Thursday Thoughts...

“We should not see print and electronic literature as in competition, but rather in conversation. The more voices that join in, the richer the dialogue is likely to be”. 

N. Katherine Hayles

I really like the idea that all forms of literature are in conversation rather than in competition. This suggests to me flow and movement between the different forms, that at one point the hard copy book is the main voice whilst at others the electronic or audio version enters the conversation.

It feels particularly pertinent to me a little way out from a long haul flight.  Every single time we travel the lead up is filled with me thinking - which book will I read? How many books will I need? Will I take a hard copy in case I run out of battery? Will I buy an electronic book or just borrow one? Should I download a few mindless magazines from the library too?

Laugh.

So much time in my head preparing for my reading in all its forms on my flights! Which is OK - its about 24-25 hours of flying time and if the movies are no good...

I have moved to reading on my iPad on the plane because it doesn't require me to put on the overhead light and shine brightly, perhaps when others are trying to sleep. I can sit in my nook with my screen lit just enough for me. But I do need a back up because once you are in flight you can't download another book if the one you chose is rubbish.

It does feel like a conversation between the different forms; or a bit of choreography perhaps. My preference is always for a book I can hold in my hand; but I am grateful that the other forms have joined my chat!

Thursday Thoughts...

“If you find something natural and enjoyable, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth anything. In fact, I would take it as a sign that you may be going in the right direction”. 

Ruth Ander

This quote made itself known to me as I scanned through my list, because it links closely to something I have been thinking about. The space between being comfortable in what you do and how you do it; and the other of pushing, challenging and extending yourself.

There are things that I do and make that feel so much like me - my colour palette, my materials, my sense of narrative as I make books, my love of words and stitching, and my analogue means of production.  I am comfortable in this world and enjoy time working in my zone. And then on the other side of this stream or gulf, lies a bunch of things that would extend me, challenge me, change me and my work.

Somewhere in this place are the rather muddled threads of an artist story - the satisfaction of knowing yourself and your way versus the risk of becoming complacent. The desire to continue to grow and learn versus the darker side of envy of wishing you could do what others do. Such a tricky place to navigate, and such tricky intentions to excavate.

With this quote I think Ms Anderson is giving us permission be ourselves; to follow our own paths and to do the things we are good at! Success should be a positive feedback loop! Struggle is not always necessary!

Isn't it strange to think that because we find something natural or easy that it is worthless? I imagine that says a whole lot more about how we think about ourselves, than about the art being made. Instead we should feel that it is a sign of our value, our experience, our skill level and our proficiency. Being good at something should feel natural and enjoyable.

Ahhh, feels very much me.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world” 

Malala Yousafzai

Oh how I love this quote. And how I admire this woman.

The words seem to have an added potency coming from Malala (I like how similar to a bunch of famous folk -  Madonna, Prince, Bono - one name is all you need) when you are reminded of how much she achieved because she was a child who was supported to learn.

Inside this quote is the sense for me that is not just about the child having a book. Sure, having a book and reading can do so much for you yourself. It can calm you; help you feel not so alone; it can teach you things. 

Yet, to make the world of difference, it is good to also have a teacher to help guide you and a pen to record your thoughts and learnings. Or a laptop of course, but the notion of access, guidance and recording seems a good way to describe the supports that facilitate and enable learning.

And from learning, changing the world.

She has done so much; stood for so much, and endured so much. And she continues to try and change the world.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Grace is the face that love wears when it meets imperfection.” 

Joseph R. Cooke

As I imagined when I searched for this fellow, this quote comes from a theological background. I know folk who have become experts in the theological understanding of grace; and yet I tend to think about it in a non-religious way.

I think of people who are gracious. Who show grace in how they respond to things. For me this quote describes that perfectly.

Folk are gracious in the face of imperfection, wrongdoing, and hurt. The way he describes grace as a face is particular I think. It makes me focus on the face of somebody being gracious and I see a calmness, an openness and a gentleness there.

I do not see a sneer, or anger, disappointment or derision. The face I see is accepting and warm, and possibly forgiving.

The word imperfection is also a nice choice. For me it suggests we can all do with being gracious when things don't necessarily meet our standards or expectations. And sometimes I definitely need reminding of that.

And because it is a hard quote and set of thoughts to illustrate, I came up with these poppies. A, because I love poppies, and B, because their quirkiness could be seen as imperfection and yet I see them as beautiful.

Thursday Thoughts...

