Long's Park Arts & Craft Festival

Labor Day weekend is upon us, which means it's a weekend full of fine arts and crafts at Lancaster's gorgeous Long's Park. The 30th Annual Long's Park Art and Craft Festival is on the top FIVE fine art and craft shows in the COUNTRY. There are artists from 46 states and three countries which means there are 1200 artists in total this weekend. You may need all three days just to experience what each artist has to share.

Event Details:
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-6pm
Monday: 10am-5pm
Multi-day tickets are $12 and one-day tickets are $1

Make sure you check out their link above. Fyi, I just noticed they don't allow pets in the show area so leave your goldfish at home please.

Have a wonderful time and may you be inspired to create as you meander though the festival! I'm sad we won't be there because we are in the middle of a do-it-yourself bathroom remodel and we desperately need to get that finished! Well, depending on our progress, we may head over to Long's Park on Monday, we'll need a break by then.

Canvas Phobia

I know many artists, professional type artists, that are truly gifted. They worked hard and have achieved great heights in their artistic abilities. They create out of amazing skills and knowledge. Then there is me. Never went to school to study art, therefore I have no MFA (master of fine arts). I've taken a few community art classes in the area - like a stained glass class, random jewelry classes, writing classes. I've even taught a few different classes myself. But I have no real constant talent that I can bank on. No, when I sit before the canvas, I'm petrified. Scared out of my wits, even questioning what the heck I'm doing. It's in those times, actually, when I am silent before God and ask Him to help, to assist me in creating what I feel He put inside me, even though I have no knowledge of mixing paints or even how colors work!

When I put aside my doubts and fears and ask for (well, it's more like pleading in my case) His Hand to guide my hand, that's when crazy things happen. I learn to trust God, I learn to trust myself, and a piece of art emerges that is totally beyond my known abilities.

I had this experience recently. I knew I had to paint this picture of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane. I thought the idea was absurd considering I've never painted before - ever. But I kept sensing God saying, "trust me." I kept saying, "I can't paint, You know that!" Well, the sense continued over months and I found myself perusing the aisles of Michael's then leaving with different sized canvases, tubes of acrylic paints and a smattering of brushes. "I am insane! I can't paint! I know nothing about colors and I can't even draw."

God didn't care about that. He just wanted me to trust Him, not my inabilities. So, the supplies sat in a dark corner of my room for a few months. Then, one day, I decided to give it a try. Very reluctantly, that is. I can't tell you how silly I felt as I sat there in front of that big white blank canvas and had no idea how to get the image from my mind onto the dang thing. I laughed at myself and almost put away the paints. Again, that sense I had to do it. Honestly, I sat there and prayed, trying not to argue with God anymore, instead I just surrendered myself, the image in my mind, my creativity (or lack there of) and asked Him to guide my hand and guide my color choices.

Slowly, little by little, paint collected on the canvas. that day. Over several months, as I worked on this piece, I was in awe of God's presence with me as I constantly prayed over the painting that He and I were creating. It was a beautiful experience. Sometimes I'd pull my brush off the canvas and be shocked at how awesome it looked! "I can't even paint and the shadowing on His arm is outstanding!" In those moments, I knew that was beyond my abilities. What an honor to be used in such a way - through my creativity.

Later, the completed painting was used in the Garden Room of the LW's Labyrinth of 2007. I am still moved to tears at how God placed that image and desire in my heart long ago, patiently sat with me as I struggled to believe I could pull it off, then used the art in a setting such as the Labyrinth where many others can interact with Jesus through something I co-created with God. It's just crazy awesome.

I've not painted since then. I do feel another image blooming in my heart and once again, I'm doubting myself and arguing with God. But this time I know the amazing feeling of letting go of myself and letting Him work through me - and I won't drag my feet forever. I have lots of paints and even about five canvases left in that dark corner of my room. So, nothing but myself is stopping me from meeting with God before the canvas. I need to get over myself and just do it.

