So I really haven't posted on this blog lately, because it no longer reflects what I'm doing or where my mind is.


Come see what I am doing:
http://feelinggoodfeminism.wordpress.com/


and:
http://creatingsacred.wordpress.com/


Love and Light!
~Mia

'THIS for Diplomats; Festival des Artists' art exhibit, open until May 2

Woodley Park/Adams Morgan is a versatile area. For example, did you know there's an art gallery just across the street from the metro stop? The Stanford University in Washington hosts this hidden treasure of an art space. The current exhibit, of which the ending date has been extended until May 2nd, 2011, is the fourth 'THIS for diplomats; Festival des Artistes; Diplomacy through Art' exhibit.

The website for the gallery can be found here:

http://bsiw.stanford.edu/art_gallery/index.html

What caught my eye from the street was a case displaying jewelry; as I am a jewelry artist, I was naturally drawn to see it. The jewelry is displayed in bird's nests, as if the pieces were eggs laid by birds. The dull color of the sticks in the nest accentuate the shiny baubles elegantly. Some are wire wrapped around glass, attached to wire circlets; others are intricate woven patterns done with seed beads.

An Indonesian artist presented a series of five pieces constructed with thick handmade paper called 'hanji.' A bit of research tells me that 'hanji' is a traditional material from Korea. Two of the pieces serve as lamps: one appears to be graceful flowers which spring forth jubilantly from a black pumpkin-shape; the other lamp more closely resembles a pagoda roof in its tiered succession of layers which hug the wall. The center and top-tier of the pagoda lamp from which the light emanates is a light-colored paper screen, with detailed symbols and figures on it. The greatest success of this piece from my perspective as a sculptor, is that the light shows not only from behind the paper screen, but also to each side of it, illuminating the wider tiers as well. It is very rare that a work of art lights itself perfectly on all sides as this one does.

Also on display are some incredible oil paintings from Switzerland and Israel. A similarity between these three works from two artists, is their clarity and use of light. The edges seem solid and round, the feathers soft, the porcelain cold, the broken egg dripping down lace…

Now that I've mentioned porcelain, I could not leave out the painted porcelain which is displayed just below these works in oil. The perfectly formed vases and plates round out the collection of art. One particularly lovely plate displays intricate butterflies.

On my first visit, I was particularly impressed by a painting from Iraq. The subject is a woman holding a letter. With her other hand she leans on a flowering tree. She appears to be alone for miles in every direction. Her head is bare and her tawny robes drape around her with grace. The turbid purple sky adds an unearthly element to the sandy yet lush landscape. This painting brought tears to my eyes, possibly because it removed a misconception I hadn't realized I had until then; that the Middle East is colorless. The news media pound it into our heads repeatedly that Iraq is a dismal, desert area with no visual interest. This piece of art so successfully countered the media's repetition that it leads me to wonder whether this is merely an imagined view of a war-torn country, a memory of past days, or if our own country has censored what we see to the point where I cannot actually find a single lovely picture of the landscape when using the word 'Iraq' on google images.

This was the essence of the exhibit, for me, the removal of boundaries between cultures. The gallery's own statement that "art connects those from around the world and builds international understanding," underscores all the work in the collection. From the jewelry to the 'hanji' sculptures, to the paintings and photographs, each spoke of cultural blending and an incorporated experience of aesthetics. Each piece left me wanting details of the person's life, made me wonder whom they know and what they discuss with their friends, what they do for fun. The goal of every artist should be to present a work so evocative of their own experience that viewers can't help but feel they are investigating a mystery.

Perhaps I'll leave a few works for you to discover for yourself! When you visit the gallery, exit the metro from the escalators, not the elevator. Turn left at the top and cross Connecticut Avenue. You will pass a florist's shop and an Italian restaurant before the gallery. Remember, there are more works up the stairs!

I found a really interesting video on how hanji is made: http://vimeo.com/1729477?pg=embed&sec=1729477

It's actually pretty hypnotizing when he's dipping the bamboo screen.

