(I’m borrowing this from a Facebook friend that posted it this morning.)
Friend do it this way – that is,
whatever you do in life,
do the very best you can
with both your heart and mind.
And if you do it that way,
the Power Of The Universe
will come to your assistance,
if your heart and mind are in Unity.
When one sits in the Hoop Of The People,
one must be responsible because
All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honor of one is the honor of all.
And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.
If you do it that way – that is,
if you truly join your heart and mind
as One – whatever you ask for,
that’s the Way It’s Going To Be.
Despite Friday’s rain during the three day Art Westport, it was a great show with beautiful weather for the rest of the weekend. Thanks so much to all of you who came out and supported! I’ve got lots of work to do to prepare for my next shows.. There were approximately 140 artists there, and three prizes were awarded: Best of Show, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place. I was very honored (and very surprised) to be awarded 2nd Place. I actually got a chance to walk around to about 70% of the show before it started on Saturday, and there was some really great art there.. so, even more of an honor to be recognized amongst the artists that I saw. Hope to see y’all again next year!
If you read my blog and haven’t noticed yet, I’m a bit obsessive about music. I’ve visited three record stores in three different cities in the last four days… Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis & some record store in Columbia, MO (didn’t buy anything there but almost did and ended up getting it at:) & Love Garden (as always) today in Lawrence (thank you fellas for pushing some of this music on me and for ordering my special requests..).. Anyway, don’t read on if you’re bored already. I’m always searching for something — and with records, there’s always something new to find. I promise, there’s paper cutting blog posts to follow shortly. Here’s what I picked up:
Yves & Serge & Victor (France) reissue from a private issue of only 300 records in 1975
Leo Kottke – Circle Round The Sun and 6 & 12 String & Guitar (I should have the latter already but I don’t)
Riley – Grandma’s Roadhouse (http://therisingstorm.net/riley-grandmas-roadhouse)
Jim Ford – Harlan County (who can resist a song “I’m Gonna Make Her Love Me Til The Cows Come Home)
Les McCann – Layers
Guitar Mood 2 – More Rare Instrumentals from the New and Olde Worlds
George Jones – Trouble In Mind
Spider John Koerner – March 1963
Buffalo Springfield – Again ($1 bin..)
Isao Tomita (4 different records of crazy synthesized music) – Pictures at an Exhibition, Snowflakes Are Dancing, Grand Canyon (with the Plasma Symphony Orchestra), and Bolero
Christine Perfect (McVie) – The Legendary.. (what I almost bought in Columbia, but got in Lawrence)
Happy & Artie Traum – Hard Times In The Country (completes my H. & A.T. collection – way excited)
Dave Von Ronk – Gambler’s Blues
Happy Traum – Relax Your Mind (always trying to HT, seriously, ain’t always easy..) Rod Stewart – Gasoline Alley
Jorma Kaukonen – Jorma
Friday was the first day of my 3 day show at Art Westport in Kansas City. I got there at 2pm to set up (show started at 5), and at 2:15, rain started to pour, so I sat in my car (err, took a nap in my car) until about 4:30 when it ended.. The rain made way for a beautiful but chilly evening. Of course, by the time I was totally set up, the show was halfway over, but it was a great night anyway. My first sale was my “Night Class” paper cutting which is one of my favorites that I had made for the Topeka Public Library exhibit — so happy to see it go to a good home. Parting with my own artwork was an idea that took me awhile to grasp when I first started doing these shows, but it’s pretty amazing to see people excited about having it in their own homes. Another long Saturday ahead with open hours from 10am – 9pm.
Running has become a bigger part of my life than I would have ever imagined. It no longer feels like exercise, but rather one big long meditation, especially since I’ve now changed my route (and doubled my distance) to the river levy trail where I’m surrounded mostly by nature. I’ve logged 23 miles out there this week.. not that it’s about the distance, but it feels good to know that I can go that far, and even farther if I’d allow myself the time.
This morning’s run was extra special.. and the experience could never really be put into words without sounding like a total fruit basket (not that I don’t already), but when I got out there a sudden breeze came up, which I always find meaning in, mumbled a few words in the direction of the sky about the kind of energy & experience that I was looking for this morning, and went about my way. About two miles down the road, two deer emerged from the corn field to the north about 20 yards ahead and stood on the trail, looking toward me. I slowed down and stared back until they ran off into the woods. Then a buck came from the same spot and stood on the trail momentarily looking my direction, then galloped (do deer gallop?) a bit in my direction before taking off into the woods. I smiled happily at it all.. About a quarter mile further, I looked up to see the silhouette of a red-tailed hawk circling in front of the sun. I decided to stop and watch for a minute. It ended up right above me and we watched each other for a minute before it disappeared behind the trees.
It gets better.. my stopping point is this great big tree that I like to stop and relish in it’s shade. When I lived in Brooklyn, there was a huge tree in Prospect Park that I’d go sit by often. They’re kind of like big, comforting grandfathers. Anyway, I stopped at the tree, and above it was another red-tailed hawk. So, I watched it flying around and talked to it a bit (in my head, it could hear me), did a nice big stretch toward then sun, and embraced another rush of breeze. Then I looked to my right, and about 10 yards away on the trail stood a doe and her fawn staring at me. I crouched down quietly and we studied each other for about a minute before they took off into the woods. I laughed again and made my amazement very vocal (there were no human souls in sight, thankfully), and went on my way back.. Then I saw some gigantic toadstools and passed a very furry caterpillar racing down the trail. I dunno, but these are the kinds of things that make my day. And these same things that will eventually make their way into my artwork. Til next time..
Just a couple more boxes to throw in (still printing and matting.. always last minute in my world) and I’m ready to go to my first art fair of the fall. Art Westport runs Friday from 5pm – 9pm, Saturday from 10am – 9pm and Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Although rain is forecasted for Friday, looks like it might happen earlier in the day.. and then sunny with cooler temps (low 80s) for the rest of the weekend. That is what I like to hear… I’m taking my fleece jacket.