I'm reminded of something Richard Rohr said, "we can not attain the presence of God. We're already totally in the presence of God. What's absent is awareness."

Is God calling you to be more aware of His presence? What is the"canvas" He is asking you to sit before? To trust him, to trust yourself... Try it, you just may be very surprised...and amazed.
grace & peace on your journey ~ deAnn

The Disciplined Journey

"Artists hunger for creativity the way spiritual pilgrims hunger for God. This yearning arises from the same source for both the artist and the pilgrim. It is the Divine Lover at work within the soul, drawing the pilgrim and the artist into deeper intimacy. Satisfying this longing pulls us into a journey on a road paved with discipline." Excerpt from Creativity and Divine Surprise by Karla M. Kincannon

So many things in life require discipline. Keeping to your family budget requires it. Staying on a fitness program requires it. Tending a vegetable, herb or flower garden requires discipline too. If we slack off in these areas we will overspend, get terribly out of shape and have ugly gardens.

Notice the words used above: Keeping, Staying, Tending. They sound like work, right? Never ending, constantly ongoing, even keeled effort. We know discipline requires effort. Which is why so many of us are, well... undisciplined. (okay, I'll speak for myself only.)

Michael Phelps is a disciplined athlete. He didn't jump in the pool for the first time this month and win 8 gold medals. No - he's given a lot of effort and practiced disciplined training in order to be an amazing athlete. Same with Mozart, Picasso, Ansel Adams, and William Blake - each proved to be very disciplined, probably even when they wanted to veg-out instead of writing music, painting, snapping black and white images or writing literature. Discipline takes time to develop. Just like the red hot pepper at the top of this post - it took time to grow from seed to plant to flower bud to green pepper then to ripen to bright red and delicious. And as the gardener - I had to be disciplined and care for the growing process.

You've heard the term, "spiritual disciplines." It doesn't mean you are punished spiritually. It means to grow spiritually, it requires some discipline...and there are unique spiritual disciplines that, if you put in the effort, you can deepen your relationship with Jesus. Like all relationships, to be rich, there must be disciplined effort on our behalf.

Developing our creativity requires discipline too. I've always dreamed about creating beautiful painted works of art, I see it all in my head. A studio with sunny south facing windows, hardwood floors, paint cans, brushes and canvas all over the place. I see the colorful paintings I'd create and see where they'd hang in my house or friends' houses. However, without discipline (effort) that dream will forever be locked away in my mind and I will never uncover the artist I could be.

I admit, I am not the most disciplined person I know. In fact, I really stink at it. I long to be better, and I am giving it effort. I could be more disciplined with my spiritual life. And painting makes me feel closer to God b/c I feel the desire I have for creating is from Him. When I finally sit before the canvas, in deep prayer asking Jesus to guide my color choices and guide my hand, I feel Him work through me...together, we co-create a piece of work. I depend on His Divine guidance, constantly in prayer, and always laughing at myself. It's such a wonderful experience to create through prayer. As I give effort to develop my creativity, I develop my relationship with God ~ and vice versa. When I spend time in centering prayer or silence & solitude with God, He spurs my creativity. They go hand in hand.

Are you well disciplined? Or do you need a little push from time to time? Are you willing to become disciplined in your spiritual life and to develop your creativity? Remember, they go hand in hand.

What creative longing do you have brewing in your soul? Could it be an invitation from God to deepen your relationship with Him through a very unique way? How is He calling you to be more disciplined?
Hum...spend some time praying and meditating about that...

grace & peace on the disciplined journey ~ deAnn

York is Full of Poetry

Well, did you know that York Mayor Brenner has appointed a Poet Laureate? Sure enough, her name is Carol Clark Williams. You can read samples of her work if you click her name, the link will take you to her information.

Also, there are quite a few gatherings that center around poetry in the York, Hanover, Harrisburg and Lancaster area. Check them out here.

