What's going on?

Several years ago, someone sent me this quote:

"When a lot of things start going wrong all at once, 

it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born.

This something needs for you to be distracted 

so that it can be born as perfectly as possible."

I have thought about that from time to time...sometimes I think it's a lovely idea. 

There is so much going on right now in our world. What can I find to redeem the ugliness that has presented itself? Maybe we have needed these viruses, COVID-19 and racism, to make us really stop and get it right this time. They certainly are distracting... 

I have seen hopeful signs of people helping each other, being kind, listening, feeding, trying to understand and caring for neighbors. 

What does this have to do with my artwork? Perhaps just saying it's OK to reflect and not have to produce. I've 'kept my hand in it' by doing a few pages in the accordion books. Refer to previous posts: Group Project, March 12 and Another page in the book, April 21.

I recently received two more books. 

I've been trying to look at this lockdown as a 'gift of time.' Normal life stops... reflect and look for something new. Thinking about 'time' and 'reflection' took me to my grandmother's gold pocket watch. I have photographs of her wearing this watch on a long gold chain. It is a beautiful antique keepsake. 

For the other book, I started to think about something new being born. (Actually, we have recently become great grandparents for the first time - think about something 'born as perfectly as possible.') 

A week or so ago, I was part of a discussion about new growth and we talked about how some things emerge in very challenging circumstances. How many times have we seen new growth in a crack in the sidewalk? So, the other book has a sketch of hope...and perseverance!

I've also been doing a lot of sketching of things around me... series/collections in my house. Here's a preview of my next post. A few of the vases on the shelf...

Next time, chairs, lamps, candlesticks, coffee mugs and a surprise...