“ The artwork and artist, work and person, in every field of activity, are in a mutually creative relation to each other.
Each requires the other to give to and to communicate. The relation between a person and her
work is thus a living expression of dialogue.”
-Zinker
Every third Thursday, I pack an overnight bag and prepare for my monthly get away. I know, it is not fair. You must be thinking to yourself, “Why does Loralei get to go on vacay once a month?” Although you may not have thought those words precisely, you may at least have been asking yourself where I take these little vacations of mine.
Truth is, where I go technically isn’t a lavish R & R spot. Friday after work, I jump in my purple Scion and head out to a small office in Manhattan Beach for a weekend packed with activities regarding Expressive Arts Training techniques. I consider this time more like vacay or even something close to a retreat rather than school because the experience has a consciousness raising and even somewhat spiritual effect on me.
School, at least the type of school we have here in the US, which is based on power struggles, rewards and punishments, etc. is nothing like what I experience in these classes. Here, I get to learn about myself through various creative activities and really take time out for me. I can’t explain the high I feel when I am there and even after I leave. But all I can say is that in a society where we have to be on the grind 24-7 just to pay the bills, it feels good to be able to give back to myself every now and then.
STRING ART
In my last class, we focused on the VISUAL ARTS. I want to share a few of my creations as well as my experience with you all.
The piece below was created by dipping a piece of string into black india ink, painting with it, and then going back in and coloring it in with watercolor. Usually, artists are concerned with aesthetics balance, etc. However, here, I just let my mind go blank and let my feelings and intuition guide my process. The key to this technique was to NOT HAVE A PLAN and simply LET GO.
“Soultable”
When I first stepped back and looked at my piece, I was in awe. To me, it looked as though I had created a spinning heart-shaped turntable. This was meaningful to me because I viewed it as a gift from my subconscious. [ As I said, I had no plan when I began this piece. I was painting it purely for engaging in the act of creation.]
Music is mos def my supreme muse. When my piece revealed itself to me, it was as if the universe was confirming this deep and meaningful relationship.
If you turn the painting upside down, the heart now resembles the “BA” symbol in baybayin, the Filipino indigenous writing system. It is believed that shape within an ancient fertility symbol called the lingling-o, evolved to become the symbol of BA. The baybayin BA symbol represents the sound for “ba” the syllable found in girl or female in several Filipino dialects, for example Babae (tagalog) and Ba-i or Bai (Visayan).
Looking at it from this perspective also touches me deeply. A few months ago I attended the Babaylan Conference in Sonoma. That weekend was synchronistic and unbelievably magical. I was able to meet fabulous women who inspired me to continue along my journey towards wholeness. I learned so much about the relationship between Filipino psychology, spirituality, healing arts, and expressive arts. It was only fitting that this subconscious painting lead me towards those memories and confirm to me that I am along the right path.
I am so thankful to have art in my life. Without it, I don’t think I would be who I am today. Art is so integral to my being. In the process of creativity, I get lost and I find myself.
Like this:
Like Loading...
loraleirose says expressyoursoul 