May be posted on http://soulstrong.wordpress.com/ as well!!

It Can't Rain All the Time

In the past month, I've parted ways with my dear boyfriend of 1+ year (and more years of friendship) for reasons beyond my control, was layed off by my job which I love for reasons that are entirely unrelated to me (financial), and received news that the car I have been driving for the past 2 years is not much longer for these roads (catalytic converter is failing).

This is no plea for pity. Merely an acknowledgment that a lot is moving in my life right now. And I'm not crying much, either. I have been a little (unconsciously) sharp around the tongue, though I'm trying to notice and curb it. Frustration that a little moshing could cure. Though I haven't been doing that this year, nor drinking, nor anything else self-destructive.

This year has been real in all the most powerful ways. Real decisions (big decisions) and integrity going into their motives, and a lot of learning on my part, as well as a great calming of spirit. I have my fire, believe me. I am learning to analyze better before using it, however. Mostly, what I find interesting, is that I desire to feel safe. The risks I take are more personal than destructive, less obvious, and less risky. They have real motivation, such as to learn a new skill or put energy into a healthy friendship (both risks which are initially hard to take).

Without becoming boring at all, I'm growing up. :)

Beautiful Creative Rings, with Conscience

A good friend of mine is engagement ring-shopping. I showed her this site:

http://greenkarat.com/index.asp

Eco-friendly wedding jewelry. For the person who's fed up with diamonds and department store's over-charging. Sounds like the foundation for a healthy relationship, to me.

Environmentally Friendly Christmas Gifts?

Found this book at work:

And began looking through it. It's inspirational to me as an artist and environmentalist. I found myself wanting to buy make collect create go do show share..... VERBS
books that make me want to VERB are the ones

If you have any interest in conserving resources and cleaning your air you breathe, making your apartment more stylish or having a place to plug in your cell phone even when you go camping, or you like having items that make people go 'wow!' when you show them, invest ~$11 in this book. It shows 256 pages of beautiful pictures of amazing creations from artists who think in terms of 'reuse reduce recycle', and yet whose aesthetic principles are sound. So speaking, their art does not suck, it looks pretty 'n' professional.

*Sidenote, some of the featured items are not actually art but SCIENCE and can be used to lower electricity usage or water usage, or accessorize your computer, etc.

Classes for Children.... If I Ran the School System

In school, children ought to be taught about money and business as a mandatory class. Parents who have debt or poor spending habits will not teach their children good methods. Children may not be taught to save, only to borrow. Having a class in school would benefit the economy by eliminating much debt, and boosting efficiency of those newly entering the workforce.

Health and healing would be another good class to teach early on. Holistic methods could be taught in addition to traditional methods. Then, it's possible there would be fewer cases for the emergency room or even the doctor's office, in part because people would grow up knowing how properly to care for themselves. Knowing how would make them more aware of their body, and encourage caution in their treatment of themselves.

Home repairs are a part of an average American's life. Knowing how to fix a toilet or sink, repair screens on a house, fill gaps in cement, or paint a room are useful tools to save a household a lot of money, and give a sense of empowerment to the homeowner.

Rule: No dress code, no yearbook inclusion

I realize that some (or all) of what I say may unintentionally anger people, for different reasons and in different ways. If you choose to respond or react, I ask that you do so with respect. Respect my opinion and that I choose to speak. If you disagree, realize that I do not say this to offend you or to injure you. If you believe I am mistaken about anything, I will hear what you believe to be the truth as long as you say it in a non-hostile and non-commanding way. Nothing I say here is hostile. Nothing is meant or to be taken with sarcasm. I make points, and points are refutable and mutable with new understanding. Just as I understand you may not, I may not necessarily change my views. I live my life and know things from my perspective. I don’t mind that yours is different. Here is mine.

Videos on youtube:

I addressed the first more so, this I list for reinforcement, the story is told the same way a second time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7lXV2D2j24&feature=related

I don't hear the part where she's told she can't be in the yearbook because she's *lesbian*. Maybe it's in the subtext and not literal. No one in the video said outright "lesbians are not allowed in the year book." It is stated that the photo of her wearing a tuxedo may not be in the yearbook. Being a female student who (according to the video) does not deny that she identifies as female, she abides by the school dress code for female students. If she's contesting the dress code, it remains unexplained how this dispute relates to her sexuality.