"What's really good about the word 'art' is that 'art' is a word like 'love,' or 'god,' or whatever. It transcends so many things. "

Tracey Emin

I have been re-reading journal articles about the world of artists' books; and the Book Arts; and what makes a piece of work Book Art; and on and on in the attempt to characterise and catalogue artists' books.

These articles are nearly 20 years old so it has been interesting to see how they hold up - what is useful now; what fell by the wayside; what new direction took off afterwards etc. So yes, defining art is an interesting notion!

The openness with which Ms Emin describes art - the way in which it can encompass so much, can make room to hold and support diversity is a real strength of art I think.

Of course there will be divisions and categories within any gathering under the title of art; and purists will be annoyed by new things that purport to be art; and will no doubt say "yes... but is it really art"? And for me it broadly doesn't matter. I think lots of things are artistic and creative; does that make them art? It probably doesn't make them Art!

I am interested too in how she uses both love and god as the comparatives, and uses the words transcends. And yet I immediately read the meaning as to encompass and include. Whatever way it goes, I think art as a word, can be a very big umbrella.  Or many umbrellas.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Books shouldn’t be daunting, they should be funny, exciting, and wonderful; and learning to be a reader gives us a terrific advantage.”

Roald Dahl

My first thought was "well, yes, of course Roald Dahl would say that!"

Given the books he wrote and the stories he told and the way he engaged young readers - this is exactly how he saw the purpose of books.

His use of the word daunting interested me as I thought about this quote. For children I agree whole-heartedly. To develop a love of reading, and even the skill, books need to be accessible and engaging. If possible children shouldn't experience books as challenges to overcome, battles to be had, enemies to tackle. 

However, I can't fully agree with books not being daunting, if their purpose to educate and challenge. We can't always spend our life doing the nice things we love doing and not having our thoughts, perceptions or beliefs challenged. It does us good to se the world from a different angle and sometimes this can be daunting.

Daunting is also a nice word because it has a feel of the 'possible to overcomeness' of it. It isn't impenetrable, it isn't impossible it's just a bit daunting. Once we overcome our fear or hesitation we'll be right!

I agree in full with him as he finishes with how learning to be a reader gives us a terrific advantage, and is something I would wish for all of us. 

Celebration of Books Maleny, 2015. Setting up our Book Swap tree where folk could bring a book, then take a book....

Thursday Thoughts...

“Shape clay into a vessel;
 It is the space within that makes it useful. 


Cut doors and windows for a room;
 It is the holes which make it useful. 


Therefore benefit comes from what is there; 
Usefulness from what is not there.” 

Lao Tzu

I know I have some work ahead of me when I read over a possible quote and go yes, then shake my head in disagreement, and wonder if I've not read it properly.  This happened with this quote and so here I am about to dig in and try to sort out my thinking.

I am fully on board with the first idea - that it is the space within a vessel that makes it useful. A cup is useful because of the void within it that can be filled with liquid that provides sustenance or comfort.

The second idea about doors and windows making a room useful I'm less sure of.  I think it's the walls and the roof that make a room useful! The roof in particular is key in terms of protection from the elements and by virtue of keeping the roof up, walls are also key and they also define a space which creates its usefulness in terms of scale - a tiny storeroom or a large living area. Doors allow you enter it and make use of it I guess.

And then I end up being somewhat confounded because I am not sure I fully understand his definitions and delineation between benefit and usefulness...

Somehow benefit comes from the form of the cup - the structure? Because it creates a void? And usefulness from the void within? And for a room its benefit comes from walls and a roof and the usefulness from doors and windows. Is that because the windows allow light in and one can therefore navigate the space, see things and find things within it? Doors make it useful because you can enter it?

Enough pondering for one day. It's a tricky one!

Both the benefit, and usefulness, of a cup are clear tome!

Thursday Thoughts...

"There should be something revelatory about art. It should be totally creative and open doors for new thoughts and experiences". 

Tracey Emin

I have pondered upon this one for a bit, wondering why I responded to it. It's always interesting to stop and reflect on why did I even save this one into my Thursday Thoughts document?

I think what I like about this is that she is suggesting that art should not simply be descriptive. That it should be expressive. That it should ask questions; not provide answers.

It seems to encourage engagement with art and allow for ongoing questioning and wondering. It seems to want to keep the doors open to new understandings, new explorations and new learnings. It feels so generous in its offering. That art should be there for us for ever - for us to keep learning and exploring and enjoying.

The opening sentence suggests this as well in terms of art being revelatory. The second part suggests, to me at least, that this revelation can and should be, ongoing as I imagine doors opening leading to new doors, and to other doors and to....

