Profound relief. Here's to all who voted, who waited hours in line, who served pizza, who manned polling places, who danced and sang and hoped despite all! Here's to you. Thank you.
(From one of my good mother’s paintings — Lou P. Rogers)
Kind Visitor, I realize if I don’t want to just curl up and lose my voice entirely, for my own sake I need to say something today. I’ll just tell you why I voted.
I voted because this Supreme Court may well strike down the ACA, taking health insurance from some 20 million of us, destroying protections for preexisting conditions and throwing our health system into chaos in the middle of a pandemic. I want someone in office who will at least attempt to mend health care for all of us. Death is not the only lasting effect of this pandemic: some suffer lasting damage to lungs, heart or neurological function. Think “preexisting conditions.”
I voted because I believe that until we contain the virus we cannot right the economy and because I believe those losing their livelihood merit substantive help now.
I voted because I want to chase the fighting chance for a livable planet — for us and for every bird, mammal, fish and plant and scene of beauty — rather than trash it all for transient gain and go down forever on the wrong side of history at an irreversible inflection point.
I voted because to me the phrase “no justice, no peace” is not a threat but an essential human truth. When we shoot an unarmed man 7 times in the back in front of his young children, when we yank children from their mothers and leave them stranded in limbo, we must take the high, hard road and address the underlying causes even if they seem immovable as mountains. Taking the lazy way out and using the government like a bludgeon to smack people down in their anguish guarantees violence.
I voted because I believe even a wounded democracy maintains possibility, while democracy ever more completely sacrificed to authoritarian ego and self-serving power will mute our cries and steal our voice. I trust we would still find a road forward, but it would be harder and longer and I for one would not likely see the fruition of it.
I voted because we are bleeding out those who serve us quietly in good faith. They are being fired or are leaving government because their positions are now untenable. I think of my grandfather and my father in the world wars. We are alienating allies who have stood beside us for some 70 years since WW ll. That makes us smaller and weaker and more unsafe.
I voted because I am exhausted by ‘alternative facts’ and unceasing lies, and ugly, thin-skinned hissy-fits and just plain cruelty and chaos. I voted because I care about my LGBTQ friends and those who love them. I voted because I do not like to hear women called “dog," "fat pig," "slob" or “horse-face” and I don’t think a ‘star’ has the right to stick his hand between your legs and grab.
I came upon a quote somewhere — I believe it was on a tea-bag tag -- from Walt Whitman: “Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.” I thought, that is exactly how I feel about this administration. It insults my soul.
I voted because I reject it.
Dear Ones, make tomorrow count.
Thank you.
Forest
A lovely commission, a sculpture in two parts. Fear not, the Hind can outrun even the arrows of her Goddess and companion.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
~ Wilfred Owen, from "Anthem for Doomed Youth"
Lugh, Celtic god of light and many other things. A commission, for a son named after him.
Another wonderful commission, in honor of a daughter.
A commission, greatly enjoyed.
Kind Friends, I will return much more frequently here when I’ve managed a few great upheavals in my world. Meantime, here’s my take on Quan Yin, goddess of compassion, “she who hears the cries of the people.” It was a lovely commission.
This strange being is now on the Available Works page, where she hopes to be caught… :) (She found a home! Thanks for your interest!)
A being from the garden of the night…
“If you knew yourself for even one moment, if you could just glimpse your most beautiful face, maybe you wouldn’t slumber so deeply in that house of clay. Why not move into your house of joy and shine into every crevice! For you are the secret treasure-bearer, and always have been. Didn’t you know?”
- Jalal al-Din Rumi, The Essential Rumi
"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and (it) will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly-- to keep the channel open."
~ Martha Graham
Kind Visitors, I’m honored and slightly alarmed to be appearing as a live sculpting guest on the Shiflett Brothers’ Sculpting Forum on FaceBook tomorrow night, 9 Central time USA. We’re aiming for a two hour session, and hoping for many questions via comment! It’ll be available ongoing as video on the Forum. Jarrod and Brandon Shiflett, amazing sculptors and deeply generous humans, are beginning a series of Wednesday night live sculpting events. I look forward to being a viewer, assuming I survive my own appearance! Here’s a button to transport you to the forum, which is always fascinating and populated by an incredible collection of sculptors. It’s a great resource for every level of experience! Don’t miss the forum!
A little gallery for Octopoid Descending, 43” tall, in Kato Polyclay. She lives with the founders of Illuxcon, in excellent company with many wonders.
And then there’s social media, of course:
