When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry For the first time, I joined the summer faculty of the Grunewald Guild to teach an 1-week course titled "Visual Poetry: Mixed Media + Encaustic." The course was a process-oriented class where for 5 days 9 participants + I explored the wonders of encaustic + allowed some of our favorite poets to rouse our creative flow. The Grunewald Guild is a special place. For over 30 years the Guild has made space for art, community + growth to happen. It was an honor to receive the invitation to join the staff + share in it's legacy-- which is is deep + wide. As a city girl who has grown accustomed to steady movement, it was a challenge to embrace a slower pace. It took a couple of days to settle into the rhythm + creative flow. I was determined to lean in though, + not lean out. By Tuesday evening, my heart began to grieve our Saturday departure. The Guild had made its way into my heart. I not only got my hand covered with warm wax + paper, but I also made my way to the Pottery Studio to throw on the potter's wheel for the first it in my life. I loved it! I loved the attention it required, physicality of the process, + the feeling of the clay between my hands. One of the major highlights of the experience is that I got to share it with my partner, Cleve. It was a privilege to receive the gift of Grunewald Guild with him + even savor some moments in the beautiful emerald city- Seattle. It was a week of steady exhales + long deep inhales. It was week of getting lost in the creative process + fully living into my gifts of teaching. It was also a week of rich connection that I look forward to experiencing again at the Guild + at other art tables I will teach at in the future. Click HERE to learn more about the history + work of the Grunewald Guild.
The Guild will provide a list of their Summer 2019 courses later this year.
1 Comment
10/27/2018 12:28:05 am
I love the fact that you were just there to teach; something that you consider as one of your responsibilities in the guild. Visual Poetry: Mixed Media + Encaustic is indeed a stuff that's hard to teach, but you were still willing to share your knowledge because you know you can contribute a lot in that field. But what happened was more than that as you were able to see the beauty of the place you've been to! At the same time, you got the chance to know your partner even more. That sounds great, isn't it?
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