we folded and glued to create a booklet. This booklet holds all my permission slips. At the end I added dots and designs with colored markers, and a ribbon to tie it closed.

 

Here are my permissions:

Permission to love the process

Permission to take my time

Permission to be messy

Permission to Create

Permission to have fun, fun, fun, fun, fun

Permission to explore

Permission to have an uproariously good time!!!!

Permission to be imperfect

Permission to play

Permission to be quirky

Permission to let it be easy

Permission to be me

Permission to enjoy the journey

Permission to make pretty things

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See in this close up--Permission is on another piece of paper--a bit more yellow to see the text?  Here's  inside info for you reader, friend--that is covering up premission--a spelling error.  At first I was mortified; I couldn't white it out on red.  Then I saw a bit of that yellow painted paper and wondered, "MaryLee, could you make a little sign that reads, "permission?"  I did and glued it on the cover.  There I go. I gave myself permission to find a different solution. Just writing all those permissions feels freeing!

This creative activity was so much fun for me because it had elements of play with the moving the paint, adding all of the colorful ribbons, making fun marks and designs, creating a simple booklet/folder and writing out the permissions.

Amber asked me: "Which permission is your favorite?"

"Permission to have an uproariously good time!!!!" I said.

 If you're looking to fire up your creativity, this book, Creativity Unleashed, A Woman's Guide to Unlock Flow and Finally Finish Creative Projects Every Day is for you:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is filled with words to guide, spaces to make your own notes or journal and ways to create more consistently with a flow and  fun in your life.  Get Creativity Unleashed, A Woman's Guide to Unlock Flow and Finally Finish Creative Projects Every Day today. Find this book where ever you like to buy your books.

 

 

MaryLee with Creativity Unleashed--miniature lilac in background in full color

 

Go out and get this amazing book!