Cay Denise

I'm reading Mary Oliver's 'A Poetry Handbook'.  As part of doing so, marginalia (making notes in the margin) is a practice by some readers that I'm finding very helpful.  There are many new-to-me words that definitions on the same page are very useful to have (e.g. prosody, enjambment).  Then there is her chapter about metrical lines that is a whole new world to me, although master poets and/or writers may view it as common knowledge.  Using marginalia is also providing me the opportunity to make related observations based on my experience as a former musician.   In music, a learner is taught that there is a specific number of beats in each measure based on a time signature.  That is what I find resonating for me as I read about the metrical line of prose that Ms. Oliver writes about.  She presents a very nice legend of metrical lines in poetry (five-foot, four-foot, three-foot, etc.), their names (pentameter, tetrameter, trimeter, respectively and etc...

Have you ever been asked or asked yourself a question that you answered through the creation of a piece of art, sculpture, poem, story, song or other creative form? In a recent post, Nick Cave wrote this about Joy (Post #299) and closed with a question: "I have a full life.  A privileged life.  An unendangered life.  But sometimes the simple joys escape me.  Joy is not always a feeling that is freely bestowed upon us, often it is something we must actively seek.  In a way, joy is a decision, an action, even a practised method of being.  It is an earned thing brought into focus by what we have lost -- at least, it can seem that way.   My question is, where or how do you find your joy?" His question is one I found powerful and important to answer for myself.  However, even before I started my exploration, Nick had received over 2,000 replies with a range of answers.      In reading through many of those (that he posted on his site), t...

Creating zines is one of my ways of 'stealing' a great idea...from Austin Kleon, author of the book titled 'Steal Like an Artist'.  As he would say, imitation is flattery, and I certainly got the zine bug from him (that he, in turn, got from someone else)! Those pictured below are examples of the zines I've made from white copy paper...yes, the kind you buy in reams at the office supply store.  Some are theme-related (e.g. 5 Senses, Reconnection), others are book notes (e.g. about Jo Van-Gogh Bonger and her role in Vincent's rise to art fame), still others are inward-looking (The Wintering of Seeds, Goals, etc.).  The sky's the limit.  They can be anything you can imagine!   I really enjoy making zines including the internet research I may do about particular subjects.  But zines don't have to take long to make, and absolutely no research is needed to create one.  Plus they make clever gifts for holidays or as thoughtful messages of 'I'm thinking...

A dear couple to me recently held a weekend filled with fun events and great food for their friends -- to celebrate a combined birthday and anniversary with them.  I was privileged to be among those who attended the delightful weekend! To reminisce after returning home, I cut out letters and phrases from two magazines (Tate etc. and Oprah Daily) to create this word collage as a memento of our wonderful and joyful times.  

A recent article from a Tate Etc. publication introduced me to an artist that I really like -- unknonwn to me before.  She is Beatriz Milhazes from Brazil.  Currently, there is a retrospective of her work on display at the Tate St. Ives  museum located in Porthmeor Beach, St. Ives, Cornwall, Great Britain -- through September 29th.   The Exhibition Guide (at the link below) has some other wonderful examples of Ms. Milhazes' portfolio.  It reminds me of the work of American graphic designer/collage artist Rex Ray.  Both have approached their art using geometric forms, bright colors, and have included collage elements as part of their creations. https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/beatriz-milhazes-maresias Ms. Milhazes is also on Instagram where you can see many more works including this modern/abstract stained glass window done for Turner Contemporary's Sunley Gallery window. Here is her Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs3g32iOxN8/