I cannot make that an all inclusive statement but I can state that artists gather together to share their love of art and also to share the company of other artists! Today I listened to a two hour pod cast of great interest to me because of the content and because of the artist whom I admire greatly.  I won’t mention any names because I don’t want to swamp him. I will use this blog to send a big hug, a big thank you and a shout out to him at his studio or home so far from here.  I sent him a note today by email.  Later, when I checked my web site, he had checked in and looked at my site.  I sure hope he was not disappointed at what he saw.  Again, a huge thank you.  You are a great inspiration to me.  And it means a lot to have you share your life philosophy so that others get a sense of true communication with you. With the amount of views your site receives, I am honored to have you even open my web site and take a look.  May you and your family receive many blessings.  Diana

I have promised I would update the work in progress which is ‘My Toy’. I will get to that but first let me catch you up on the summer.  My husband and I helped to care for his dear sister who has been my friend since childhood.  I even have a photo of her sitting on the steps of my grandparents house where I live now. Pancreatic cancer was her mom’s diagnosis and so fourteen months ago when she called and said “Well, I truly am my mother’s daughter” I knew instantly that this was what she was referring to.  It was a bravely fought battle and she managed to be on her own for a large part of it.  Her family honored that desire to maintain her independence as long as possible.  Then we began to take turns staying with her and doing what we could.  One of her sisters is a nurse and she sort of directed the others. My sister in law passed from this life to the next on Oct. 2. Two days later I learned a classmate had died suddenly as well.  At her funeral I learned how much she was loved and respected in the community.  I had only gotten back in touch with  her in the recent past.  I am sorry I didn’t know her better.

All my work has been waiting for me.  But as I have begun to get organized and ready things to begin again, Gout hit my right foot, and worse than the two times before.  I haven’t figured out what stirred it up. I could barely walk for a week and I got a fever with it so I haven’t really revved up my routine.  I have the ballerina, the Degas’, in a combined arts and dance show at the Bottle Works in Johnstown.  They need a sturdy easel so Bruce consented at this late notice to build one.  He wanted it to be respectably attractive so he has constructed it out of walnut.  It has been three days in the making now and he should have it ready in time for the practice sessions. Also I learned that my entry to the Loretto Biennial and also the South Western PA Council for the Arts at Ligonier SAMA have both been accepted. That is a joy.

I don’t usually add comments about negative things but I know many of you face some of the discrimination that artists in general deal with often on a daily basis so I wanted to share this.  I do so in hopes that this will give viewers food for thought so that they might examine their attitudes and moderate their comments at least.  But even more that hopefully they might consider the hours, hard work, commitment, and creative energy that goes into an artists efforts.  As human beings interacting with each other, I have had many occasions to wonder why anyone would ever say to another person some of the things I have heard…… A number of classmates were having a pleasant conversation recently.  One of them who lived out of town asked the others which of us were still working at our age, which is nearly ten years past the SS cut off. As he tallied up the number he included several of those in this conversation.  When he did not include me, I reminded him I was still employed.  His response was, “Oh, you, well,,,, You are just an ‘ARTEEST!'” and he dismissed me with a gesture of unimportance.

You know what I tell my grandchildren?  Someone can bash you with words or gestures and you can walk away unscathed, BUT it leaves a permanent tarnish on the offending speaker.

Friends and fellow artists, don’t let the attitudes of others cripple your call to make art.  Allow your dedication and creativity lead you on.  We are not doing the work of drudgery or necessity although those are God given callings too.  We are doing an act of devotion and commitment and we know not where our work may deliver joy or energy to another. I thank my Yahua every day that He has enabled me in this task.