processing

Yesterday was a challenging day I had residency with 45 students in my studio/ shop, these kids come from very difficult life circumstances. Each one deserved to have my full attention and time but instead were rushed through a process that they did not fully understand nor want to. I wish very much it could have happened differently, but this for the moment was the way it had to be done. I was called by a non-profit with virtually no budget but a program I believed in, so I planned a community project. It was pretty simple they would pay for materials and I would volunteer my time, space and services. I knew it would be a challenge and that I would learn from it. We did not finish the project of course too short of time (4 hours) too short of attention span, too complex the issues. This does not mean the project was a failure, it just means there is so much work to be done! I am in the process of turning my business into a non-profit arts org. which I hope will be able to address some of the issues in a much deeper way. More student contact where trust and relationship can be developed where we can create murals that deal with issues of poverty, race, hunger, homelessness etc... I could go on and on but for right now I will ruminate....

I will be thinking about this day for a long time

I am posting a photo of woman I do not know, I know nothing about her but I have made up many special stories about her for myself, I think she is powerful, magical and all knowing. I hope I can be something like her one day!