Monday, January 28, 2013

Inarticulate

This is what's been happening in the studio in the last few days. Not what I was expecting. Trying to trust that my hands know more that I do. Wish they would write me a note.


Bound, 24 x 39in, 2013

2 stones leaning, 2013

Cleaning up my desktop after I finished this post I came across this poem I had saved of Wendell Barry. So sorry not to thank whoever posted it. Leigh?, Walt? Who ever posted thanks.


The Real Work

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.
The mind that is not baffled is not employed.
The impeded stream is the one that sings.

- Wendell Berry 

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24 comments:

  1. Roberta WarshawJanuary 28, 2013 at 7:08 AM

    Oh yeah...........love this new direction. Keep going..........

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  2. bonny leibowitzJanuary 28, 2013 at 8:21 AM

    beautiful work and poem!

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  3. Olga NorrisJanuary 28, 2013 at 8:41 AM

    Sooo..., my feeling rudderless is a good thing! Thanks for the poem: most thought-provoking. And I love those leaning stones.

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:17 AM

      Thanks Olga, don't know that any of these feelings are good or bad things, just seems be one of the places on the map that I can't quite read. In the dark we could say and waiting for morning!

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  4. UnknownJanuary 28, 2013 at 8:56 AM

    "Trying to trust the hands..." So true to my experience as well, Liz. These moments. You really do just crave a "memo" to let you know what the heck is going on! But they are so pregnant with possibilities, and in hindsight its where fascinating lines if inquiry or new directions often have their genesis. Not always, in my case at least ;) Sometimes a dead end. But what you are onto these days strikes me as a rich vein indeed.
    I love Wendell Berry's work, and respect him immensely. That particular piece has circulated pretty widely, so you probably would have to thank dozens of friends! But I share your attraction to it, and found it perfectly expressed something I was groping towards in a guest essay on Melissa Johnston's new site Creative Thresholds. Not sure if you saw it or not. In any case, I'm so glad you are taking the time to share this part of your journey. Its enlightening and very generous of you!

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:21 AM

      Thanks Walt, I love how articulate you are, And thanks for the wisdom, It seems to boil down to trust. Trust the hands, the process and the unknowing. Thanks again....as you can see I've become totally inarticulate again.

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  5. UnknownJanuary 28, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    "Trying to trust that my hands know..." How true this has been in my experience as well, Liz. And yeah, sometimes you just wish you'd get the "memo" so you know what the heck is going on! But this is such fertile territory, this not knowing. And the longer you can bear it, the more likely you are to find a beautiful and unexpected thread. It seems to me that you are on to such a rich line of inquiry of late. I'm fascinated by what you're doing!
    I'm a big fan of Wendell Berry. The man, and his work. That piece has been pretty widely circulated and I suspect you could find many to thank ;) I happened to use it recently in a guest essay on Melissa Johnston's new site Creative Thresholds. It says so much, with such breathtaking economy of means. Thanks for sharing your work so generously here. Its an honor to be able to follow along.

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:24 AM

      Not knowing, thanks for naming it Walt. Having things named changes it for me. And I will check out Melissa Johnson's site, again double thanks.

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  6. kathy madisonJanuary 28, 2013 at 3:32 PM

    I love this post & also the poem you shared. it's perfect.
    thank you.

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:25 AM

      Thanks you Kathy, I love this poem to and am so glad you do.

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  7. rozJanuary 28, 2013 at 5:36 PM

    sometimes i have felt like that stone on the left ...love these!

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:27 AM

      I know what you mean Roz, I said to J. great example of cabin fever!

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  8. Mo CrowJanuary 29, 2013 at 3:55 AM

    beautiful drawings of that feeling of compression before the release

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookJanuary 30, 2013 at 7:28 AM

      Beautiful way to put it , compression before the release, thanks Mo Crow

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  9. Margaret CooterJanuary 29, 2013 at 4:58 AM

    That poem hits the spot for me - thank you!

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  10. JenniferJanuary 29, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    Yes. Just simply yes.

    Thank you ever so much for this post.

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  11. susan bowersJanuary 30, 2013 at 9:04 PM

    The poem is now a 'stickie' on my computer desktop! A wonderful quote Liz - though not nearly as marvellous as your beautiful, strong, rock drawings. Scrumptious.

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    1. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookFebruary 2, 2013 at 11:51 PM

      Susan, so sorry for the tardy reply, just found your comment and am so glad you like the poem and the work. Thanks so much.

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    2. RosieKFebruary 9, 2013 at 5:51 PM

      Great poem Liz - hope you don't mind if I use it and pass it on?

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    3. Liz Davidson / Artist NotebookFebruary 11, 2013 at 7:08 AM

      Please do Rosie, it's a keeper!

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.

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