Saturday, January 28, 2017

Found Art Friday: The MARCH

Dear Ones,
It has been a very short and long week since our travels to Washington DC to attend the Women's March, which was that and so much more. Democracy is a maintenance activity we must do now, like eating nourishing food or going to sleep, perhaps even incorporating it into our breathing. 
The Reflecting Pool is Murky



Many of us have been feeling “discombobulated“ since the election, to borrow our poet friend’s description of herself.  When the March groundswell began circulating on social media, we bought a Cheapoair ticket to DC, the way you might gravitate to a chocolate bar in the checkout line at the grocery store. It was on purpose and it was impulse, both.
 

Our trip prelude involved the usual internal conflicts over how to balance household duties with career aspirations, and soul work. What all it takes for mother to leave the premises. Add a phone conversation with our 85 year old mother who exclaimed,  “I can’t think of anything more ghastly than hanging out with a million women”.


We've realized that we had been taking many aspects of our democracy largely for granted:  Free speech, for example. 
 On our way to DC, we witnessed loose-knit groupings of people also being pulled toward the fulcrum of our nation’s capital for this day. Many wearing variations of (pussy) hats, family and/or friends united by balls of yarn and the rhythm of stitches embedded with love, creativity, anger?, dismay?, the need to do something! or face further “discombobulation” or fading of spirit.


During the five-hour flight above the clouds, conversations and laughter erupted in songlines, percolating with stories, information, a hive that hummed with life force. There were infants and mothers, there were multi-generational clans, there were couples with Rosie the riveter T-shirts, and four people sporting “Stop beagle testing”. Then there was NOW YOU DONE PISSED OFF GRANNY!

And there were father-son golf duets wearing sleep masks. 


We wanted to take the pulse of our nation, and also to wonder - how we can undergo healing while simultaneously being under assault?

After the truly indelible and hopeful experience that many of us shared (in contrast to the extremely discordant and surreal previous day) we sought to bundle up some of that energy and put it into a word synopsis. However, we quickly became overly overwhelmed while processing our thoughts in conjunction with the onslaught of new news. Swearing to swear off news, but, well, wanting to be well-informed.  Also, hoping to power forward with the necessary wits and resolve to resist this attack on the values that we value most. 
 

This mentally ill, orange–tinted zombie of the puppetocracy needs to face our resistance and persistence every single day.

As Gloria Steinem said, "Sometimes it is necessary to put our bodies where our policies are, and where our hearts are ....."



To be continued, updated, etc.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Found Art Friday 219

Dear ones,
Well here we are anew, and now beginning our seventh season here at The Department of Homeland Inspiration.  Life persists despite the unmentionable nightmare and the gaggle of new puppets under his gas.  As we wake up to the fact that we have taken our democracy for granted all this time, we are wondering what all to pledge allegiance to now?  Must Assume Warrior pose while pondering. 
What keeps us roving here at The Art Ranger's desk, are your contributions to this curation and percolation of daily events.  For example, this number sussed out on a walk by Friend in The Bay Area:
"What appears to be gilded poop"  

Hmmm - gilded poop.  We can't help but think of our soon to be "leader" (not our president of anything but narcissism). We refuse to feed him.
As opposed to Real Poop - witnessed today on bicycle ride
We are from a different century, while trying to understand, to wrap the digits around. We are turning off more and more things (besides LED lights).

Again, community contributions make our day and now other people's day: such as this series from Richard Anthony visiting his mother:
(this must be the sweet spot)

"Feeling grateful for the treasures off old Route 28, and the TV and 'Fridge cemetery at the dump".
Speaking of mothers .....

Art Ranger was recently home on the range where we sought to witness this:
Mother Smile
Art Ranger peers into her crystal ball and sees a huge motherlode moving project ahead and we do not know how this might affect our postings at Homeland Inspiration, the content or the regularity thereof.
the gentle edge   -   of something

Next Friday, we will be seriously out on the (domestic) range reporting on The Womens March in Washington, DC. And we'll get back to you on that!
Peace and Love in 2017 - wherever you can find it!
So Sincerely,
Art Ranger re-booting for her blogosphere.

Please join us some day by sending your Found Art to: FAF@homelandinspiration.org.