Tuesday, June 18, 2013

just shy of the 3 month mark -


are ideas starting to come to you for your peace day project? 

i have had a bit of a shift in how i am working - it is more fiber oriented (ok, almost completely fiber oriented). 

i was thinking on dream catchers - actually, i was thinking upon the open heart and how it makes you available to positive things, but also vulnerable to the negative. which then got me thinking on dream catchers. 

dream catchers are native american in origin. designed like a spider's web with a hole in the middle, they allow positive thoughts and visions in through the center while catching the negative in the web. allowing people to do the most good and contribute to harmony in nature. the light of the sun would clear the web of any negative dreams or visions. 

so i thought what we need is a dream catcher over our hearts - preventing the negative from getting in and keeping ourselves from releasing negative energy as well. 

but the dream catcher has its purpose and and method of working... 

how about a tiny basket - a basket to hold something precious, a stone or shell, words, intentions and keep it all safe? worn near to the heart, perhaps the threads could keep the contents pure, acting as the spider web. the spaces between allowing it to drift out gently into the world or to seep into our skin and become a part of us? 

and what if they were bigger? i was speaking to a friend and the idea began to coalesce that they could hang from a tree, perhaps with a protective copper lid - and you could put things into it that you wanted to set free? the air could move through and carry the thoughts or wishes away -

i think this is the direction i am headed in this year. 

anyone else have ideas? we'd love to hear you brainstorm about them - 

in peace and metta - 

mary jane





4 comments:

  1. Ooo.... I LOVE the fiber basket idea! I've been dreaming of learning how to crochet so I can make small baskets to wear or whatever. The idea of a 'realeasing basket " - or so I thought of your idea, is cool!

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  2. I agree with Valerianna, your basket idea is brilliant! Funny, I was a basketry artist for 20+ years, but never could work that small, no matter what material I wove with. All thumbs, that was me.

    I'd thought to rework last years discharged prayer flags somehow for this year. Took them down before Hurricane Sandy hit, washed and ironed them and laid them in the studio...somewhere. They need to be found and listened to.

    It's good to have you back. I'm sorry that metals are no longer in your art life, but am excited about your fiber work. Enjoy!

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  3. Protect your heart...oh that is elusive, isn't it. But wait...all those little and big pains create the inner me and as I have recently learned make a protective and loving hug that much sweeter. But a basket with a breeze flowing through to dissipate the pain and and release the love is an excellent approach to the flag project.
    xx

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  4. MJ - I love the idea of the baskets - they could also be woven out of paper string and as they disintegrate in the weather they release more messages of peace - bit like Fiona's weather-grams as they breakdown and scatter around the neighbourhood in a nice way. Peace. B

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