Look at the little things ...


“Find magic in the little things, and the big things you always expected will start to show up.”

― Isa Zapata

Your #virginiacreates May calendar is coming to you a bit late because I was on an artist's retreat in San Gimignano, Italy and, blessedly, I had little WiFi.  The retreat was run by Michael Dowling of Spoke, www.spokeart.org, an amazing organization that I highly recommend you look at the work that they do!!! 

This month's #virginiacreates calendar is featuring one of the collages that I made during my retreat.  Inspired by a story that Michael shared on our first morning.  He spoke about a woman who was committed to an asylum and who collected stuff out of the trash to embroider and to create with.  The asylum staff saw this habit of going through the trash as proof of her mental sickness and medicated her.  This story broke my heart on so many levels.   I am a woman who has used trash and debris in much of her work - from an international business of making jewelry out of used bottle caps to a room sized installation centered around a n 8 foot dress sculpture made out of used eggshells. 

for your personal enjoyment …

So on my first day of retreat,  I wondered the magical streets of this medieval town with Michael's story replaying in my head.  Soon my attention was drawn to a discarded museum ticket and this series began.  Below are some more of these collages.  Most are created on 4x6 watercolor paper, though as the series progressed I was just working with my found treasures, creating unique art objects.

peace





Use your vote for positive change ....

“It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.”
— Coretta Scott King

feel free to print and use for your personal enjoyment ~ peace

Next Tuesday is Election Day here in the USA. I am embarrassed that this presidential race is in any way, shape or form, a close race. I believe that this election is a contest of basic humanity vs. hatred, divisiveness, vengeance and fear mongering. It is so important that everyone goes to the polls and votes! I am terrified by hearing that many are so frustrated by the political system that they are planning not to vote!!! That decision will hurt everyone! The system might be flawed but it is the system that allows our participation in our government. However if the Republican candidate and his radical right-wing goose steppers succeed, it is safe to say that many freedoms will be lost to those who do not agree with or follow that administration.

I created this month’s collage to represent the beauty of diversity. I believe in the dignity of each individual and would like to live in a country where each citizen is represented and celebrated.

Below is a variation of this month’s collage that you can print and display. Please reach out if you wish it to say, ‘I believe’, or ‘in this house we believe’ or a variation that you wish to display.

Thank you & peace, Virginia

feel free to print and use for your personal enjoyment ~ peace

Let us all be more daring!

“I believe that the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity is daring to dare.”
― Maya Angelou

feel free to print and use for your personal enjoyment ~ peace

Happy August ~ I am happily on the road, without my computer or printer, so this month’s calendar is a bit of an experiment. I usually do a test print of the calendar to make sure of colors and sizing, however I haven’t been able to that. So I advise that when you’re printing your calendar to check the printer option to ‘fit paper’ ~ or something like that. Good luck and I’d love to know how the printing process worked. Next month I should be back with my usual technology, but for now I’m traveling light! Happy August! And let us all be more daring!!!