Busy

Everyone is busy. Personally, I have a husband, two kids, a farm, two jobs, a career as an artist, friends, parents, groups I belong to, a Spanish course, and a house to fix up. I try to make time for yoga, swimming, walking, reading, going to movies and concerts, printing my photographs, playing the recorder, writing to friends and taking vacations. I've been through the "seven roles" exercise, but really, how can we stop at seven things? Squeezing it all in is what makes me who I am. If I was only seven of those things, I wouldn't be very interesting. Healthier, maybe, but not nearly as interesting.

On motivation

What motivates a person to go to work each day when you know it's a struggle, a gasping for breath among waves of uncertainty? Why wouldn't one just say "okay, I give up" and let it all go? Is it a sense of loyalty, a dedication to an ideal, or just the thin paycheck at the end of each month? I've just gone through an analysis of what makes me walk into the gallery each day to face this turbulent time and juggle all the fundraising projects and ideas into some cohesive plan. I realize now that the struggle is what helps me feel like I make a difference. Passion is born out of accomplishment - when something that was just an idea becomes reality, and people see and experience it, get joy from it and express gratitude - well, that means something. Even if the process was a bit painful, or stressful, or "impossible." It's the artist's nature to overcome.

Public Art Project Number 6

Wow, we're really getting up there. We (meaning myself, Madeleine Eames, and about 35 Salmon Arm kids) just completed the sixth public art project in the downtown. We gathered at Fletcher Park last week to bash tile and create many little images about things we love about the Shuswap. There are flowers, mountains, sky, suns, lake, fish, birds, houses, a cat and a crab. Plus a few abstract works from those budding Mondrians. It is located in the centre of the park, right beside City Hall. The adhesive should be set by now, and we will be grouting this week. For many years to come, kids will be able to see the little dash of colour they added to this world.

Public art project number 6, after the bumpy things at the post office, the apples at SASCU, the family at Fletcher Park, the City Hall art collection, and the Ross Street Plaza water fountain pebble tiles. This is only the second one created by kids. Soon, we will have many very small public artworks around town created by this community's children.... watch and see!