This is my first official daily arts practice. I really enjoyed having this dedicated time for being in the arts process. The frame I set for the 28-day practice was that each day, I would create a collage using gathered images from magazines and other printed materials. Once each collage was complete, I wrote a written response in a short poetic form.
I did these practices as a form of arts-based research to explore mindfulness and attunement in the expressive arts. When I sat down for my practice each day, there was no plan other than to use my chosen materials. Each piece emerged from moment to moment. I chose images which I was drawn to that day and followed the theme that wanted to emerge. I tried to stay in the flow of really sensing where I was attracted and noticing when I started creating from my mind rather than an inner impulse and then gently let any thoughts go.
Some days the practice flowed better than others. When there was a feeling of effortlessness both the collage and the written response would arrive with ease. These were also the days that I ended up being the most touched by the resulting image and words. It was no surprise that this happened on days when I was more present and immersed in the process.
Some days, I noticed that I’d often got caught up in my judging mind during the process. Sometimes this happened only during the collage and other days only during the writing. On most days there was at least one aspect of the process where I was able just be in it.
A big surprise of this practice was how much I actually enjoyed the process overall. I hadn’t really gotten into collage before. It was something I did a few times in group settings, but with hesitation. I had judgements about this form of art being juvenile and tacky. Despite this, I was willing to take it on for this daily practice because I found myself being pulled towards the stack of magazines under my desk and I was curious what that was about. I ended up having so much fun and now consider it a very versatile and exciting medium to work with. I harvested many insights from the process and was often touched by what emerged.
It was also a bonding experience for my partner and I. He would await each day’s creation and write his own response to the work, many of which resonated more for me than my own writing. Sometimes we would collage together and then respond to our own and the other’s piece. It had been a while since we did any form of art together and it was a good reminder of how much we enjoy being together in creative play.
And here they all are…….
Collage #1
August 11th, 2018
Every dark cold night
gets penetrated by light
eventually.
Collage #2
August 12th, 2018
As the world meets her eye
light dances with the elements
revealing patterns of existence.
Collage #3
August 13th, 2018
Consciousness transported
by dreams within dreams,
shattering illusions
of what is alive.
Collage #4
August 14th, 2018
Be still and listen,
Mother Nature speaks the truth.
Don’t stray too far, child.
Collage #5
August 15th, 2018
Curious kitty,
will you please come in to play?
And save this undeveloped day…
Collage #6
August 16th, 2018
We can’t live too tight;
there must be some space between
to see the patterns.
Collage #7
August 17th, 2018
Blue, green
aquamarine
swirling down
she soon drowns
out of air
blank stare
once elated
now suffocated,
in a place,
considered holy.
Collage # 8
August 18th, 2018
As she searches for herself,
she doesn’t see
that she
is right there
and everywhere
at once.
Collage #9
August 19th, 2018
Fractured reality,
world turned upside down.
They stand their ground,
and see beyond
the illusion.
Collage # 10
August 20th, 2018
I want to fly.
I want to fly,
to another world
of mystery and magic.
I want to fly,
without getting
caught in a net
or burned in a flame.
Collage #11
August 21st, 2018
Timeless Being
has no place
in the rigid structures
of steel and glass.
Collage #12
August 22nd, 2018
In the early morning,
the meadow is a mosaic
of vivid colours.
She wanders
amongst the flowers,
beholding the beauty
of the sunrise sky;
she is somber.
Collage #13
August 23rd, 2018
Haze descends
over the terrain
of our time.
The crow clings
to the blossoms
of seasons past.
Collage #14
August 24th, 2018
Patterns of nature
interrupted by straight lines,
regularity made irregular.
Collage #15
August 25th, 2018
We dance
our way home,
like flowing fluid
becoming
crystallized.
Collage #16
August 26th, 2018
Tide ebbs
and flows.
An inhale,
an exhale.
Watchful spirit
of the sea,
breathe
for us.
Collage #17
August 27th, 2018
Disassociated
lines converge.
Colour
in the absence
of colour.
Abstract visions
of reality.
Collage #18
August 28th, 2018
Live beautifully.
Live perfectly.
Modern living
will erase you,
before your time
has come.
Collage #19
August 29th, 2018
Haunted by the past,
he travels to escape himself.
Stepping into the unknown,
he finds himself.
Collage #20
August 30th, 2018
We build ourselves
into dark tunnels
calling it progress
The goddess watches
knowing it’s destined
to become ruins
Collage #21
August 31st, 2018
Dreams, memories
and reality
are all the same,
when we become
ether.
Collage #22
September 1st, 2018
She was sharp
like edges in the city,
until she broke free
of the usual sequence.
Now softened,
she flies.
Collage #23
September 2nd, 2018
Light reflects through
early morning mist.
A heron spreads it’s wings
to take that first flight.
Spring blossoms open
and release sweet scents.
All this subtle beauty…
….is missed.
She is caught up
in the glitz and glamour
of an artificial life.
Collage #24
September 3rd, 2018
Only from
a
higher
perspective,
do we see
the impact
our development
has
as
it ripples out
to fill
the spaces
between
us.
Collage #25
September 4th, 2018
A once orderly life,
torn to shreds
by the harsh bite
of reality,
gets put back
together
creating new form.
Collage #26
September 5th, 2018
The water carries her home
to the place where
memories are rooted
and she feels seen.
Collage #27
September 6th, 2018
Lonely nights
are not what they seem,
filled with magic
as if in a dream.
Collage #28
September 7th, 2018
Only the moon
is a timeless vision.
I’d love to hear which ones are your favourites! I wouldn’t be surprised if the ones I find least touching, really speak to someone else. We are all drawn to different things and that is such a beautiful aspect of our existence.
Feel free to add any comments or responses in the comment section below 🙂
So very thought provoking.
A private art exhibition to enjoy in my PJ’s, physically relaxing and at the same time mentally stimulating.
A counter-balance to the caffeine.
I am happy you pluralized “favourites” as I found so many of them resonating with different aspects of myself.
#4,#8, #16, #23, #25, and #26.
I feel most drawn to #’s 8, 16 and 25 but #16 touches my soul.
Thanks for sharing!!!
So glad you enjoyed them, especially in your PJ’s with a cup of coffee in hand 🙂
Seems we share many of the same favourites!