shall we dance

- self-portrait -

"Dancers are the messengers of the gods." - Martha Graham

your scent, my heart, the wind

- 2013 mixed media from series -

"I threw my heart to the winds

and followed you.

One day the wind brought me your scent,

my heart swelled in gratitude

and scattered in the wind." - RUMI

within

- 2013 mixed media -

how do you go within?

con alma de mar

- from my journals -

amanecí con ganas de crear,

amanecí con ganas de volar,

vamos a bailar,

vamos a soñar,

amanecí con alma de mar...

--------

awake and wanting to create,

awake and wanting to fly,

let's dance,

let's dream

I am awake with the soul of the sea...

don't ask why this delights

- 2013 mixed media -

"You've so distracted me,
your absence fans my love.
Don't ask how.

Then you come near.
"Do not...," I say, and
"Do not...," you answer.

Don't ask why
this delights me."
- RUMI

remembering MIMI

- my grandmother Lillian -

“…If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.  For life and death are one, even as the river and sea are one…For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?  And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?  Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.  And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.  And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.”              – Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

dance the changing of life, the freedom of women

"The dancer of the future will be one whose body and soul have grown so harmoniously together that the natural language of that soul will have become the movement of the body. The dancer will not belong to a nation but to all humanity. She will dance not in the form of a nymph, nor fairy, nor coquette but in the form of a woman in its greatest and purest expression. She will realize the mission of woman's body and the holiness of all its parts. She will dance the changing life of nature, showing how each part is transformed into the other. From all parts of her body shall shine radiant intelligence, bringing to the world the message of the thoughts and aspirations of thousands of women. She shall dance the freedom of women ..."
- Isadora Duncan (1877 – 1927)

M A M A

excerpt from the book, The Art of Motherhood:

"...As daughters, we are brought up to believe we can achieve anything if we work for it, and this assumption, for many, leads to long, high-powered careers in which people do what we suggest...Then comes motherhood. Suddenly, we're not in charge. A tiny thing that can't walk or talk decides when (or if) we get dressed, when we eat or chat, whether we go out (probably not), and where (somewhere with child-friendly feeding rooms). Above all, it stops us sleeping. Resistance isn't the answer. By the birth of my third child, I finally got it: I should imagine I was a reckless student again for a few months, and everything would be fine - no set bedtime, no responsibilities, no deadlines that couldn't be extended, and no career plan. Long lie-ins and little afternoon snoozes; reading novels and watching daytime TV. Dashing from recently discovered coffee shop or gallery to tea at a new friend's apartment. I felt lost and out of my depth, but exhilarated by the sense of a new life unfolding, every relationship being reevaluated, and endless possibilities opening up..."

- Susannah Marriott © 2004


letting go of control

going with the flow

perfect imperfection

reevaluating relationships...for I am no longer the same person

I am a mother now...

originally posted in 2009

sons and daughters of life's longing for itself

- my son, photo circa 2009 or 2010 -

"Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable."

- Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

la vida

- mixed media -

"Life is a song - sing it.
Life is a game - play it.
Life is a challenge - meet it.
Life is a dream - realize it.
Life is a sacrifice - offer it.
Life is love - enjoy it." - Sri Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011)

new moon solar eclipse

- madre luna -

this powerful moon marks a new beginning...an ideal time to manifest your heart's desire...

where no one sees you

- 2013 mixed media -

"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.

You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,

but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art." - RUMI

soul whispers

In the silent moments our souls whisper words of wisdom...

ancestors

ancestors whisper stories into my dreams...

"Every WOman is a quotation from all HER ancestors."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

what wonderfully strange dreams I've had all weekend...

en el ultimo trago me besas

- Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas, 2013 mixed media -

"Tomate esta botella conmigo,
y en el ultimo trago nos vamos.

Quiero ver a que sabe tu olvido,
sin poner en mis ojos tus manos.

Esta noche no voy a rogarte,
esta noche te vas de deveras.

Que dificil tratar de olvidarte,
sin que sienta que ya no me quieras...

Nada me han enseñado los años,
siempre caigo en los mismos errores,
otra vez a brindar con extraños,
y a llorar por los mismos dolores...

Tomate esta botella conmigo,
y en el ultimo trago me besas.

Esperamos que no hayan testigos,
por si acaso te diera verguenza.

Si algun dia sin querer tropezamos,
no te agaches ni me hables de frente,
simplemente la mano nos damos,
y despues que murmure la gente..." - Chavela Vargas

love and affection

- 2013 mixed media -

"You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection." - BUDDHA

Mi Mimi

- 2013 mixed media in private collection -

mi abuela materna, mi reina, mi MIMI...
a woman, a goddess, a mother...
remembering my beloved grandmother on her birthday

wise women speak to me through dreams and symbols

- 2013 mixed media -

Who are the wise women in your life?

When do you seek their counsel?

The wise women speak to me through dreams and symbols.

There are no coincidences...I am being guided, moment by moment.

"In the ancient way of being, the earth not only creates, feels, and protects life, but like a mother, whispers through natural signs and images the secret knowledge of how body, mind, emotions and spirit work upon each other in an intricate, invisible weaving." - Johanna Lambert from "Wise Women of the Dreamtime"

practicando...recordando

"Io lavoro e penso a te,
torno a casa e penso a te,
le telefono e intanto penso a te...

