It's summertime, relax! For the first summer in years, I'm not taking summer classes. Yippee! I have my masters, and no classes that are lurking over my shoulder. I was going to start busting it towards my National Board Certification....but there seems to be a lot of drama surrounding that....will you get the pay or not if you complete the process....and do you have to pay the $2500 fee, or is it waived by the state as it has been in the past. So, regardless I have a reason to procrastinate on that. So, no school this summer. It's hard for me to relax. But, I'm trying. This helped:
Last week there was a workshop for art teachers. I got to spend a day being pampered and inspired by a local artist, Jan Dietter. She opened her home to 8 art teachers, and treated us like kings and queens. She fixed us breakfast and lunch, made us coffee and opened up her home and studio to us gratiously. We toured her house, she told us stories, and we sniffed through her herb garden. It was like stepping into a beautiful home on a Charleston alleyway. Everywhere you turned there was amazing art and materials that we were able to use freely.
We were to create a piece of art that told a story. Well, of course these drasticallities are the story for me. Her studio had a ton of materials...but of course, I needed a window to work off of. She went into her garage and took one off of the wall, and let me use it.
I wish I had a picture of her studio, it was a transformed barn: two stories, more materials than you could imagine, yet perfectly organized. Inspiring. Papers, rocks, stones, beads galore.
Anyways, I"m getting bored of my story. So, let's get to the point. I had a blast creating my story. First, I got a stuffed doll (that I turned into Jesus). I glued a bunch of hymns to it and scraps from sermon notes and notes that I have written. I tied a huge nail to his hands and crossed his feet with a push pin through the feet. As I was creating this "Jesus" it was symbolic of him taking my worries, my frustrations, my anxiety about what is next with all of this "drastical crap." I glued on a dollar bill too...that felt good.
On the window I painted verses and quotes. So, now there is another window for our abode. That brings sunshine to me. The verses were so applicable. Art is healing. And for me, if I write my prayers, draw, or paint them I just feel like they are complete. do not worry about tomorrow. period. As I was creating that window, I just opened up my bible and ever so quickly the right verses appeared. It was neat. Anyways.........
I was having summer anxiety. I know that sounds stupid...but if you are not living in your own home, days without any plans seem stressful. But, so far each day of summer has been relaxing and full with a sprig of productivity.
Moral of the story: art is healing.
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