BraveGirlsArt With A Twist

 
 When I walked into the quiet studio last night before everyone arrived, I felt strangely different than I had just a year ago walking in to the same studio for the same event. Last night I felt calm; more centered, more confident, more energetic. Which is not to say that the last time was "less than," not at all. It was just new and I was nervous and afraid and unsure of myself. I was worried about my skills and my ability to teach anything, even though my classes with the girls had been successful thus far, and I'd had so much fun. It's different with my peers, and I was untrusting of myself.

But earlier, I had written a Marc Chagall quote on the tables, one that I believe fiercely to be true: If I can create from the heart, nearly everything works, if from the head, almost nothing. And so as I lit candles and set out snacks and placed the notes I had written to each participant on the tables, I looked around with a deep sense of pride for this space I have created, this place that feels like me. Calm and fun and quiet and boisterous, serious and silly, large and intimate. It felt like it encompassed everything that we actually all are inside. And out. And best of all it felt like this space invited creativity.

 The women trailed in and we started with a drink and some small talk, a loosening of sorts. Then we sat down and I asked them to take a look at the writing prompts. I asked them to answer questions like, What moves you? What speaks to you? To me, embracing my vulnerabilities means: and I spoke to them about being mindful of putting a part of their story into their art. Of the way that by doing so, we create something that others can find a piece of themselves in, too. Our art then becomes unique and special. We can be bold about it, putting our story front and center, or quiet and nuanced leaving it under layers for only our self to know it is there. Just like the studio, art is full to brimming with the various pieces of us.

I asked them to think about these questions and write for a few minutes and then take their time and walk around the room to see what supplies I had collected. I had chosen two projects to work on--an Altoid tin assemblage piece and a collage on a wood block. I told them to think about composition and color and the elements they brought from home. I told them the same thing I tell the girls: to jump in. There are no mistakes. There are happy missteps. But no mistakes. I told them to play. To trust. To try.

 And they did. They showed up in spades. They played. They tried things, when it didn't work out they way they hoped, they tried something different. They trusted the process. They created from the heart. And nearly everything worked. Their smiles got bigger, the laughter and the chatter flew sometimes, they were quiet in other moments. They hula hooped and I juggled. They typed on the typewriter, they had fun. They were relaxed. And so was I. And their pieces are wonderful and unique. True expressions of each of them.

 I got an email from Danielle today. It said;
Just wanted to say thank you for last night... It was so much fun to experiment and learn different techniques in art... I got so inspired that when I got home I started to paint and reupholster an old chair I found in my parents barn ... Jeff and I were watching a movie and I was sitting on the floor painting 'til 3 AM... And got up this morning to show the kids and broke out all my art stuff and a couple of canvases and got the kids painting for the last three hours...So, thank you for the inspiration! You are great ! I really look forward to taking more of your classes ...
 I thought my heart would burst. And I knew why I felt so calm and peaceful last night before everyone arrived. Because I have created this space from my heart. And nearly everything works.

Maya's nest

Pieces of Danielle's life come together beautifully

Jennifer's memories of her daughter's childhood

Connie's block. I love the origami crane and the piece of
wrapping paper she saved from her 1st Christmas with her
husband, 11 years ago: From your  husband and future father
of your children. How brave she was to add this
precious piece of their story...

Nella's elegant tribute to her dogs, Sobe and Frisco

Ruth's wish

Our Garden of Hope

My good friend Cathi came to help out today since our Courtney had a volleyball tournament. I was really happy to have her there so she could get a chance to meet my girls. Thanks, Cathi! Come back anytime...

Our first order of business was to paint our garden of hope. Ingrid sent me the flowers for our Girl Power 2 Cure garden, which will be displayed in Salon Gossip during the month of March. The girls painted a large poster board to look like a beautiful garden where people will "plant" flowers to raise awareness and research funds for Rett Syndrome.

We have paper icons that are signed for a $1 donation. Together our leaves and vines and these flowers create a "Garden of Hope." They did a gorgeous job, I love all the different greens and textures. Of course, we even added green glitter. I told them I wished I could live in our garden, it is so pretty!

After we finished our garden I got them in our usual circle. I told them that we have spent a lot of time talking about other people and finding ways to compliment them and build each other up. We’ve made secret messages for our pen pals and told them all the ways we think they are special. We’ve had a secret mission to watch another BraveGirl and eventually we'll tell her all the things we admire about her. This morning we are going to turn that love inward a little bit. I brought a round box I had decorated this week. I explained that inside the box they would see someone and they were supposed to give that person a compliment. I went first. I opened the box and said the person inside is fun, likes to laugh, is independent and creative. I loved it when all the girls started to raise their hands and tell me I must have been talking about them. Then I passed the box to Cristina. She opened it up and started to giggle. Then she said, “I see a mirror inside.” I said, yes. Now give that girl a compliment.

I heard the words

pretty,

smart,

likes school,

brave,

good at art,

cute,

funny,

kind to others,

and special.

All very very true. Then we talked about how embarrassed they felt when they realized the box held a mirror and they would have to compliment themselves. They were giggling and blushing and looking down at the floor, feeling strange and funny about turning the kindness inward. Courtney said, “It feels narcissistic.” I wanted them to know that giving yourself a good compliment is just as important as making others feel good about themselves. It’s incredibly important to love yourself, and I promised we’d keep the box here at the studio and make a point to look in the mirror once in a while and remind ourselves why we’re special!

Next we talked about the self portraits we will begin next week. I said we would be drawing and painting ourselves and I asked them to start thinking about how they wanted to portray themselves. I asked them to sit down and write “I AM” poems. They had prompts written which they had to fill in. Some of them went like this:

I am brave and kind.

I am good at gymnastics.

I touch flowers.

I hear the sound of my friends laughing with me.

I believe unicorns exist.

I feel summer coming.

I cry when my mom yells at me.

I am smart and pretty.

I dream about flying.

At the end of the morning I planned to finish up making some fun jewelry. I cut up a bunch of costume jewelry I got from my mother after my grandmother passed away and the beads were perfect for this project , or so I thought. I brought these cool shoelaces that I was planning on using to string the beads, but they were too big to fit through the holes, so we grabbed some hemp string and got to work. Another lesson learned on mistakes and making it work anyway!

Samantha we hope you feel better soon and we’re so sorry you couldn’t join us today.

And extra thanks to Ruth for these awesome photographs. I am one lucky girl to have so many good friends...

Imagine a Woman In Love With Herself

How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you . . . where you were received and affirmed? A place where others had been affirmed before you, each in her time, affirmed as she struggled to become more truly herself.

A place where, after the fires were lighted, and the drumming, and the silence, there would be a hush of expectancy . . . a knowing that each one there was leaving old conformity to find her self . . . a sense that all of womanhood stood on the threshold.

And if, during the hush, others had helped you to trust your own becoming . . . to trust it and quietly and prayerfully to nurture it . . .

How might your life be different? ~ Judith Duerk (Circle of Stones)