Dark/Light
Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 12:52PM The next workshop here at El Cielo is set for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3, 2006. Here's the workshop brochure (you can find it after today on the page "Coming up: Workshops," a link on the righthand sidebar of this site).
Artists Journey: Dark into Daylight
At El Cielo Studio, Pipe Creek, Texas
With fiber artist Susie Monday
The days are dark: literally --as the light wanes toward Winter Solstice -- and politically, as peace on earth seems quite distant. This workshop retreat will give participating artists a chance to explore the movement and balance of the dance of light and dark, of war and peace in our lives and the lives of our planet. How in design, images depend on their opposite to give meaning and beauty, and how, in life, light and dark are both part of the cycle of creative growth. A chance to look at our own stance in the ongoing struggle between war and peace –in our emotions, our own homes, our everyday interactions. To ignore the shadow is tempting, but some of our most meaningful and most generous work as artists comes from paying attention to the darkness in our souls, the paths through pain and loss.
We will journey through techniques that allow work from dark and light opposites, and have the joy of doing so supported -- exploring shadow/light, darkness/daylight and the spiritual traditions that are part of this season. I am not a trained therapist: this workshop is not for deep psychological work, but the small group format insures a safe and confidential environment to explore dichotomies through journaling, conversation and creativity.
On the technical, art-making side of things, we will cut a plethora of Notan expanded squares and experiment with other Notan exercises (NOTAN is a Japanese word which means "dark-light". NOTAN as it relates to design is defined as the interaction between a positive and a negative space. ...). We will make fabric art quilt peace flags to send to an international collaborative art project. All the while playing with contrast as an element of design, and manipulating photographic images with software to create high-contrast images suitable to silkscreen and thermofax production.
WHEN:
Sat. Dec. 2, 9:45 am - ?*
Sun. Dec. 3, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm*
*Supper will be prepared by the group about 6 pm. We’ll conclude the day’s work with favorite poems, and time in the hot tub, with hillside walks, amazing vistas and a nurturing environment. Call 210-643-2128 for more information.
Or email susiemonday@sbcglobal.net
We’ll share meals (bring a sack lunch for Saturday, Saturday supper and Sunday brunch are included in the fee), vistas from the deck and strolls down the country roads or into the cedar as the weather permits, as well as participate in a variety of fun and meaningful exercises using simple materials, most of which are included with the tuition.
FEE, including meals: $145 per person. 10% discount for registration before 12/1/06 ($131.50). Limited enrollment. Overnight accommodations are available for a modest fee ($15-$30) per night. Supply List: your favorite kind of journal or notebook, assorted pens, 1 -2 yards of black dischargable fabric, scissors, favorite poem about dark/light.
Susie Monday has taught adults and children for more than 30 years. Her art cloth and quilts have been included in international exhibits and private collections. Recent teaching credits include Gemini Ink, Southwest School of Art and Craft, University of the Incarnate Word, King Ranch, and McNay Art Museum. See her work on-line at http://monday.myexpose.com
As with all my workshops, both beginning art cloth and art quilt makers and experienced practitioners are welcome.
Reader Comments (1)
My daughter claims that the best writing comes from this part of us -- and surely, this is the subtext in much of my work. The content is there in my best pieces - but I see content without form in my most mediocre pieces. Something to work on.