Come stai e penso a te,
dove andiamo e penso a te,
le sorrido abbasso gli occhi e penso a te...

Non so con chi adesso sei,
non so che cosa fai,
ma so di certo a cosa stai pensando...

E' troppo grande la città,
per due che come noi,
non sperano però si stan cercando... cercando...

Scusa è tardi e penso a te,
ti accompagno e penso a te,
non son stato divertente e penso a te...

Sono al buio e penso a te,
chiudo gli occhi e penso a te,
io non dormo e penso a te..." - Lucio Battisti (1943-1998)

el tiene el corazón de poeta

- 2013 mixed media -

"Tiene la expresión de una flor,
la voz de un pájaro,
y el alma como luna llena,
de un mes de abril...

Tiene en sus palabras calor,
y frío de invierno,
su piel es dura como el árbol,
que azota el viento...

Y tiene el corazón de poeta,
de niño grande y de hombre niño,
capaz de amar con delirio,
capaz de hundirse en la tristeza...

El tiene, el corazón de poeta,
de vagabundo y de mendigo,
y así lo he conocido,
y así me gusta a mi que sea,
que tenga el corazón de poeta...

Tiene la arrogancia del sol,
mirada cándida,
su piel de nieve se hace fuego cerca de mi...

Es amigo y amante fiel,
ve las estrellas,
camina junto a mi soñando,
con cosas bellas...

Y tiene el corazón de poeta,
de niño grande y de hombre niño,
capaz de amar con delirio,
capaz de hundirse en la tristeza...

El tiene, el corazón de poeta,
de vagabundo y de mendigo,
y así lo he conocido
y así me gusta a mi que sea,
que tenga el corazón de poeta..." - JEANETTE

in the middle of a dream kissing valentino

- 2013 idea from a dream for a new series -

"six o'clock already,
I was just in the middle of a dream,

I was kissing Valentino,

by a crystal blue Italian stream...

it's just another manic Monday,
I wish it was Sunday,
'cause that's my fun day,
my I don't have to run day,
it's just another manic Monday...

all of the nights,
why did my lover have to pick last night,
to get down...
he tells me in his bedroom voice:
come on honey, let's go make some noise...

time it goes so fast,
when you're having fun...
it's just another manic Monday..." - The Bangles

various viewpoints

"Most people are TRAPPED trying to impose their viewpoint on the world...There is no such thing as one and only one correct perspective...You see the world as you are. Others see the world as they are, too."-Deepak Chopra

The older I get, the more curious I become...I am fascinated by others' viewpoints on life, love, spirit...

you must ask for what you really want

"The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep." - RUMI

in search of tulips and mangos

It was a lazy Sunday morning. Tumbling out of bed, I made my way to the grocery store in search of tulips and mangos. The sun was gloriously hot – summer was near.

While contemplating what color of tulips to get, red, pink, white, maybe striped...I suddenly sensed something and looked up. Clad in vintage aviator Ray-Bans, a mane of luscious locks swept back – it was him – HIM...

Ducking behind the roses, my heart and mind began a marathon. Why could I not take 5 minutes to shower...2 minutes to comb my hair...had I even brushed my teeth...PANIC. Could HE see me? Why had I not followed my parents’ cardinal rule – be ready to see anyone and be seen at all times?

He looked freshly showered, impeccable as always, but still maintaining the signature rugged manly appeal for which he was famous. I was dressed in yoga gear – black cotton lycra – UGH. Lip gloss was the extent of my beauty morning routine.

Snatching a bunch of tulips, I took advantage of the fact that he was selecting organic tomatoes. I seized my mangos and sprinted to the check-out...

from my journals, originally published in 2007 and yes I had brushed my teeth

full moon and lunar eclipse

remember to wish upon that moon tonight...

the soul unfolds itself

- detail from a page in my journals -

"...Speak to us of Self-Knowledge...

Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.

But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.

You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.

You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.

...the soul walks upon all paths.

The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.

The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of a countless petals."
- KAHLIL GIBRAN

brilliant mistakes

- 2008 mixed media -

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner."
- Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968)

Mistakes teach us.

They are stepping-stones.

In my sculpture, I have made brilliant mistakes...

originally published in 2008

mother earth day

- 2013 mixed media -

“The Earth is our Mother. 

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely strands in it. Whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves.” 
- Chief Seattle (1780-1866)

mujer volcan

- 2013 mixed media -

Volcano Woman,

igniting the world.

Volcano Mother,

birthing new beginnings.

Volcano Goddess,

purifying the soul.

melt with you

- 2013 mixed media -

"moving forward using all my breath
making love to you was never second best
I saw the world thrashing all around your face
never really knowing it was always mesh and lace
I'll stop the world and melt with you
you've seen the difference and
it's getting better all the time
there's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
dream of better lives the kind which never hate
dropped in the state of imaginary grace
I made a pilgrimage to save this human race
never comprehending a race that long gone by
I'll stop the world and melt with you
you've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
there's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
the future's open wide..." - Modern English