Spring Colors & Tea Bag Drawings

Just as almost spring thaw was upon us, I found a patch ice (thanks to my beloved Dini the Doggie) and now I am sporting a purple cast on my wrist for 4-6 weeks. Fortunately it is my left so my daily ritual of drawing tea bags continues.

inspiration

comes today from a student i am work with at germantown high- desiree logan

check out her stuff...http://gutdeslovely.webs.com/ cool, honest, fresh

here's desiree with some of her small sculptures

today is onew week that i slipped on ice and broke my wrist... fortunately it was my left so i am still doing tea bag drawings but opening jars and other things can be tricky!

Digging in and Digging Out

Blizzard #2 or is it #3? Who knows, who cares. It's all white, and yes it is beautiful. Kids are home - we're watching the tube, making valentines and I am still drawing tea bags.

No school today, which also meant no After the Bell. I have been working with middle school students at Kennett Middle School as part of their After the Bell program. Kathy Hrenko, the Executive Director and I went into Philadelphia a last month for a check presentation ceremony and reception at the African American Museum of Art. It was exciting and rewarding to receive a Project Stream Grant from the Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. The message that evening was overwhelmingly- we value the arts, we get it, now share your stories with everyone else- especially your legislators. I will post some of the prints we have done next week, but for now here are some great images from Martin Luther King In Service Day last month at Germantown High School in Philly.

Hadassah Tea and Me

I am off to Marla Friedman's home for a Hadassah Tea. I will be speaking about our book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes and Wings- and more specifically how creating art was a part of my healing process.

Fittingly, when I was gathering up my books and support materials to bring this afternoon to the Tea, I picked up the sketchbook that was gifted to me following my diagnosis. That book was the springboard for ideas, images, thoughts and feelings that began my Body as an Open Book Series. Opening the front cover I found a quote I jotted down from the book Conversations with God, "The point of life is to create- who and what you are, and then to experience that."

That resonated with me 7 years ago as it does now. That act of being creative is is part of who we are as human beings. Using images,words, sounds, our bodies, our (hidden?) gifts or talents to express our experience is the key to living our lives fully- where ever we are or where ever we find ourselves. Hope where you are is a place of contentment and joy on this Sunday in January.

Speaking of Tea, I have been keeping up with my tea bag drawings. Some are quick late night sketches to fulfill my daily intention. Others are more deliberate observations. Here are a few from January.

A Feast for All - Contemporary Connections at Bancroft School

I recently completed my residency working with 2nd and 5th graders at Bancroft Elementary School in Wilmington, DE through DCCA's Contemporary Connections program.

Once again, this was a strong affirmation of the power of arts integrated education as a learning and transformative tool. These kids were so excited and engaged as they were introduced to sculpture, drawing, painting, printmaking and installation while they learned about mapping (Grade 2) and land formations and our our impact on our environment (Grade 5). In continue to be inspired by all the people that believe in the arts and bringing it to kids- Principal Lee, Mrs. Wallace, Ms. Stasney, and the staff at the DCCA. Planning and implementing a successful residency puts more on everyone's plate in these times of testing, testing and yes, more testing - but oh what a feast it is!

Delayed Opening- Snow Shots and a Tea Bag

A beautiful morning- a delayed opening. Sleeping in a bit longer. Outside with camera in tow, the lovely morning light, and ... my tea bag drawing from yesterday. slightly larger in scale, but still on the page so I can scan it in. my daily practice, like my meditation and yoga, and homage to my morning ritual of making a cup of tea for Scott.

Letting Go and Forming Connections

As 2009 is coming to a close this wet gray day I am reminded of my intention in yoga this morning- to Let Go. Let go of anything that no longer serves me - or others. And with that I would like to add Connecting - Forming Connections. Making art is often a solitary act and as I reflect on this past year in our new home I see I have created new work (www.nancihersh.com) In my Inherently Found series I started using tea bags. Tea bags to stain paper, tea bags with encaustic hanging from my utensils and also drawings; a drawing a day to be precise. My morning ritual consists of making a cup of tea for my husband Scott. This connects us and reminds me of the Japanese Tea Ceremony I participated in back in Hawaii in the 80's on the beach of Haleiwa Beach Park. This ritual steeped in tradition and meditation brings us to the moment of awareness and gratitude- something I intend to cultivate in my life.

My days (like everyone else's!) are constant to do lists; filled with taking care of my family, our pets and our home, teaching, volunteering in the community, work around our book Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings, yoga, meditation, journaling and other forms of exercise- and making ART. The pie sliced is so many pieces. Often at the end of the day I would feel frustrated or angry that so little if any time was spent in my studio. I decided to make a regular practice to drawing every day- something simple and present - like a tea bag. Some days I spend up to an hour drawing the tea bag or bags, and others they are quick sketches. I decided I would commit to this practice and see what happens. I spoke to Jay my web guru today and he is going to set it up on my site so I can share them on the web with you. For now here is one from yesterday as well as a sculpture I did over the summer titled 8 Cups of Tea (also referencing the book 3 Cups of Tea that I found so powerful and compelling.)

Happy and Healthy New Year to one and all!