One of interest is at Borders in York at 7:30 the first Monday of each month. Week after next is Monday, September 1st, Labor Day, I suppose they'll have it even though it's a holiday (?) There is a featured reading then it's open so you can read your work. Try it - you never know what could happen. You could be the next York Poet Laureate!

YorkFest Art Festival - Sat & Sun

York's premier fine arts and music festival along the Codorus River (surrounding the Colonial Courthouse) in historic downtown York. Yorkfest features a weekend of over 80 fine artists from all around the country, free family entertainment and hands-on arts activities, and a community jazz concert. This event is held rain or shine. Streets closed: Pershing Avenue from Market to Philadelphia Street

Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you've not been to YorkFest, please go and support our local art scene. The weather is forcasted to be BEAUTIFUL and the featured artist this year is Jill Moodie-Pellegrino of Second Wind Pottery in Yoe, PA. My 13 year old son has taken a pottery class from Jill, she's awesome. And one of our featured artists at the Into The Wilderness exhibit at the Gallery @ Common Grounds is a Jill alumni, Chris Gold. You can see Chris' work on display soon at LWCC.

I hope to run into you at YorkFest! Enjoy being inspired by the loads of creativity that will line the Cordorus ~ and may you be prompted to try something creative as well!

grace & peace ~ deAnn

Flabby Creative Muscles?

If you are like me, you have a TV (or several) in your house which means that it's on regularly. I have a few channels I like to watch, Food Network, HGTV, and the Travel Channel. I like these because they inspire me with new wall colors, recipes or places to travel. Do they help my creativity? Yes, only if I actually ACT on the inspiration. Otherwise, I'm wasting my time.

When I was living in Northern California and going to Parsons Junior High, I was passionately in love with Def Leopard and Duran Duran (don't laugh, you were too!) One of my favorite things to do was put one of their cassette tapes into my Sony Walkman and lay on the sofa with their music blaring into my ears. One of the geeky things I'd do is pay attention to one instrument at a time, say the bass guitar. I'd follow the notes of that instrument all the way through the album, imaging the hot bass player plucking away on the strings. (I told you it was geeky).

As I look back on this silliness, I realize it was a practice in using my imagination. So often we are fed images and we rarely have to use our imagination - take movies or TV shows for example. We receive. That's it. There is no real need to use our imagination. And in our over saturated media filled culture these days - it's easy to let our creative muscles get out of shape. Do you have flabby creative muscles? Do they need a little toning up? I know mine do...

So grab a book with an intriguing story or better yet, pull out your favorite album, eight track, cassette, CD, or mp3 of your choice, plug in the ear buds, close your eyes and imagine being at the concert. Come one it's okay to be geeky every once in a while!

What are other ways to flex your creative muscles? For me, it would be to actually create one of the yummy recipes I saw Ina Garten pull together on Barefoot Contessa (she's one of my favorites!) or it's implementing a cool painting technique I saw on HGTV. It's about more than just taking it in, it's letting it out - moving forward with the creative endeavor.

So, what is your current creative endeavor? Do you have a project to work on over the upcoming long holiday weekend? How are you warming up your creative muscles each day so you are fully prepared and ready to rock and roll? It's not too late to firm up those muscles! You will feel much better when you use them regularly...

Grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn

Artist's Creed

I believe that my talents are a gift from God and I am to use them to fulfill His purposes in my life and for His world.
I humbly acknowledge and accept my gifts and ask to receive God's
vision for how I am to use them.
I ask the Holy Spirit to free me from self-doubt and self-absorption.
I pray this work will bring me into closer alignment with Jesus
as I seek to use my gifts and talents for His glory and to become
the whole and complete person He intends me to be.

