Red was not a color I wore often, yet I'd bought a sweatshirt a bit prior to the election and it's definitely in the red color family. I'm not able to bring myself to wear it. So my project for the next four years is "Reclaiming Red". I've gotten a large wall calendar and each day, my intention is to write down something red that's not offensive. Or draw a small picture or tape/glue items I see that are red yet still bring me joy and seem beautiful.
I have a friend who once spent a year collecting donated red clothing and when she had tons of it, she sewed a red carpet that came apart with velcroed sections so she could wash it. Then she used it at an event created with booths to serve the unhoused in her city so they could walk down the red carpet while going to the booths. She brought it to Africa with her and photographed herself in the desert, the red carpet whipping around in the wind.
I think when you add time to art, amazing things can happen. I absolutely love your project. Well done.
Oh I’m so glad you got into your process, purpose, and product. I love the piece hanging there on its lonesome…but not for long. Great concept…and going to be fun to see it grow. I spent a day in creation. Brayers, paints, papers, old books, dried ferns that don’t handle well when they’ve been on a shelf for three months pressed between paper towels, glue sticks and Elmer’s. I even have wipes left over from Covid that turn out to be wonderful for getting glue off my hands. I created valentines for my meals on wheels clients, students, friends and even a bit of family. Turns out it is so satisfying to cut out hearts. Felt like I was back in the classroom again with all of my noisy bouncing boys.
I'll have to figure out how to post people's photos. I think I might have to do a follow up post where I put up photos myself because it looks like you can't post photos in comments. Thank you for sending your photos! I loved the group of shots so much.
Another sad thing happened this past long weekend...my Aunt Jackie's funeral. It didn't start with a creative flourish, but it ended with one. I barely noticed the coffin she was in at the wake on Friday afternoon/evening, spending most of the day there to support my cousins. But on Saturday, as a pallbearer to the Mass and interment, in handling the casket, I started to notice how beautifully it was made. Every detail, joint, piece of hardware, the finish...and then how it was adorned with flowers. I spent Sunday trying to sketch as much as I could remember about that box from memory, from touch. There is beauty to be found even in the darkest times...and it felt good to create/recreate to keep it alive.
I'm sorry for your loss and the sketches sound amazing.
I realized after I posted this that Substack does not allow people to post photos with their comments so I'm going to share people's photos in the next post each week. I'd love to see your drawings and share them but no pressure.
I'm not a visual artist--words are my medium--but I like the power of concrete poetry. My idea is to grab a phrase or series of sentences that grabs me each day and write it onto a simple drawing. Today's is "We've been staring down the brilliant dream / the sun burns our eyes / We've been fighting for the love of our lives," from "Love of Our Lives" by the Indigo Girls, written onto a chubby, sketchy drawing of a flame. (Don't think there's a way to share images in comments--?)
Beautiful. If you would be willing to share, I'd love to post it on my next thread. I already have a few contributions. I didn't realize photos could not be added to comments so each week, I'm going to collect whatever people are willing to share and make it part of the next week's thread. No pressure but I would love to share if you're comfortable with that. You can email it to cndy_house@yahoo.com or just reply to this thread in the email that comes into your in box. Thank you, Rebecca and I love what you're doing.
Red was not a color I wore often, yet I'd bought a sweatshirt a bit prior to the election and it's definitely in the red color family. I'm not able to bring myself to wear it. So my project for the next four years is "Reclaiming Red". I've gotten a large wall calendar and each day, my intention is to write down something red that's not offensive. Or draw a small picture or tape/glue items I see that are red yet still bring me joy and seem beautiful.
This is brilliant. I really love this.
I have a friend who once spent a year collecting donated red clothing and when she had tons of it, she sewed a red carpet that came apart with velcroed sections so she could wash it. Then she used it at an event created with booths to serve the unhoused in her city so they could walk down the red carpet while going to the booths. She brought it to Africa with her and photographed herself in the desert, the red carpet whipping around in the wind.
I think when you add time to art, amazing things can happen. I absolutely love your project. Well done.
So clever. Love it
Oh I’m so glad you got into your process, purpose, and product. I love the piece hanging there on its lonesome…but not for long. Great concept…and going to be fun to see it grow. I spent a day in creation. Brayers, paints, papers, old books, dried ferns that don’t handle well when they’ve been on a shelf for three months pressed between paper towels, glue sticks and Elmer’s. I even have wipes left over from Covid that turn out to be wonderful for getting glue off my hands. I created valentines for my meals on wheels clients, students, friends and even a bit of family. Turns out it is so satisfying to cut out hearts. Felt like I was back in the classroom again with all of my noisy bouncing boys.
I love this.
Have some pics. Not sure how to add to
Comments
I'll have to figure out how to post people's photos. I think I might have to do a follow up post where I put up photos myself because it looks like you can't post photos in comments. Thank you for sending your photos! I loved the group of shots so much.
Let’s wait to see what I get from the other sewers, knitters, painters. I will create a mixture of process and product
Testing./Users/cindyhouse/Desktop/651D1EF2-ACA4-4843-B379-B5B23139B49C.JPG
wonderful idea. creating - cooking, drawing, folding paper, making music, writing - is a kind of renewal.
Another sad thing happened this past long weekend...my Aunt Jackie's funeral. It didn't start with a creative flourish, but it ended with one. I barely noticed the coffin she was in at the wake on Friday afternoon/evening, spending most of the day there to support my cousins. But on Saturday, as a pallbearer to the Mass and interment, in handling the casket, I started to notice how beautifully it was made. Every detail, joint, piece of hardware, the finish...and then how it was adorned with flowers. I spent Sunday trying to sketch as much as I could remember about that box from memory, from touch. There is beauty to be found even in the darkest times...and it felt good to create/recreate to keep it alive.
I'm sorry for your loss and the sketches sound amazing.
I realized after I posted this that Substack does not allow people to post photos with their comments so I'm going to share people's photos in the next post each week. I'd love to see your drawings and share them but no pressure.
I emailed a few to you. This is an awesome movement you started. Thank you
Oh, I love this so much. The red carpet story actually made me cry (fifteenth time today, but the first one from joy). Thank you, thank you. I’m in.
Great idea, great start, Cindy. Keep going!
I LOVE this idea.
Thank you. Will you consider joining us? I'd love to see what you make.
I will. :) I'm going to invite my young children into this, as well.
I'm not a visual artist--words are my medium--but I like the power of concrete poetry. My idea is to grab a phrase or series of sentences that grabs me each day and write it onto a simple drawing. Today's is "We've been staring down the brilliant dream / the sun burns our eyes / We've been fighting for the love of our lives," from "Love of Our Lives" by the Indigo Girls, written onto a chubby, sketchy drawing of a flame. (Don't think there's a way to share images in comments--?)
Beautiful. If you would be willing to share, I'd love to post it on my next thread. I already have a few contributions. I didn't realize photos could not be added to comments so each week, I'm going to collect whatever people are willing to share and make it part of the next week's thread. No pressure but I would love to share if you're comfortable with that. You can email it to cndy_house@yahoo.com or just reply to this thread in the email that comes into your in box. Thank you, Rebecca and I love what you're doing.
Sure! Thank you, Cindy. :) :)