Hub, by Do Ho Suh.

Thursday Thoughts...

“There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.”

Bertrand Russell

This one gave me a little laugh this morning as I read it and I thought it was worth pondering on. 

Despite nearly always reading for pleasure or for interest or for stretching myself, I think I have been guilty of the braggy bit on occasions. 

When there is book that everybody is talking about; or perhaps one you have come across that you think has been a sleeper but is so going to take off, or one that is so full and lengthy that just to have completed it is noteworthy, it can be possible to feel smug I think.

As I think about it thought, it rarely happens - I am never in front of the zeitgeist; rather, I have to confess to so many books I have not read (not a single Dickens, no Shakespeare ever, no Russians except Anna Karenina and it was a slog and so on).  

Occasionally I do read a wonderful book and talk about it and then it becomes great and I feel very chuffed after the fact. And yes, I mean occasionally! The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood was one such book. I was in awe, gob-smacked, thrilled and chilled by this book but it was quiet. And then it became huge and I can definitely admit to a bout of smugness.

In contrast to Mr Russell however, it's not my motivation to read books. I don't have a bookshelf full of names and it books that make me look smart or intellectual or alternative or interesting (however, I do confess to looking at other people's bookshelves and wondering what they say about them!).

I think you have to take care with the boasting bit though - it can be risky to say you have read a book just so you can show off. What if somebody then wants to start the deep dive conversation about it? How will you hold up?

The safest sort of bookshelf... in a hardware store in Arizona.

Thursday Thoughts...

“What is necessary, after all, is only this: solitude, vast inner solitude. To walk inside yourself and meet no one for hours - that is what you must be able to attain. To be solitary as you were when you were a child, when the grownups walked around involved with matters that seemed large and important because they looked so busy and because you didn’t understand a thing about what they were doing.” 

Rainer Maria Rilke

Solitude. Inner Solitude. To be solitary.

For some of us this need is just that - as if it were food or shelter or drink - we need solitude. We need time on our own and we need quiet spaces to simply sit with ourselves and with nothing.

I love visualising the notion of walking inside yourself and meeting no one. Vastness. Emptiness. 

The way he links this place to being like a child again - does take you back to those times you were in adult company and where you had been told to sit and be quiet - and you did. You spent all this time with your self and your aloneness, even tho you were in amongst people.

These were good times for the imagination. Or oftentimes for me, good times to sit and read a book, which is a solitary activity, yet not quite solitude as he means it.

I re-balance in these moments of solitude, I refill, I replenish and I refresh. Solitude is necessary for me to feel balanced and right and 'me', and I love that he knows how much it matters.

Sometimes a vast outer solitude too...

Thursday Thoughts...

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”  

Aristotle

I think this is a very thoughtful way of thinking about art making. Sometimes, representation of something just as it is, is important  and oh so beautiful. But oftentimes, art is about feeling. It is about expressing a desire or a need. It is about an attempt to share insight and understanding; to respond and give voice to thoughts and experiences.

Aristotle wrote this a very long time ago, and I am amazed at how apt it remains. 

I think he is suggesting that art is about looking beyond the surface and trying to explain/express/represent what the significance of that landscape is; or of those objects; or of the person. It is not simply about representing them photographically accurately, but more about representing them; and their meaning and depth.

A detail from Tenebrae...attempting to express light out of darkness.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Books break the shackles of time, proof that humans can work magic.”

Carl Sagan

I like the thought that books are like magic.

In some ways, it seems as if he is suggesting books almost enable time-travel; they allow the past to speak to the present, and for the present to speak to the future.  And in this way, I guess they are kind of magic.

I keep thinking he means books are magic; but on closer inspection he really seems to say that books are evidence that humans can make magic - and yet I prefer my own interpretation!

Breaking the shackles of time perhaps suggests that books can be timeless, that the recording of information, lessons, philosophies or memories can be just as potent now as they were when they were written. Perhaps it also suggests that fiction can transport us to other times or other futures.

Whichever or whatever, I still think books are magic.

So many time shackles to be broken.

Thursday Thoughts...

"The beginning of a friendship, the fact that two people out of the thousands around them can meet and connect and become friends, seems like a kind of magic to me. But maintaining a friendship requires work. I don't mean that as a bad thing. Good art requires work as well". 

Charles de Lint

This quote does two things for me - it reminds me we should celebrate our friendships; and it reminds me that friendships need nurturing.

When I stop and think about the first part of this quote it really can be rather magical that in amongst the multitudes of people we meet in so many settings, we somehow come across folk who get us, and with whom we can simply be ourselves. 

