TracyDove.com

“Fish in the sea, you know how I feel ~ River running free, you know how I feel ~ Blossoms on the tree, you know how I feel”

I apologize to my close friends and social circle for not being available very much lately. As much as I would love to keep on top of things, I am having such a difficult time achieving that goal. Many things are changing in my home life. People and things are shifting around making way for changes in the flow and rhythm of my life. This is all good. I am doing my best to stay balanced in a raging river. My focus is on my art and I’m channeling my energy into that full time.

There is an abundance of art shows to prepare for and projects lining up, so this has left little time for my social life. The good news for me is that painting and creating is my passion. It is PURE BLISS. I LOVE getting lost in the whole dance of painting and creating something that I have not created before. I am always surprised at the completion of each painting, as I rarely know where I am going with it as I wonder through the creative process. Each painting is a stranger and we become acquainted as the images emerge and begin to form its story along the way. It is definitely a trippy journey. Even if I reproduce a painting, they are never quite exactly alike. The messages or words, subjects and designs may be the same, but they always morph into their own uniqueness. ~ In an artful journey there are so many metaphors to life ~ Very similar to gardening, I find.

So……. I can’t really say too much at this time, but there are some changes occurring around here that will enable me to move into my new, bigger studio space. That will also be key to a BRAND NEW, EXCITING opportunity! Until then, I am just enjoying the flow and my life in it and waiting on the Universe to guide me to the next place.

~*~

“Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That’s what I mean

And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel”

We are finally getting some cool mural art in downtown Phoenix, thanks to Joe Pagac! He changes the mural every month at First Fridays on Roosevelt Row. He says that he does it for fun. He is a muralist and artist by trade. It is such a pleasure to see the ever changing art on this building. You can catch him “live” and watch him paint on the First Fridays Downtown Phoenix Art Walk, every month. What a great guy to talk with and watch him create.

The streets are hopping these daze on Roosevelt Row (and all of the First Friday’s areas). ~ I didn’t make it down to the Grand Avenue scene this month, but it is always great fun over there, too. The IceHouse was another location that I meant to visit, unfortunately, that did not happen. They have shut down Roosevelt from 7th street to Central and expanded the vending areas. 5th Avenue is ROCKIN’, great music, fire spinners and breathers, high energy from Made Boutique to Conspire on 5th and Garfield. The galleries are open and there is so much to see and experience. I am still high on the adventure. The most fun you can have for no money. And even MORE fun if you have money!

Jason Davis

Conspire

Phoenix Ghost Busters ~ for reals~

LOVE the dreads, this dude plays a killer blues guitar. I didn’t catch his name.

a book nailed to a palm tree ~ hmmm~

Bus Love

“Gallery trash” ~ These were in the alley behind a gallery

The Eye Lounge

Yours truly with a little help from my nephew.

Yesterday was the annual Mermaid Parade in New York ~ Coney Island~. How appropriate that Rose’s memorial/celebration of her life and art was held on the same date, as well as the eve of the summer solstice. The ceremony was elaborate and moving. The entire event was saturated with the spirit of Rose. So BEAUTIFUL. The mermaid parade was spectacular. The GORGEOUS Sirenas were at the heart of the ceremony. It will be etched in the hearts and minds of all that attended and participated.

The painting exhibition room was put together by Susan Sutton. The paintings and other artwork are on loan from the many collectors of Rose’s work. It will be up until June 27th, so there is still time to bask in her art. I am definitely going to go back, once or twice more, before the installment is taken down and the art is returned.

The mermaid procession was unforgettable. My camera was slow and stubborn, so I did my best at capturing as much as I could. But, I don’t feel that I was able to get as much as I wish that I could have. I am more than certain that my photos pale in comparison to the photos taken by all of the professional photographer’s there!

The procession began around a big pond filled with ink, that sits in the center of a huge room with no roof (the Cathedral room). They circled that many times, to the rhythm of a stick and hauntingly, eerie music played by two musicians who also walked in the procession with the mermaids. They paraded into another huge room (the silver room) and continued in the same fashion, circling the silver room several times to the rhythm and the music. Mermaid after mermaid, the love for Rose carried on through the altar room and out to the Memorial Rose Garden where a Buddhist monk was waiting to greet the beautiful sirenas. The kneeling mermaids sat at the base of a special tree that will be planted in her honor ( I was told the tree was shipped here from Hong Kong). The Monk preformed a blessing and the crowd dispersed after one last procession back from whence they came.

