Your guest post and our collab photo/collages are such a gift to me, thank you. And this piece is beautiful. I've felt a shedding of identities as I travel and have had to surrender control over so much! I've been pondering similar concepts these past few days on the move, especially with the forced minimalism of the lost luggage. Something quite liberating about all of it. Many valuable reminders in it all...and important perspective shifts I'm hoping to bring back with me to daily life.
Thank you for another insightful post that strikes a chord. I once heard Krista Tippett say, « I write to learn what I know. ». I find that this is true when it comes to any kind of making. The process takes us more deeply into ourselves, and, as you say, we may meet parts of ourselves that we weren’t aware of before. I’m eager to heal enough from my recent surgery to be able to sit in a chair and paint or draw again. I miss those parts of myself that I encounter during those times. Sending light and love to you, Duane.
Thank you so much Anne! I think Austin Klein said something very similar; I don’t write because I have something to say, I write to find out what I have to say. I hope you’re well and I’m wishing you a speedy recovery!
If there’s one thing I can always count on you to do it’s shifting a subject in way that makes me look at it differently. And now I’d like to change my answer haha. I inclined to agree with you here, the act of making does not solve the Mystery but only reveals that the mystery is more mysterious than we ever imagined
Lol! That tracks. Pretty sure I stole that concept for Ken Wilber’s “Theory of Everything”. He says that a good theory of everything gets you to a better theory of everything. I think it’s the same with making. I think in some ways everything we make is itself a theory of everything. Every method and gesture moves us towards something more interesting, but like you said, the unknown never leaves.
So very proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished! As I said before in regard to your 10K, I look at it less as a number and more as each one is a person who felt moved by your work. That is nothing to shake a stick at. ❤️
And that’s that the most wonderful way of looking at it! It makes sense that even your perspective would be gorgeous. I love the way your brain works. 😉
I'm so glad the influence of "Duane" is spreading. I think the world would be a better place if everyone could hear you and see your work.
In response to these words... When we moved back to AZ, much had changed in our relationships to old friends and connections to the community. We moved into an area we'd never lived in and found it was truly like moving to a whole new state instead of coming back to a familiar place. Just after we unpacked and settled in, CoVID hit. We were isolated in our home with just each other. My husband, Wally (91) and I (75) are both retirement age.
As we turned inward, I began to realize how much I saw myself in terms of relationships. When all these relationships were pared down, I realized how little I actually knew myself. I have been on an intense journey of self-recovery since I joined Substack and began paying purposeful attention to which I was drawn. It's an interesting journey and I'm glad you're along for the ride!
Martha, what an an amazing reply! I relate to so much of this! I’ve gone through several upheavals in work, in life, and in relationships that ripped me from the contexts that I had inadvertently tied my identity to. In the aftermath, you barely know who you are any more. You’re trying to reconcile who you once were with who you now must be. It can be difficult and harrowing, but if we have that inward presence of mind like you talk about, we can start to make whole new discoveries about the world and about ourselves as we sift and sort through the remnants of what remains. Thanks for this Martha!
Yes yes and yes!!!🙌
And in the words of one of my all time favs, Jasper Johns;
When i enter the studio, i leave myself at the door
Amen to that
What a great quote! That’s exactly it! Thanks so much Vanessa! You’re awesome!
Your guest post and our collab photo/collages are such a gift to me, thank you. And this piece is beautiful. I've felt a shedding of identities as I travel and have had to surrender control over so much! I've been pondering similar concepts these past few days on the move, especially with the forced minimalism of the lost luggage. Something quite liberating about all of it. Many valuable reminders in it all...and important perspective shifts I'm hoping to bring back with me to daily life.
Well now I’m even more excited for when you get back!
You can remind me I said all this 😉
Oh believe me, I absolutely will! 😂
Oh this sounds like an amazing start to a story I can’t wait to hear!
There’s just no story time quite like Jill story time ! Haha!
Thank you for another insightful post that strikes a chord. I once heard Krista Tippett say, « I write to learn what I know. ». I find that this is true when it comes to any kind of making. The process takes us more deeply into ourselves, and, as you say, we may meet parts of ourselves that we weren’t aware of before. I’m eager to heal enough from my recent surgery to be able to sit in a chair and paint or draw again. I miss those parts of myself that I encounter during those times. Sending light and love to you, Duane.
Thank you so much Anne! I think Austin Klein said something very similar; I don’t write because I have something to say, I write to find out what I have to say. I hope you’re well and I’m wishing you a speedy recovery!
I might even take this somewhere different and say I write to learn that I know nothing.
If there’s one thing I can always count on you to do it’s shifting a subject in way that makes me look at it differently. And now I’d like to change my answer haha. I inclined to agree with you here, the act of making does not solve the Mystery but only reveals that the mystery is more mysterious than we ever imagined
Haha, I think you’ve actually said something similar before. That making simply leads us to the next question!
Lol! That tracks. Pretty sure I stole that concept for Ken Wilber’s “Theory of Everything”. He says that a good theory of everything gets you to a better theory of everything. I think it’s the same with making. I think in some ways everything we make is itself a theory of everything. Every method and gesture moves us towards something more interesting, but like you said, the unknown never leaves.
So very proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished! As I said before in regard to your 10K, I look at it less as a number and more as each one is a person who felt moved by your work. That is nothing to shake a stick at. ❤️
And that’s that the most wonderful way of looking at it! It makes sense that even your perspective would be gorgeous. I love the way your brain works. 😉
I wish I had your gift of writing.
Too kind, Michele! Thank you! Writing is such a struggle for me, so this really means a lot. Thanks again!
I'm so glad the influence of "Duane" is spreading. I think the world would be a better place if everyone could hear you and see your work.
In response to these words... When we moved back to AZ, much had changed in our relationships to old friends and connections to the community. We moved into an area we'd never lived in and found it was truly like moving to a whole new state instead of coming back to a familiar place. Just after we unpacked and settled in, CoVID hit. We were isolated in our home with just each other. My husband, Wally (91) and I (75) are both retirement age.
As we turned inward, I began to realize how much I saw myself in terms of relationships. When all these relationships were pared down, I realized how little I actually knew myself. I have been on an intense journey of self-recovery since I joined Substack and began paying purposeful attention to which I was drawn. It's an interesting journey and I'm glad you're along for the ride!
Martha, what an an amazing reply! I relate to so much of this! I’ve gone through several upheavals in work, in life, and in relationships that ripped me from the contexts that I had inadvertently tied my identity to. In the aftermath, you barely know who you are any more. You’re trying to reconcile who you once were with who you now must be. It can be difficult and harrowing, but if we have that inward presence of mind like you talk about, we can start to make whole new discoveries about the world and about ourselves as we sift and sort through the remnants of what remains. Thanks for this Martha!