flight paths for paper birds

creative challenging

So the Connect 4 PLAY party was on Saturday night, and in my role as artist on demand I wrote 24 haiku (well, technically most were senryu, but that's beside the point), sitting at a table with the lovely Renee and Shannon, who were drawing amazing portraits, and Natalie, who was drawing her incredible designs and doodles (follow the link to her blog about the night).

It was an intense, exhilerating experience! Some of my poems were a bit average, as it was loud and difficult to think, especially before I got into my stride, but when they worked, they really worked, and it was fantastic to watch a few people read and connect to what I had written. So this experiment out of my comfort zone was definitely a success!

I hope the people I wrote them for don't mind me sharing some of the ideas here.

Apocalypse

the sky is not blue

more, unnatural colours

and clouds don't bring rain

 

Arts vs Science

methodic conflict

hemispheric argument

distracts from the goal

 

Snails

more often see trails

evidence but not presence

of slow, shy creatures

 

Trains

sit down and sigh

cross section of the people

watch the land blur past

 

Bella (the dog)

lying in the shade

affection on demand

waiting patiently

 

Peace (inner)

an active stillness

won through meditation and

intangible steps

Moving towns for love

new streets to explore

lanes and paths to follow

with a hand to hold

 

And my two haiku about the art party itself

 

highly engaged

among pulsing noise and light

some mingle, some watch

 

strange sights

paw prints, mimes and playing cards

too odd to describe

 

There are a few other poems that I really like, but they feel too personal to post, which is amazing- as my only interaction with the people I wrote them for was when they handed me the card with their topic, and I handed them back the poem (and some small talk about how long it would take in between). It really was an incredible experience.

haiku

as the wind shifts

from gum to lilly pilly

the rushing softens

If you would like a haiku of your very own, written by yours truly, you can come to the Valley Studios (610 Ann St) on Saturday night, where I will be writing between 7-9pm, as an interactive art experiment thing, raising money for Backbone Youth Arts at the 4C Art Collective party. tix $15 (includes a lot more than just me. I'm like, 0.5% of the excitement that will be happening)

don't keep calm and carry on...

 

I saw this on boingboing.net today and it fits so well with my ideals, I thought I'd share!

weaving 2 - new and improved!

I built myself a loom! (sounds more impressive than it is- a frame) So now my weaving is improving. I'm so excited about it that I'm putting up a picture before I even finish anything. 

it's good for multi-tasking too, I was working on phd work while I wove. I only like multi-tasking when one task is being done by the brain and one by the body. 

freeform=fun!

I just wrote a bit of a rant against retail therapy, which is over at my other words blog- 

www.onethingperweek.typepad.com

since it's embroidery related I thought I'd cross post a little.

love me 

I can haz carpentry skillz!

I've always wanted to make a set of these! and last weekend I did! 

not so great at sawing planks to exact lengths, but close enough. 

in top left corner is a plaster cast of my teeth at age 13, before I got braces. 

first weaving attempt = success!

I decided at the end of last year that I wanted to finish some of the projects that I started long ago and became bored with. This is the first one I have finished! 

it's made of fabric scraps and old t-shirts. 

It may come as no surprise to you- I am a hoarder. I have a huge cupboard filled with fabric. This was an attempt to use some of the worse quality fabric, and get rid of some off-cuts. 

Unfortunately, being my first attempt at weaving, and done in front of the tv on no frame, my skill changed significantly as I went along, resulting in an interesting shape. 

I still like it though!

I certainly didn't aim for perfection, so I like its character! besides, if I wanted perfection I wouldn't finish any of my projects, and that would be no fun at all!

for the long hot summer

I've developed a new recycled paper item - lovely fans! I like making new things out of paper. It's been my favourite medium for over a year now. 

I 

These take a really long time to build up to a good solidity, but once they are, you can work up quite a breeze- nice and cooling! I'm still working on designs, this is the best so far. Unfortunately the lovely coffee coloured tissue paper I used was wrapping for my new togs, so I don't have any more. 

that looks like a nice place to lie down!

yes, thats right, ON TOP of the cards I am trying to photograph. I am finally updating my etsy shop! 

This is our cat, Cat. He is actually on a diet, that belly you see there swings from side to side as he runs. 

here's a photo of him looking more handsome

haiku

an instant of sun

as layers of clouds align

golden green then gone