Friendships are such important, stabilising and supporting relationships. They differ to familial relationships in plenty of ways; and I am forever grateful for the women friends in my life.

Maintaining friendships does take work, or investment. Each friendship takes different amounts of input and it occurs in different ways, but taking time to check in with friends is time well spent - an excellent return on investment!

I am looking forward to a new body of work celebrating women friends later this year.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Before I start carving the idea must be almost complete. I say ‘almost' because the really important thing seems to be the sculptor's ability to let his intuition guide him over the gap between conception and realisation without compromising the integrity of the original idea.” 

Barbara Hepworth

One of my first responses to this quote by the amazing Barbara Hepworth, is to stumble a bit on her use of "his" when referring to a sculptor's intuition. It may be that somebody has simply transcribed it this way; but because she herself was such a stunning sculptor, I would hate to think that she thought that only men were the worthy sculptors.

To go then to her thoughts on the process... I like how she has the notion of something almost complete in her mind before she begins; and yet leaves herself open to those moments along the way that allow her to respond. To intuition, to the work itself, to whatever it is that might guide her a little bit this way or that, off the main path.

This feels like a very real description the creative process to me.

I think it is also important that she returns to the idea that this diversion or alteration helps to be a link between the thinking and the doing; but that it also doesn't compromise the integrity of the original idea. She wants to make sure that the work still reflects her intention and understandings and that any deviation does not detract from that; rather it enhances it.

Sometimes we can get waylaid and diverted on such a scale that we end up nowhere near where we thought we were headed. Sometimes that's good; sometimes not. Sometimes we need to go back and work our way through the original idea again.

Oval Form with Strings and Colour (1966)

My first viewing of a Hepworth - The Met in New York, 2012.

Thursday Thoughts...

“I meet a lot of readers who first encountered my work in school. And I can only assume there is another group who would run away very fast if they saw me coming, for exactly the same reason. Reading is individual, and not all tastes are alike.” 

Margaret Atwood

I love how frank Ms Atwood is here -  she understands humans and school students and how we all experience the world and books differently.

I was older than school age when I first read her work; and it was challenging enough for me then!  I imagine if I met it in high school, I would probably have struggled with it a bit more; although at the same time I daresay it may have engaged me more than my bête noir of high school English lessons - Tess of the D'Urbevilles.

She speaks the truth when she says reading is individual and not all tastes are alike. It used to concern me a bit on those occasions when a person who's reading tastes I considered to be aligned to my own would reject a book I had suggested/recommended; give up half way; or simply not enjoy it or see the point.

Now I have much greater understanding of what we each bring to a book; from our expectations, to our experiences, to the mood we are in and what we need to make us feel good at the moment. I have recently read a lot more books that I would consider on the lighter side of the spectrum. They have let me not get bogged down in further darkness beyond the darkness of the real world. They aren't fluffy; but they aren't deep or dark either. They are solid stories where somebody has followed an idea and populated it with some interesting characters and taken me along for the ride. And most of the time, I am grateful.

Passing them along to others I have been met with more 'rejections' than usual, which I think is explained by my need right now for softness, and ease as I read...

Thursday Thoughts...

“today … may i be me …. being & becoming.” 

E.E.Cummings

Whenever I come across quotes by E.E. Cummings I think - oh I really should read more of their work!

I love the simplicity of this, together with its deep and thoughtful message.

This one feels to me as if it is almost a request to the Universe, to allow us to the best us we can be today. What a beautiful way to start each day - seeking a commitment from yourself to be the best you can be - both as you are and as you may become.

Being and becoming. The present and the future. I think we often struggle with simply being; being present; being enough; being happy in this moment, in this place.  So may I simply be me.

And I like the use of becoming - it has that hint of hope; of growth, of change but in a positive way as if there is still time for us to become the best we can be.

On reflection, I have clearly determined that being me = being the best me; and that works for me here.

Tree trunk, Battery Point 2014.

I wonder why this feels like me being and becoming my best me?

Thursday Thoughts...

“To my mind one does not put oneself in place of the past, one only adds a new link.” 

 Paul Cézanne

I think I respond to the humility in this quote. So often, artists have the need to break free; to boldly go where no other has gone before; and to somehow prove themselves to be unique and original.  

Whilst I fully support the notion that we need to do our own unique work, that nobody but ourselves can do what we do, and that we can only do what we do, I really like the idea that this is not about individuals starring in their own show; rather we are about building on what has gone before; and building a platform for what may come after.