At the Christian all-girls school I attended, we had a uniform and dress code every day. It was not well-liked; however, it was accepted that while attending school, we had to wear the uniform. There was an option to wear uniform pants or a uniform skirt. We could have short hair and other traditionally male styles of hair if we chose. Where is a line drawn? We weren't allowed to have more than one natural color of hair, for example. Some reds were considered 'natural' and some were not. Dyed hair was considered distracting, and I agree; it was distracting if only because I wanted it so badly when I saw people wearing their hair that way. The rule made sense and had a basis.

There were lesbian-identified students at school. Rules against P.d.a. at school were upheld, and the perception of these rules was not that sexual orientation was the problem. Girls were not allowed to sit around after school and kiss boys while on school property, either. We were told P.d.a is not acceptable for school, because it's distracting and not professional whether in single or multi-sex schools. When people did see this rule broken, they were watching and distracted from their work. The rule had a basis; eliminate distraction and maintain professional conduct.

The point I mean to make is to define battles clearly. Students could not have made a case that banning lesbian p.d.a. at school was unjust, because p.d.a. was not allowed between heterosexual people either. Regardless of sexual orientation, the rule was equal to all. Dress code, too, is a rule which can be upheld equally, regardless of sexual orientation. Whether a basis for yearbook picture dress codes exists may be up for debate. If there is a basis for the rule and it is upheld equally, the student in the youtube videos has no case.

To another point, if a lesbian makes a case for a change in dress code, does that indicate to change the dress code is the right course of action because she is a lesbian? Does it mean to not change the dress code is wrong, because a lesbian has requested it? Or is it right to address the case as if she is a female student, equal to other students whose preferences in clothing are against the dress code? It would be wrong to not address the case at all, simply because she is a lesbian. Is that what happened? Was the case given adequate attention, or was it thrown out without consideration? All of this is a matter of debate, of opinion, and of finding more facts.

If a case is made for wearing a tux in a yearbook photo, can the case be made within existing rules or must new rules be made? If a student needs to identify as male in order to wear a tux in the yearbook photo, she could make a case for wearing male clothing because she identifies as male, if that is true for her. What I’ve heard from personal friends about the level of acceptance of gay and transpeople in the South makes it difficult to fathom pursuing the aforementioned course. I don't want to see anyone persecuted; if you know me, you know that. Change is effected in degrees over time; rebellion effects change all at once. Those who rebel endure pain and suffer for a cause, and occasionally succeed to see instant or dramatic results. Examples include: Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, women throughout history including suffragists, and the scores of people throughout the 50 year/150 year LGBT rights movement. These people have suffered, died, been arrested, beaten and excluded from human rights. If this case can be seen as affecting a human right, there is a case.

Yet there seems to be a stark difference between persecution and her story. She would be pictured in her yearbook if she complied by rules upheld by the Supreme Court (or so the second video says). Her disobedience of a rule which does not relate to homosexuality removed her privilege. Was her story told ineffectively? Or did a story about a girl who wants media attention get spun into a gay rights issue, because she’s gay? I’d say it’s good news that so much attention is paid to the feelings and rights of a gay student, one whose mother is *publicly* supportive of her. This video is not all bad news. It contains good news of progress in the minds of some Americans who are willing to accept non-traditional gender-expression, to say nothing of the Americans who take it for granted that an out-lesbian has rights. Remember the days when your orientation could get you killed? We have made it far as a human community, in a very short time, and for the better.

Foster a world where women can be proud to be women, and proud to be sexually oriented whatever way they are, wear what they feel comfortable wearing, and can still behave in respectful ways toward themselves and others.

And can still be free to be Christian, a faith based on love which was begun with an idea to include Everyone who wants to be part of it, because we as human beings are connected and need to survive one another.