Flight- in My Drawers

Day #15, December 2, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Flight
Watercolor, ink and collage on paper
7.5" x 11"
©NanciHersh
$85.00

                                                            

This is a piece I started when I was at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital back in 2011 for my surgery. It was actually a pretty groovy kind of hospital stay (especially compared to the one back in 2003 at St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick!)  I had a room to myself, the nurses were fantastic, as was near by family and friends who came stopped by with goodies, and there was a lot of interesting contemporary art on the walls in every corridor.  Art makes everything better.

They also had an activity and social area on another floor. I went up there one day- sun was streaming in, live music was playing and there were lots of art supplies. So I dug in... grabbed some heavy watercolor paper, brushes and paint and thought positive thoughts.

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On Your Way Sir- in My Drawers

Day #14, December 1, 2013- Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit from What's in My Drawers.

On Your Way, Sir
acrylic, pastel on paper
42" x 30"
©NanciHersh
$400.00

                                                           

From Wikipedia- "Rabbit rabbit rabbit" is one variant of a common British superstition which states that a person should say or repeat the word "rabbit" or "rabbits", or say the phrase "white rabbits", or some combination of these elements, out loud upon waking (or first moment) on the first day of the month, because doing so will ensure good luck for the duration of that month. Today, it is a frequent tradition in many English-speaking countries.

Coming AND going; the first day of a new month, which happens to be the final month of the year.

The perfect time to feature another piece inspired by Lambchop my beloved surfing rabbit.

On Your Way Sir features the rear view of Lamb with his hapa flop ear, his cotton tail, and his adorable large hind pads, as I would send him on his way- away from where ever I needed him to be away from- usually wires and floorboards- his favorite treats!

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Make a Wish- in My Drawers

Day #13,  November 30, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Make a Wish
Collograph, gesso, oil, graphite, rubber stamp
on paper
30" x 22"
©NanciHersh
$325.00

                                                             

Make a Wish is from a series I did when my now teenage sons, were very young, using recycled children's clothing as a vehicle to tell the stories of childhood/motherhood, time passing, and memory. 

Often in this work, numbers and letters float through space.

This is a collograph print.  I coated the clothing with an acrylic gel medium that when dried creates a hard impermeable surface that I rolled up with ink and embossed onto a sheet of paper using a table top etching press. 

Childhood flies by in a blur. Memory, reality and fantasy float in and out of the day to day rituals of feeding, dressing, changing- and that all too elusive- sleeping.  I always say that my boys make me "work for a living" (!) but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ok, I wouldn't mind a little more compliance.  Make a Wish.

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Namaste I- in My Drawers

Day #12, November 29, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Namaste I
Acrylic, graphite on paper
20" x 16"
©NanciHersh
$185.00

                                                               

Surrender, let go, bow to the divine light... it's all about putting your heart- and your faith above your head. Which is a good thing since lots of time it's our head that gets us into trouble, thinking too much, worry, judgement. It can be overwhelming so like Namaste II posted earlier this week, it is all about that life saving practice in your life... art, yoga, exercise, faith.

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Big Fork - in My Drawers

Day #1, November 28, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Big Fork
wire, pulp, encaustic
©NanciHersh
$75.00

                                                                        

Thanksgiving Day as well as the second night of Chanukah.

Celebrating abundance, miracles, family- and remembering those who are no longer with us.

The fork on the right is from the silver set I inherited from my maternal grandmother, Rose. I was fortunate enough to know all 4 of my grandparents who were an influential part of my life.

Rosie a beauty, loved quality and beautiful things. She traveled the world and brought me home dolls from every country. She also took painting and sculpting lessons. Recently and surprisingly,  I learned that she volunteered and drove an ambulance during World War II when she wanted to help the war effort but my grandfather a prominent attorney did not want her working.

I started making these utensils out of wire, pulp and encaustic when I began thinking about what we inherit - genetically, culturally, and- literally.

And, how what we keep, what we let go of, and how this collective stuff shapes our identity.

Dig in.

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Chanukah.

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Gratitude- in My Drawers

Day #10, November 27, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Gratitude
15" x 22"
Colored pencil, archival print on Rives
©NanciHersh
SOLD

                                                               

In the midst of all the preparations for Thanksgiving tomorrow which we are hosting this year, it's time to stop and remember what is really important.

For me it is the fact that I am here, feeling great and loving life-  family, friends, art, travel, learning, connecting, surfing, reading... it's all good. Even the tough stuff.

This piece is part of my breast cancer series. Always wanted to come up with a catchier title but it is what it is. A friend took many shots of my body before and after my bilateral mastectomy in 2002 and those images became the basis for works on paper that were shown at the first Herspace Art of Survival created by Dr. Beth Deutch in Long Branch, NJ.

http://www.herspacebreast.com/artofsurvival/

To those who have come before me....

Because of you, I am here to your courage

your life

I am Grateful.

Amen.

now time to walk my pooches, clean the bathrooms and start the food prep!

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Namaste II- in My Drawers

Day #9, November 26, 2013 of What's in My Drawers.

Namaste II
acrylic, watercolor and water color pencils on paper
15" x 20"
©NanciHersh
$185.00

                                                             

Namaste II is an acknowledgment that there is a divine spark in all of us. It is how we conclude each yoga practice. This mixed media on paper titled Namaste II recognizes how yoga, art and my connection to water have me helped navigate the constant flow and changes of life. 

My dear friend Pegge Hopper gave me the gift of yoga many years ago during a difficult time. Since then yoga has been a life line or life saver. Sometimes all we can do is keep two nostrils above water and bow to whatever it is we are going through. LIke it or not.

Namaste.

Click here to see the post about What's in My Drawers and be in the loop for the rest of the art and stories in this blog series.