Pulse

This piece just found a new home. It is a piece dedicated to the victims of the massacre in the Pulse nightclub last year in Orlando.

The names of each victim are on a scroll, which rests inside an individual bead, making up the heart in the middle. The number representing those killed and injured are displayed using church attendance numbers.

Artistic Grief

Hey Art fans,

I hope this finds all of you happy and healthy. I hope your summer days are filled with colors and light.

I am having a hard time creating at the moment and I am not sure what, if anything I can do about it, except live through it. Grief has a hold of me in a new way and I am struggling a bit.

June 28th is always, ALWAYS a hard day for me. It is the day my Pops passed. I miss his wisdom, his laughter, his winking eyes and his hugs. I miss his unconditional love and support and even his swift kicks to my backside when I needed it.

This year, my grief doubled.

My sweet friend of 19 years passed away at 11:59 pm on June 28th. It was not an unexpected death, but it has hit me really hard. I was able to say goodbye and hang out with some of her good friends as we held a living memorial to her gathered around her bed.

It has been a hard week. I am not sure when the lights inside me will be flipped back on so I can create again. I just seem to need some time and a little space to just be and not have expectations of myself. Grief is funny that way for me, it lingers around for a little while and then suddenly it loosens the grip from my heart and all the bottled up creations come pouring out.

The week before her passing, I was in Santa Barbara for a educational training and was able to spend time with the most lovely of people. There was no radio or TV to distract me, only long walks and conversation as I connected.

Maybe that is why I am being hit so hard right now, coming off an intense but really good week of deep connections to a loss and the world's static. I don't know.

Please just keep checking back in the next few weeks. I promise I will post something soon.

Peace, Love and well being until the next hello,
Charlie

21 Cents That Chain Us

Hey Arties,

I wanted to share a little more about this art piece and how it came to be. This past year, I offered an after school art class and had 12 students from the ages of 7- 12 sign up. The class was about finding your inner visionary and we discussed some of the artist featured at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. If you have not been you should check it out.

Anyway, I wanted the students to push themselves to create "something" out of trinkets and left over pieces of things others had abandoned. I wanted them to connect with the material and put something on the canvas that represented them as an artist.

This led me to lead by example. About the time the class was taking place, there was a great deal of media coverage about the Michael Brown shooting. I learned that young black males were 21 times more likely to be shot and killed by police than their white counterparts. This is not OK with me.


As I went in front of the students every week, I would bring this canvas with me so they could see it transform into the final piece of art. We talked about the two Statue of Liberties in the background and how we divide ourselves. We talked about the bubbles we all live in and how that keeps up from seeing other people and learning from them as we also teach them about ourselves.

We talked about the history in the country when it comes to racism and how we all must do better and that it all starts with each of them.

There was one young man, who upon seeing this final canvas looked at the other kids and said, "We have to change all of this! We have to make things better for everybody."

It made my eyes water and my heart full that this group of 12 kids could see the meaning behind the work and were unafraid to embrace the work that needs to be done to make a difference.

The art they presented back to me was unbelievable, complex, funny, deep and meaningful. I will carry the images of them presenting their work to their parents with me always and see their faces as they told their stories.

As for me, this piece is hanging on my wall and it has become one of those pieces I am finding hard to let go. I am sure the right person or organization will come along that fits into the message it conveys. If that happens, I will sell it or donate it and move onto the next piece in the hopes it speaks as deeply to the kids as this one.

This was constructed using a bunch of different things, but the outside edge of the canvas is framed with construction strapping. I liked the way it looks and will be using it again on other pieces.

I hope you like it.

Did You Notice Anything New?

Hey Friends!

Yes, I am updating the page! I am trying to set my personal brand for the page and my art, so I have been playing all day long.

In case you missed it, here are some of the things I changed, along with a couple of things I am working towards adding in the next few days.

This is the wax seal I use on all on my art. It is a simple "W" and it is blended in with the art, by using colors found in the art smeared over the seal. I also sign my pieces in various ways, as I have not come up with one way I am happy with and until I do, this is it!

I have also added a slide show of some of the art and will add more photos of other pieces as I have time. You can find it under the "Art" tab on your right.

I am exploring more art blogs and will beef up my blog roll as I find inspiration out in the world.

I will be setting up shop soon, in case anyone wants to hang one of these art atrocities somewhere. I think some of them would make great gag gifts for relatives like really, really distant cousins, or maybe even a boss that hasn't given you a raise in 10 years!. Instead of a "fruitcake" you can get them the gift that will surely be re-gifted, time and time again!

I am working on professional photos of the artwork and will be putting together a portfolio and business cards in the upcoming weeks. I have a couple of opportunities coming me way and I need to get serious about going after them and actively trying to make these things more successful.

I may have a booth at some of the craft shows coming up, not sure yet if I am ready to take that leap!

So, until next time, cruise around the site, check out the blogs I have listed and wait patiently for the next things to come along!