"great ideas emerge
from useless fragments
of thoughts."
-michael bassey johnson
perhaps time has slipped and left me along the selvage. sidelined. overlooked. perhaps this creates space. for thoughts. for dreams. perhaps what we think fills this space really only fills the expanse beside the space. like cloth filled with color and image beside the selvage.
i seem to get lost all too frequently in these edges. of time and space. perhaps it is simply a side effect of depression. or merely a forgetting to be present. perhaps i can nudge something from this stagnation. poke the hibernating bear, as it were.
play with some of these fragments. arrange a bit of a shrine, if you will. some tiny vignette on my worktable to entice an idea. or three. from the ethers. to draw me away from the selvage and back into the tapestry of color...
namaste'
Sounds like a good idea. love the look of the doll with the caged skirt.
ReplyDeletestill playing with fragments... i love this cage doll. been wanting to create a fragment dress for her for some time now. perhaps this is one of those enticed ideas...
DeleteThere is strength in selvage ... though it is most often the part that is torn off and discarded because of its difference from the whole. I'm sure there's a metaphor somewhere in there.
ReplyDeletemost definitely a metaphor. one i enjoy exploring more often than not. i do need to dive into the color rich expanses more frequently though...
DeletePRIVATE MESSAGE, NOT FOR PUBLICATION
ReplyDeleteHello Joe,my name is Margaret Johnson. Like you I am one of Jude's followers (for several years now). In reading your blog over the years, and realising you suffer from depression, I have often thought of writing to you. I empathise very deeply with your dilemna. So I hope you don't mind me writing. I too have depression, and I know how hard it is to be creative. For many years I was unable to figure out the simplest of tasks. eg making a simple draw string bag. sewing a simple seam etc. Eventually I became part of a fabulous Art Therapy group, which met weekly. At beginning of each session we filled in a pre drawn head and body figure, expressing how we felt in diff parts of body and head, We then each took turns to describe how we felt. No fancy drawings, just scribbled feelings. We then moved on to other exercises, on paper and more talking, As well as LOTS of listening to each other. I attended that wonderful group for 5 years. Eventually I was able to start making mixed media figures, even started to write poetry!! Not in a big flurry, but slowly, with gaps in between. I found Jude's group online, and evetually started to make some cloths. I then decided to create what I call prayer flags, depicting my depression. I haven't been able to complete a flag for over a year now, as I am still struggling to get the brain cells to co-operate... Could I sugest to you Joe, that you try finging an art therapy group that suits your condition. Or you may try making something that tells a story of how you are feeling. My words are not eloquent, but I hope you can get the gist of what I'm trying to say. If you would like I would be very happy to talk further, or if you wouldn't then that is okay. Regards, Margaret
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You put a lot of creative effort into your work, yes? What medium are you drawn to? Wood? Cloth?
ReplyDeleteha! i am drawn to so many! that can be the problem at times!
DeleteJoe, re getting lost in the edges, definitely a side effect of depression. I find being amongst fellow sufferers, with similar interests, helps enormously. You can talk freely without being judged, and you will be surprised how many doors will open up. I am now making works all based on my depression, and although hard its amazing how much easier it is to express thoughts and words in my work. For example, my pictures are based on extracts from my poetry. The picture usually includes the words of a particular line. Hope this helps, Marg
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