Take on these words and may they be a prayer from your own heart. Then go out and unleash your creativity with unbridled passion!

grace & peace on the creative journey ~ deAnn

"Into The Wilderness" ~ Gallery Exhibit Delayed

I'm sorry to report that the next exhibit for the Gallery @ Common Grounds will be a tad delayed due to my illness AND the fact that the display cabinets I ordered for the pit fired pottery and fused glass work have not yet arrived. The exhibit is to run from tomorrow, 8/17 to 10/19.

However, two close friends of mine hung up a few of the photographs while I was hospitalized so that something would be up on the walls of the gallery for tomorrow. (Thanks Carol and Andrea!!!). The cabinets are expected to arrive way late, between 8/26-8/29, so over Labor Day weekend the whole exhibit will be completed.

In the meantime, to whet your appetite, go to the Gallery's web site to read the exhibit description, see an excerpt from "The Heart Behind the Art" companion booklet.

Thank you for your patience with this exhibit. It will be lovely once it's all together.
Grace & peace on the creative journey ~ deAnn

Photo above was taken in March 2007 in Qumran, Israel. The mountains in the background are in Jordan and the mysterious Dead Sea is sitting peacefully at the base of the mountains. What an amazing site that was (and even more fun swimming in the Dead Sea!) ~deAnn

Feeling Better

I am so sorry for the boring, unchanging blogsite this past whole week! I was pretty sick since Sunday afternoon, ended up in the hospital on Monday through Wednesday night and have been slowly recouping at home, in total darkness, the past two days. For the first time in a week I can be in a room with light and can tolerate the brightness of my laptop and cell phone. I felt like a vampire for the past 6 days, it's nice to be living in the light again!

There is lots to post, so I'll make up for lost time, that's for sure. But I wanted to get this one out there so you know this is still an active site. :0)

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for everyone who are praying for my healing. I'm heading in the right direction. And I should be back to myself in a week or two.

Your love and mercy are a gift to me from our Father above.

Grace & Peace ~ deAnn

Photo Field Trip

Got a camera?

That's all you really need for our first photo field trip this Saturday.

Go to the VC-Photography page to get the whole scoop.

Yes, the location may sound odd, but it's a gorgeous and reverent place.

Hope to see you then! ~deAnn

Get Lost

I was talking with a friend today at church. She was telling me how her daughter is running a lot these days and would like a running partner. My friend said she can't run to save her life but misses the routine of regular exercise. You see, she was really into the aerobics phase back in the days Olivia Newton John was singing, "Lets Get Physical." (yeah, admit it - you had that on cassette tape, right?) Oh how I digress. My friend said she loved her aerobics classes because she would get lost in them. Not physically lost, but lost in the vastness of her mind. The good feeling of lostness (is that a word?) where your mind is void of the pressures of daily life, schedules, to do lists and should have done lists. As my friend and I continued to chat, she stopped suddenly, looked directly into my eyes and said, "You know, I've not been lost in long time. I miss it. My mind is always going at 100 mph from the moment I wake up to the instant I fall asleep." I know exactly what she means. Can you relate as well?

When I am peering at the wonder of the world through my camera, I'm lost. On an easy run around the town I live, I'm lost. As I sit with my sketch pad on my lap drawing what ever is before my eyes, I'm lost. The problem is ~ I don't get lost nearly enough.

In these times of lostness, our brains stop mulit-tasking and our body and mind get in sync with one another - this is a wonderful feeling. We are living fully in the present in those moments. And while there - we are able to sense God's presence more than when we are zooming all over creation. (that's my experience at least). I love to get lost...I need to get lost, soon.

Being lost opens the door to our imagination and our creativity. We say we are not creative people, but could the real problem be - we don't allow ourselves time to be lost so creativity stays below the surface of our lives...unrecognizable, unnoticeable.

How do you get lost? Through reading, gardening, redecorating, a walk in the woods or along a stream? Take time for yourself. Do good for your soul and...get lost.

grace & peace on the journey ~deAnn

Plucked

We have a tiny garden. Tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeño’s, and a few misc little hot peppers. As I sat on my back porch this evening enjoying the rolling thunder storms, I saw green tomatoes on the vine and a few that are beginning to take on the more familiar color of red.

