Reflections

I could hear the waves as the cool morning air came through the open door leading out to the patio from the room where I slept.  I awoke several times at night. I had my blinds open, wanting desperately to watch the sun rise through my bedroom window in this wonderful birthday retreat.

This morning my girls and I gathered in my room 15 floors up on the beach in Galveston, Texas.  Ann peeked in first.

“Are you awake?”

I had already turned around upside down on my bed and covered my legs, grabbing my camera, not wanting to miss the sunrise.  “Come in” I replied, “ This is incredible”

“I didn’t want you to miss it.”  She said.

Wrapped in a red flannel blanket and walking in slowly, reverently Ann knelt down before the large picture window and balanced her elbows on the ledge as if she were going to pray. Perhaps she did in her own way. Sunny showed up next, climbing up onto the large bed.   It is a task getting into it, but I’m happy for it’s height, for there is a purpose. It raises me so that I can sit in bed, and watch the surf, the horizon, the many ships passing in the shipping lane so far out, and the little tiny dogs running and sniffing on the beach.

The waves come into shore in scallops, coming and coming and coming again.  Four lines of white foam are constant, never moved by the scalloped edges.  Farther out white caps peek up and down again as if they are in their own private game of hide-go seek.

What made the morning complete was a cup of hot tea. Started by my friend. “Let me make you your first cup of tea that you drink in your 50’s” she said.
As we three girls sat and watched and waited, a small single little cloud in the shape of a tiny question mark glistened brightly just above where the sun was going to rise. “ Happy birthday.  What do I have in store for you?”  God seemed to be saying.  It was not an ominous question but a playful question, one that you can’t wait to unwrap, to figure, and to explore.   We wait a good 45 minutes watching the sky go from mauve to pink to a hint of red and then applauded a simple rising of a sun. Something that happens every day, but this morning it was an event. Our faces shone a bright red as the ceremony reflected upon our own countenance.  Once it was over, the three of us retreated into our own rooms They to sleep, me to write. The dust flecks glistening like stars on my computer screen with a sun that is now fully awake.

______________________________________________________________________________

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer and educator as well as a public speaker. Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com. She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter twitter.com/creategodsword Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bridgette.mongeon Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast Click on Podcast Host Bios for a listing of all podcasts Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

I like this article posted on the Chronicle of Higher education called Art Students’ Mental Health: A Complicated Picture by Daniel Grant. I applaud the writer for bringing some of these things to our attention. Though I want to encourage all the readers to brows down to the middle/end of the article to see why there is so much stress on artists.  It is not because, as stereotype indicates, we are temperamental. But this short description taken from the article does get to the heart of things.

“They have to be creative on demand,” says Patricia Farrell, director of the counseling center at the Maryland Institute College of Art, “and they then have to handle a public critique.” Critiques are assessments, in-class but sometimes open to anyone in the college, of student work. They can be quite harsh, far different from the experience of being handed back an assignment with a grade on it.)

I encourage individuals who are entering art college to read this article and think about some of the things that you may not have thought about up until this point.

Honor an artist today and their contribution to society. It is after all- International Artist Day!

The international Artists Day website has ideas for celebrating and promotion the day. Here is an article pulled from the International Artist Day site

October 25th has been selected to honor artists and their contributions to humanity. It is not coincidental that this is also Picassos’ birthday, one of the most influential artists of all time. Artists have been the chroniclers of history for as long as humans have walked the earth. Artists are a largely ignored group, however the undercurrents of their influence is felt in everyones’ life.

Art is the backbone of everything we use and see that is man made yet the artist behind the scenes is seldom recognized. Cultures are defined by their art, yet we take for granted these unsung divas of art.Everyone can participate on this day in many ways:

1.Visit a gallery and explain why you’re there.

2.Purchase a piece of art to support an artist.

3.Visit an artist studio.

4.Take an artist to lunch and explore their world.

5.Come up with your own ideas to participate.

This is a grassroots campaign that has gathered momentum around the globe. You won’t find a Hallmark card for this auspicious day, it is celebrated amongst the artist community and those quiet souls who support and love the arts. Visit the website dedicated to this day, or find your own way to celebrate with artists around the globe. IAD is being celebrated in many countries such as Australia, Poland, Denmark, Mexico, United States, Canada and England. We wish to include more areas as the awareness increases of this special day.

Thank You. Fernando Tames Mexico, Marilyn Hurst Canada

I’m curious- How are you celebrating this day. Comment below- send us a link to your work and website. Comment on an artist’s work that you love.

A conglomeration of things…

I’m excited about some of the up and coming interviews that are happening with both podcasts.  For the inspiration Generations podcast we will be talking to Budapest. Yes, first France and now Budapest! How exciting.

The Art and technology podcasts have some exciting possibilities as well.  Now to fit all of these people into production schedules.

The office has been busy with some tech problems and am trying desperately to fix them- crashed hard drive.  I’m falling behind on things but will get back on track soon.

______________________________________________________________________________

Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer and educator as well as a public speaker. Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.

She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series
Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter twitter.com/creategodsword
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bridgette.mongeon
Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast Click on Podcast Host Bios for a listing of all podcasts
Listen to the Art and Technology Podcast

A short hiatus this summer for several things–

Last month I took the plunge and had surgery on my right hand. Over the years traditional sculpting had taken a toll on my thumb. ( I used to boast that I had the strongest thumb muscles of anyone I know.)  The surgery was done at the Brown Hand center by a wonderful doctor.  I’m thrilled that they have given me my career back.  My hand was pretty much useless for the couple of weeks that it healed, and there is still swelling, but I am working much better than I did before surgery and will be 100+ percent in no time at all. So I am back in the studio getting clay under my nails.

Then it was off to Vermont for a graduate school residency. I was also presenting a lecture on writing.

I’m back in the studio working and looking forward to also getting back to zbrush.

Sorry for the lull in posting.  I took the plunge to have that needed hand surgery. Will be good as new very soon.  Looking forward to sculpting and writing again without pain.