Posts Tagged ‘photograph’
Your “Madness” could be your Treasure
Photograph, Doolin Pier at sunset with motor bike helmets
One of my earliest and deepest fears was that I was mad. Not in a kind of arty way, just plain mad. Yep my brain does not work in a typical way, this I must have been aware of from a very young age, hence the worry being mad! When I went to Grennan Mill craft school after I left school, I found my clan, in a way. I felt normal, it was great! Since then I have been learning that being different and eccentric has many positive aspects.
The other day in an underground car park in Ennistymon my husband and I started to talk about madness. He said everyone is mad, just in different ways, but that the madness is was talking about is not a bad thing; that it can be the thing that is the most beautiful thing about us. I liked this statement. Suddenly it opened up a world of possibilities, for me. James said to me to think of one of my madnesses; one of the things that I have an urge to do but for some reason feel I should not do because of society. I said when I am on the back of the motor bike I feel like holding my arms out like I am flying. So for most of the journey home to Doolin I stuck my arms out, it was great! ( I am not recommending people do this!) What mad or crazy thing do you feel like doing? Allow you madness to express itself, our quirks and individuality are what made us human and ultimately beautiful!
A Vacation From Tech
Tree at The Falls Hotel Ennistymon, photograph by Marianne Slevin
I’m off the computer for a week as an experiment. So I will reply to any comments when I plug in in a week. I am off to use ink and paper and wax now. Have a great week everyone!
I am about 55% Cloud
I am about 55% cloud, I know almost nothing but I am guessing that my subconscious or less conscious mind has a few stories to tell. Growing up people used to say that the only thing that you can be sure of is that one day you will die, now I hear that even that is not the case in reality! Listening to a Zen Cast podcast in the early hours they were talking about there being no death and no birth just transformation. Such as how when we look into our tea it is cloud, I just loved the idea of looking into my teacup and drinking cloud, eating ice-cream and it being partly cloud, or the sea.
I collected this water on New Year’s Day at sun set from the beach near Liscannor, Co. Clare. Which is the closest beach to our house. I was a magical moment. I wanted to mark the beginning of the New Year with something and have a reminder of it, that I could see every day in my studio.
Photograph below “Another version of me” by Marianne Slevin 2010
Glimmer
Christal in the window of The Secret Gallery Photograph by Marianne Slevin
I feel like I need to eat about 10 Mars bars before I could do anything that involved standing up or moving. The winter has left my blood feeling thin and generally feeling a bit washed out. This mornings activities involved looking for a hair brush, 6 hours later, no hair brush, but a room that has a little more order and a lot less mouse droppings! I have not promised Saint Anthony money as usual when I loose things, due to the fact that this seems like a bit of a money making racket set up by the church. This afternoon I might give some money to a charity and ask Saint Anthony to find the precious hair brush. School for the little ones starts tomorrow and “Mother” is being put through her paces!
Tulip starting to sprout in Recycled Juice Carton Marianne Slevin 2010
The “glimmer” that I have called this blog post is a feeling deep inside of hope or Spring, as if there is a stirring. After the cold spell now bulbs are starting to shoot the smoothest spikes of green. I am starting to write a list of exhibitions that I am going to apply for. Last night, I tidied the studio and made space for new things to happen there. Sometimes it is easy to forget that the simple tasks of tidying and preparing the studio and searching for opportunities and sending off applications are almost as important as doing the art itself.
How do we make sure when we feel that stirring of new growth gather within us, so that when we have tidied and found the hairbrushes and the paint brushes take it a step further and actually create some art and not let it get lost along the way? There are those moment where we can choose to do something creative or we can decide to let it slip away and do something like watch a movie, browse on the internet or wash the dishes, the list is endless. the car is calling,”clean me” my stomach screams “feed me”! But my sketch book needs me! Or should I say I need my sketch book.
Just found the hair brush, now I must think of a charity. I cant find the cable to plug in my camera now. Great! James just found that. Now what shall is do with those glimmers? Perhaps the sketch book is a good place to nurture them before putting them in large open spaces. So the inner art critic does not get a chance to be too scathing before they have matured to a stage where they are a little more developed and also it is allot less daunting to approach a sketch book then something more large scale and begging to be “finished”. You also don’t have to worry about forgetting your ideas or having them just in your head. I would be interested in hearing how other people keep those glimmers glowing and growing. Please share your stories and tips for the survival of the glimmer.
Look The Moon Is Out!
I listen to some Reggae music, it is so great! “They say that the earth is spinning around, I say the world upside down” Joe Higgs.
Sunset from the Secret Gallery, looking at the Aran Islands, Photograph Marianne Slevin
A Lovely little Shadow! photograph by Marianne Slevin October 2009
The secret gallery's blog 