Freeform Friday: freedom

Freedom. 

Any proximity to this post and the Fourth of July - purely coincidental. 

The last two weeks for me have been insanely busy. And I am not complaining... I AM a full time artist, and I love it. But it was the perfect storm of Ceramics class to teach, commissions due, gallery visits scheduled to deliver work, and two back to back festivals/shows to prep for... 

So I warn you, this is a philosophical post. There aren't many beads... ok. Just a few - I have started to think about Beadfest prep. Not really creating inventory, just feeling concerned that I haven't jumped into this yet. I was glazing these texture pieces for ^10 reduction. They will be lovely, but it was a rote chore. Stain, brush, sponge, repeat. 

While I was working, my teenage students were sculpting. Self guided, in the zone... designing and creating relief tiles inspired by Medieval illuminated letters.  I wanted the freedom to create on a whim, and not have to create to meet a quota... My Mythic Nature line of pendants and tiles  are done in a series. Sculpt, cast a mold, and press multiples. While I find a creative Zen place when hand painting all the details, it is still a different type of creativity. Its my established body of work, a line I continually carry... and I think I need a little freedom to play as well. 

Illuminated letter tile in progress. 

And don't even get me started on the little ones ( ages 6-9). Its a fine line between the necessary instruction they need to technically complete a piece, and the uninhibited creativity they tap into on their own. I try to stay out of their way! And guide as needed... Their spontaneity and joy in smooshing clay around was EXACTLY the role model I needed to set me free from my self imposed constraints.

Coil built creatures

Terra cotta menagerie. 

Afternoons after class I was glazing a series of five tiles - a fifth anniversary present that I can't reveal totally to you yet. I had a tight deadline and no time to waste. The experience of designing and sculpting these tiles was FREEDOM. And I know that seems hard to believe with a commission. But they are for a family friend who is very familiar with my work, and very artistic in her sensibilities. We had discussed, she had seen rough sketches, and she gave me the green light to go ahead on that trajectory and surprise her. 

Seasonal tiles at glaze table... 

Completed "Spring" tile

It was a creatively rejuvenating experience. I was able to sculpt in deep relief, not concerned with the technicalities of casting a mold later on. Sculpting new motifs, within a "four seasons' theme that appeals to me artistically and personally. I came away from this with new ideas, a line of One-of-a-kind tiles I plan to sculpt this summer and fall. I think a new series of tiles, to develop in tandem with my production tiles will keep me challenged creatively and banish the feelings of rote production and stagnation. 

Whew. heavy topics I know. Thank you for bearing with me. I am energized after that spell of intense work/art/creativity/projects. Ready for new ideas, new pieces. So two weeks WITHOUT work (on beads, pendants, etc) has jump started my ideas for NEW work... 

I will share more tile images when I can. And I have a hankering to do terra cotta cabs & pendants for Beadfest. Oh! And some Majolica... I'll post on that next time! 

What do YOU do when you are feeling stuck? Worn down? Uninspired? 

May you have sparks of new ideas all weekend! 

Jenny 

www.jdaviesreazor.com

Folklore Friday - Butterflies.

Twig the Fairy

So - Spring has finally sprung here in the Mid-Atlantic. In fact we have had a few days that positively feel like summer is approaching! I, for one, relish Spring. Windows open to birdsong and breezes, enjoying sun on my face, flowers emerging... and all too soon it will be hot humid summer days. I still have flowers to plant, and dogs to walk. 

I have spent the last two weekends at Faerie Festivals, both attending and exhibiting. It seems natural to have wings on my mind...

Butterflies in folklore

The butterfly is a symbol of transformation across the globe. The results of the process from caterpillar to butterfly, wings unfurling, flying free - are radical indeed. The butterfly can be read as a symbol of faith as well - to keep faith during trials and changes. 

Butterflies are fragile and delicate, yet seem imbued with strength as well - to change, to be blown about and still right oneself. They can be seen as symbols of freedom as well - leaving the cocoon to escape and go where they choose. After the long period in the cocoon - butterflies can be a symbol of rebirth and/or resurrection. 

1 &4: Lesley at THEAtoo. 2: Jo at Daisychainextra. 3 & 6: Jenny at jdaviesreazor. 5: Melissa at MelismaticArthewelry.

