Sunday, May 29, 2011

Stories from around the House

For the last week, I have been suffering from a rather prolonged sinus infection. I am blessed with some fairly dodgy anatomy in the sinus area, so no big surprise, but it doesn't seem to want to let up any time soon - now on my 2nd lot of antibiotics.

I have been dragging myself off to work, which is rather stupid in hind sight and keeping a very low profile on the weekends. The up side of that is that you get to notice what is going on in your own back yard a bit more, so I thought I'd share a few things:

One morning I went outside for a dose of vitamin D. It had rained overnight and everything was coated in sparkling drops of water. On some plants the sun was shining through the drops creating a magical jewel-encrusted display:


Yesterday, when in the bathroom, I noticed a funny dark smudge above my bedroom window which on closer inspection turned out to be a tiny bat. We get flying foxes blow through all the time, but I have never seen one of these 'micro' bats around, even though there are allegedly a dozen different species in the area. I was worried enough about the little creature to call the wildlife people, who told me it was probably a juvenile male who are often kicked out of the colony at this time of the year and equally often pick pretty stupid places to sleep. The lady said that he would probably fly off that night and would hopefully choose somewhere more suitable for sleeping the next day. Sure enough.

Its impossible to tell what species of bat it is in my photo, but you can clearly see its tiny feet clinging to the top of the wall. Visits from these kind of folk are a great comfort to me. They are like a reassurance from the Great Creator, that She/He is thinking of me.



Another creature that gives me comfort is of course my Matilda. She is so clearly living in between two worlds: our world and the mysterious other world that she often pops off to. Isn't she cute?


Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Goddess

'Nother piece I recently painted is called 'Kwan-yin'. Every so often I feel a desire to paint, usually in watercolour and related stuff like acrylic inks - all pretty yummy. Kwan-yin is a Goddess of Asian Spirituality, associated with the peacock feather. She is meant to be a Goddess of watchfulness and caring. Its no coincidence that I am on my second reading of Sue Monk Kidd's Dance of the Dissident Daughter, and images like that are coming out.

Can't really marry all that up with my fundamental Evangelical upbringing in Patriachal Christianity. Odd place to be. So if you want to read a book that will change your life as a woman, read that one. As the author says: 'The Truth will set you Free, but first it will shatter the safe, sweet way you live.' (There is another work coming that relates to that quote). Love to hear from anyone who has read the book.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

New Work

Finally finished the piece I have mentioned before - it is titled Phoenix Rising from the Fenced in World of Perpetual Experience. I am inspired by the INXS song which includes the lines 'cos we all have wings, but some of us don't know why'. I have come to the way of thinking that sometimes it isn't so much that we don't know why we have wings - more that we have forgotten, or that we are unable to take off. I think women are much more at risk of losing the ability to fly than men in this world of perpetual experience. Anyway, pics below:




The other piece I have just completed is The Royal Nursery, which began with a wasps' nest I found empty of its inhabitants, and just begging to become part of some art piece. It is my salute to the magical creativity that happens out there in our natural world.





Friday, May 6, 2011

WetlandCare Gallery

Also, a gallery of the winning entries to the WetlandCare competition which I took part in earlier in the year is now up on their website. Some beautiful photography - highly recommended.

Go to WetlandCare Australia

London to France


Just letting you know that the work that was in Camden Gallery in London is now being exhibited in France at Galerie64. My work has now officially seen more of the world than I have! Anyway, you can access more information via the link below: My work is on page 6 of 7.

Galerie64