We are all links, this way and that. A bit like the internet with connections spanning across centuries, and the world. My work despite being mine; has been influenced and/or inspired by others who have worked with words, and books, and soft palettes, and letterpress, and lovely papers and threads, and...

That said, my work will possibly go on to influence or encourage or inspire others - when people respond positively to your work it probably means they have taken a little nugget of it into their mind, and who knows how that might appear down the track?

We are all linked, we are all connected, and so too is our art.

Thursday Thoughts...

“Books won't stay banned. They won't burn. Ideas won't go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. The source of better ideas is wisdom. The surest path to wisdom is a liberal education.” 

Alfred Whitney Griswold, Essays on Education

Mr Griswold was an historian and educator, and a President of Yale University. He was also, I think, reading other quotes of his, quite a wise man, tho I know not all that much about him.

For me, there is wisdom in these words. The sense that the short term gain of banning or burning books feels like victory for those who achieve it in that moment; is not I think a long term win at all. I oftentimes visualise books being covered over with whatever, and then seeing them pop up like new shoots elsewhere. A bit like weeds perhaps, but the idea that you could stop them being shared or read or spoken about is pretty nonsensical.

Of course, if you make enough fuss about them, then that will only drive folk to go and discover what the fuss is about as well.

I really like the logical progression he makes from bad ideas being overcome by better ideas which emanate from wisdom which is gleaned from a liberal education. No surprises I am a fan of a liberal education!

Any education that encourages you to read broadly, seek out opposing views, try to understand them, challenge them, and debate them; or one that provides you with such strong evidence and research to support sound and sensible ideas is surely a fine thing.

Araki Takako, Bible with Black Page (1982). Porcelain with decal glaze

Thursday Thoughts...

"If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present". 

Lao Tzu

I oftentimes read a quote like this and something clicks. Perhaps it is that I respond to simple theories and categorisations; or perhaps it because somebody has captured the essence of something, from which we can build.

When I first read this, I wondered how accurate it could be, and I tried to analyse it. I think like many truisms or simple statements it can hold up; yet can also be challenged.

The last part about being at peace if you are living in the present, seems to be strongly linked to mindfulness approaches and that being present is all that we really can be. That this moment is really all that we have.  I pondered how this is oftentimes true; if we are here in the now, then the past and the future are not affecting us, along with the burdens and or gifts that they carry.

However; of course, for many folk right here and right now is the fearful place. It is the place of bombing, of sirens, of burning; the place of great sadness or of anger. The present is not always peaceful; nor are we sure to be at peace if we are present. But broadly speaking it holds in the general spirit of things I think.

Living in the future and being anxious was a good way for me to think about it as well; because for me anxiety is nearly always about something that is out there, to be done, to be faced, to await. Anxiety for me seems to be linked to waiting for something to happen and wondering how awful it will be; or assuming that a moment in the future will be stressful. Or simply that the future itself is stressful. Which at the moment it kind of is.

And the first/final notion of being depressed being linked to living in the past was also a simple descriptor which got me thinking. I am fortunate to not have lived experience of any serious or lengthy depressions. I have had sadness and grief and dark times and I wonder how much of that is about regret, or loss of things from the past. Death and grief lead you to be sad for the loss of relationships that you had; but I am not sure I am qualified to interrogate this notion too closely.  There is however, something in this notion that has a ring of small truth to it, for me.

A friend recently sent this photo of the lands near our cottage in Scotland. I look a this and I can breathe. The air, the empty spaces, the long long vistas... a place to feel present.

Thursday Thoughts...

"......collecting scraps of talk, setting them down like birdsong in my notebook, where someday I would go prospecting for my life." 

 Linda Pastan, Waiting for my Life

It interesting that I came across this one this morning.  Interesting only because just yesterday, I was putting together my presentation for the Artist's Talk I am doing in Brisbane on 28 March, and part of the chat goes something along these lines - "words are the way I make my way through the world. Some artists carry a journal around with them and make quick studies; sketch an outline or a scene. Me, I gather words. Snippets of conversations, beautiful descriptions. Clear and concise understandings". 

And lo, so too does this quote - altho far more poetically.

Perhaps Ms Pastan is speaking more of gathering and collecting scraps  of talk such that they can be used in the future to remind her of something in her life. To hold a light on a time which was important; people who mattered; or things that she learned.

For me; the words I capture spark something into the future. They act as some form of inspiration that might lead to work; they somehow describe something so perfectly that I want to respond to it artistically.

I really do like the notion of collecting scraps of talk and setting them down like birdsong...

from somewhere on instagram...