Butterflies in mythology: 

• The ancient Greeks and Romans also held butterflies in metaphysical regard. The philosopher Aristotle named the butterfly Psyche, which is the Greek word that means “soul.” The myth of Psyche is one of love, trust, love lost, labors, love restored. (She was married to Cupid. Venus is a tough Mother in Law...)

• In ancient Rome, butterflies appeared ondenarii coins, to the left of the head of Juno, goddess of weddings and marriage.

• According to 
Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, by Lafcadio Hearn, a butterfly was seen in Japan as the personification of a person's soul; whether they be living, dying, or already dead. One Japanese superstition says that if a butterfly enters your guestroom and perches behind the bamboo screen, the person whom you most love is coming to see you. However, large numbers of butterflies are viewed as bad omens.

• Irish folklore holds that the butterfly is related to the very soul of a human being. It’s considered bad luck to kill a white butterfly, because those hold the souls of deceased children. This association with butterflies as souls of the departed continues on to Cornwall as well. 

• The Russian word for "butterfly", бабочка (
bábochka), also means "bow tie". It is a diminutive of "baba" or "babka" (= "woman, grandmother, cake"), whence also "babushka" = "grandmother".

• Native American tribes had a number of legends concerning the butterfly. The Tohono O'odham tribe of the American Southwest believed that the butterfly would carry wishes and prayers to the Great Spirit. To do this, one must first catch a butterfly without harming it, and then whisper secrets to the butterfly. Because a butterfly cannot speak, the only one who will know the prayers that the butterfly carries will be the Great Spirit himself. According to folklore, a wish given to a butterfly is always granted, in exchange for setting the butterfly free.

• The Zuni people saw butterflies as indicators of weather to come. White butterflies meant the summer weather was about to begin - but if the first butterfly seen was dark, that meant a long stormy summer. Yellow butterflies, as you might suspect, hinted at a bright sunny summer season.

• Chinese culture regards the butterfly as a symbol of immortality, and conjugal bliss. When seen with a chrysanthemum, it symbolizes beauty in old age; and if seen with a plum, it symbolizes long life.

• In Taoism the butterfly has come to represent Zhuangzi, a Taoist philosopher. Zhuangzi once had a dream of being a butterfly flying without care about humanity, however when he woke up and realised it was just a dream, he thought to himself "Was I before a man who dreamt about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?" Hence the butterfly is emblem of joy. It is also a symbol of summer.

Clockwise from top left:Slate Studios,  Skye Jewels, Marsha Neal Studio, Green Girl Studio, Silver Sage, Anne Gardanne

I hope this finds you enjoying the weather! I would love to hear if my folklore musings spark any ideas, if the Muse flits in on butterfly wings... 

Jenny

www.jdaviesreazor.com

Resources: 

• Insects.org
• The myth of Psyche
• Chinese cultural symbols 

Words....

2013 is just a few short days away.  Another year almost gone. Many of us are reflecting on the good and bad of 2012, but are also looking forward and forming a plan to make our 2013 the best year ever.  A few years ago, bloggers all over the art jewelry community started choosing a "word of the year"...one, all-encompassing word, instead of all the resolutions that tend to get forgotten after a month or two.

I thought it would be fun to ask my fellow AJE contributors about their word choices for 2013. Several of us had already thought about it...

Kristi likes balance and prioritize..."be able to figure out the important things and let the rest go!"

Jen's word is freedom...from fear, guilt, to create when and what she wants...that's a great choice!

Lesley chose balance...another great word!  She wants to ensure everything gets the attention it deserves and still have flexibility for the unforeseen.

Karen mentioned exploration and fearless...I think those go hand in hand!

Joanne wants to remember to relax!  She wants to "make time to enjoy the blessings in life and have fun creating..."

Linda expressed her desire for openness..."open to explore new skills and experiences".

Francesca wants to be intentional...she wants to develop positive discipline by setting measurable goals.

As for me, I changed my word every time I read someone else's answer! Last year, my word was de-clutter...my home, studio, life, thoughts...I can't say I was that successful. I believe it was my lack of focus.  Eureka...focus!  I have so many incomplete projects laying on my work table.  2013 is going to be the year for me to focus on what I have to do and maintain that focus until the task is complete, be it new jewelry projects or folding laundry!

So, how about you?  Have you chosen a word for 2013? Let us know!  No matter what your word, we here at Art Jewelry Elements wish you the very best 2013 you can possibly have!

Melissa Meman
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love