Tic Tac Hearts

This is one of my summer collages - a Hearts Tic Tac Toe.  The words are on the outside edges of the piece. 

"ENJOY" runs up the left side of the frame.

Made with a flat canvas board, painted black.

"LOVE" is printed across the top of the collage.

Hearts from foam core, painted and covered with a variety of papers.

"EMBRACE" runs down the right side of the collage.

Scrap wood make the frame behind; then painted and lettered.

"LIFE" is printed on the bottom of the collage.

 This one is very different from my other work.  A sort of experiment, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I like the simplicity and the patterns.  I like its hidden sentiment.  This collage and more are available at The Purple Poppy.

EMBRACE - LOVE - ENJOY - LIFE

Thinking of Mom

I am a mom to two wonderful girls.  I am so happy to have that role in their lives and to have each of them as my daughters.  This weekend is Mother's Day. My girls take great care make a special day for me.  Unfortunately, I am not always so gracious.   Sometimes I am sad or mad or just plain frustrated. 

Mother's Day is a bittersweet holiday for me.  My mom died over 12 years ago.  Amid the Hallmark hoopla and the FTD flower ads and cooking shows about making mom breakfast and tv specials about great moms, I sometimes struggle.

Since I lost my mom, I have felt that I belong to an awful "club" of motherless daughters.  It was one that none of my friends belonged to (at the time, I was only 27).  It was something that people were uncomfortable to talk about, for fear they would make me sad.  And I was sad.   Losing my mom changed my life, as I am sure it changes each person's life in unique and different ways.

My mom and me, sometime in the fall of 1992, in the Colorado mountains

In many ways I am stronger, in some I am more vunerable.  In some ways I am more shut off and others more bold.  It is hard to describe to anyone who hasn't experienced it.  My life is divided into two halves:  life with mom, life without mom.  My life before included getting an education, getting married, becoming a homeowner, and teaching.   My life after includes becoming a mom, not teaching, opening a business, closing a business, volunteering (a lot) and finding my way.

Since that time, some of my friends have "joined" my club.  And I mourn with them.  I have met other people who lost a parent way too soon.  And on this weekend that celebrates motherhood, there is little to acknowledge the mothers who aren't here. So, I take a moment to pause.  I think about my mom.  I think about friends who are in my club. I take a moment to be sad.  I don't want a "sorry you don't have a mom" card.  I am not sure what I want - perhaps just a quiet moment to remember. (If you want to see some of my memories, look at this post)

So if you're a member of my club, I am sorry.  Be gentle with yourself.  It's okay to be sad, to remember, and it is also ok to be happy and celebrate.  She would have wanted that.

Best Heart Forward

An earlier collage - using an foam core heart covered in handmade paper and wrapped in wire.  Mounted on a painted canvas with a flash card and assorted words. I framed this one as I was looking for a solution to make the flat canvases more finished. 
I really don't think it's the best solution.  I am in the process of "building boxes" to mount all of my canvases on.  Boy, that sounds so impressive, really I am just cutting scrapwood to fit and gluing on the back to create an illusion of a true box.  Then, I finish the edges of the wood with paint or paper.  I will mount this one on a box soon and show you photos soon. Then you can be the judge.
Regardless, I like the sentiment on this one.  I like the use of lots of words.  This one is small, 5x7, so it didn't need much more.  When I re-work it, I will post a photo.
In the meantime I have been madly building boxes and finishing my canvases with extra special details.  I have a exciting news, but I don't want to jinx it by talking too soon.  I will keep you posted.

Love at the Art Museum

We just returned from a fabulous trip to Florida - but I haven't sorted out those photos, yet.  Before we went, we spent a fabulous day at the Denver Art Museum.  It really is a great museum with a wonderful permanent collection of contemporary and modern art as well as an extensive collection of Native American Art. 

On this visit we were especially excited to see BLINK!  It's their new (and temporary) exhibit of digital and electronic art.  The exhibit was colorful and interactive.  And, was one of few temporary exhibits that allowed photography.  Catch it before it closes, on May 1.

We were greeted by a large singing goldfish.  She was quite a sight, projected on a giant screen complete with red velvet couches for viewing.

The show had a number of pieces that combined a new view with old "technology" like the wooden box TVs and clips from old TV shows and movies.  There were also a number of interactive pieces that were not complete with some human interaction - this made it a fun trip for the kids, as well. 

The girls strike a pose in front of the neon art installation.



Mary makes a heart, at the interactive light display.



No trip to the Denver Art Museum is complete without a cup of coffee at their Novo Coffee Shop. 

Coffee-love from DAM Novo Coffee.