I’m loving all of the “angel orbs” in some of these photos!

The Tree dedicated to Rose. Because the season in which the tree will bloom has not arrived, paper, tissue flowers were placed on it for the dedication ceremony.

The altar room was built by Phoenix artist, Joe Willie Smith. A well known local artist. The room included art by Rose, as well as burning incense, sage, flowers, candles….everything you would place on an altar. Of course, I brought Nag Champa incense to burn.

There was also a room to create your own piece of art in memory of Rose. The finished pieces were hung on the wire wall,  with messages of love and goodbyes from Rose’s artist friends and family.

~ BEAUTIFUL ~

Release the Fear is a sculpture made by artist, Robert J. Miley (and made possible by many contributors). It sits in the middle of Central Avenue and Roosevelt. It is made out of melted weapons that were used in violent crimes in Arizona. The details can be found on the website Release the Fear.org. Basically, it promotes non violence through creativity and art. It also appears to be rising from ashes like the Phoenix. It is a powerful piece with a powerful message.

On the sidewalk surrounding the sculpture are quotes that are stamped into the concrete. Since my camera could not capture an entire quote, I pieced together some of the words into a collage. So, they are not exact quotes.

I was not able to fit in the “we need men who” part.

We need men who can dream of things that never were.
~Author : John F Kennedy speech in Dublin Ireland June 28 1963

I have passed by this art for years and years and never took the time to actually stop and check it out up close. I am so glad that I finally did, there are so many surprises and pieces of the whole sculpture that you cannot see from a car, bus or train.

***********

as it says on the base…

“REALITY IS A PROJECTED THOUGHT”

I’ve been playing around with PhotoShop and learning some new things. I never want to stop learning for as long as I live. Fortunately, our world is so mysterious that I don’t think that there is any danger of running out of new things to learn about. I think that I was 5 years old when I first discovered that I wanted to be an artist. It sounds crazy, but, for those of you who haven’t been told the story….here it goes…

I was in Dallas the day that president Kennedy was assassinated, in a daycare two blocks from “the scene”. That was the first time I had ever been to daycare so I didn’t know what to expect. I remember that it was around Thanksgiving because we were to a table and given pages to color. One was a pilgrim guy and the other was a pilgrim chick. We were given two crayons, one yellow and one blue. Then they told us to color the man’s tie blue and his shoes yellow. That didn’t seem right to me, so I did my own thing (on purpose) I have always been defiant, apparently. What I didn’t know is that when we were finished, we had to go around the table and show them. It freaked me out because I knew that I didn’t do what I was supposed to and thought I’d be punished in some way. By the time they came to me, I reluctantly held up my pictures and nothing was said about how I colored it wrong.         Whew!      Nothing bad happened.       It amazed me.            I was so wrapped up in my art dilemma that, of course, I was oblivious to the horrible events taking place down the street. And because I was only 5! The return home revealed what had taken place. As the world grieved, I continued to color and get lost in my art world. All the adults around me were too wrapped up in their shock and grief that I slipped under the radar. No one was paying attention. I knew then that art was my ticket to happiness. ~ There have been many other things that led me into a world of my own creation, but this was my first memory.~

I believe that moment set my coping mechanism that has lasted a lifetime. The more chaotic or intense external things are, the easier it is for me to paint or draw. I am pretty certain that my experience on that day helped to define me as an artist, in some obscure way!

I LOVE the quiet and solitude that is needed to work on art projects. No audience, no one to answer to, no acceptance to seek, no drama or pain. Just me…..in my self created, magical wonderland. I’m not a hermit, I just REALLY LOVE it when I’m alone! Listening to music, playing with color and designs. The time always comes too soon when each finished piece is sent out into the universe and into the heart of another.

I have always said, “HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS”.

May you be blissful.

An afternoon at The Phoenix Art Museum is a great place to spend quiet time. The garden sculptures are gorgeous. The one above is my favorite, by far. Please forgive me for not having the details on the artist, title, etc. I’m really not in it for the details…..it’s the experience that interests me most. (is that wrong?!) I have been visiting this museum for over 45 years. It seems bizarre when I think of all of the changes that it has gone through. It just keeps getting better and better. It must be experienced. Take time to stroll and sit in the gardens and meditate (go alone!). I will go with others and split off for some alone time with the art. Mainly because I am still unable to drive.

I LOVE museums.