I get frustrated when my husband picks the “almost all the way” red tomatoes. I asked him why he doesn’t let them fully ripen on the vine. He stood there looking at me like I was speaking Latin. “Let the poor tomato become ripe and bright red before plucking him from his family. They taste so much better left to ripen on the vine instead of on our kitchen counter.” It was then that it hit me…

Just like a tomato – we can be “plucked” before we have reached full potential. What is the source of the “plucking?” Harsh comments can stop us in our tracks. Being surrounded by negativity can pluck us too early. Our own inner critic tries to convince us we have nothing to offer. It’s easy to go through life being plucked too early and left to ripen on the kitchen counter – where our full flavor never becomes reality.

Jesus has big plans for each of us and He longs to see us grow and ripen on The Vine. His very words are, “I am the True Vine.” If we stay connected to Him, only He can coax out our unique flavor and add it to the world we live in, the big salad bowl we call Earth. However, this world is harsh and often doesn’t want us to survive, so it easily plucks us before our time.

How to avoid premature plucking:
1. Surround yourself with positive people, full of grace & truth.
2. Ignore your nasty inner critic and listen to that Still Small Voice that tells you that you are beautiful or handsome and have great value!
3. Develop your creative life and learn to express your true voice.
4. Cling to the Vine, Jesus Himself. Spend time sitting quietly with Him. Your words are not needed. Instead, just quiet yourself and listen for His voice.
5. Learn to see you as the Father sees you, all that you are created to be.
6. Strive for full ripeness, bright color and vivid flavor and allow yourself to be added to the big salad bowl. Your flavor is needed.

For more on developing your creative life…stay tuned to vertical creativity.
Grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn

The Role of Emotions In Art

"A work of art that didn't begin in emotion is not art." Paul Cezanne

I get regular emails from Art Quotes. Sometimes the quotes are way way out there, other times something really makes me think deeply. Like this one from the famous artist, Paul Cezanne.

Can any piece of work really be created in an emotional void? Because we are human, we are filled with emotions all the time. Sometimes we overflow with joy...like when we are captured by a stunning sunset that lays across the sky like a comforting blanket. Through the powerful emotion we feel at that moment, we grab our camera and attempt to hold hostage that scene so we can visit it again and again. It's those images that we long for when our emotions are low and cold.

When the weight of the world is heavy on our shoulders and heartache pulsates through every cell of our body, we can create meaningful drawings or paintings - if we take the time to sit down and allow our emotions to flow through us and onto paper or canvas. It's a healthy release. Artistic expression through grief, depression, confusion or simply just feeling blue has the potential for powerful influence. When I feel low, I write poems. Dark poems that express the depth of emotion flowing from the caverns of my soul. Some people may read them with a closed heart and think, "man, this chick is wack." Others, more vulnerable and honest with the state of there condition (to use Pastor Brian's awesome sermon!) could read them and say, "oh yeah...I'm there now" or "I was there two years ago. I know exactly what you mean." A connection has been made.

So, I agree with Paul Cezanne. There is art and there is heart art, the masterpieces that sit in the shadows where only a few eyes can see. They sit there because it's work that was created in the most vulnerable places of our heart and we don't want to offer it to others out of fear of what they may think of us. But when you prayerfully create art that comes from your heart then carefully share it with others, you may be surprised how healing it can be. Yes, you still may have the people who think you are one fry short of a happy meal, but that is the risk we take. But I bet you'd have more people influenced positivly by your work than those who can't see it for it is ~ the Creator's beautiful creation - creating his/her own masterpiece.

Trust God with your emotions. Capture them in the creative way you are drawn to (no pun intended.)

grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn

(okay, I'm putting myself out there - to determine if you think I'm wack or not...you can read my poems and other short written pieces here: Thoughtful Wonderings. Be gentle... :0)