Why We Make Art

by

“Abraham’s Children: A Time for Peace”

"Abraham's Children: A Time for Peace" 2002

“Abraham’s Children” was my response to 911. 

It took me a few months to compost that event, for this piece to form itself.  I completed it in February 2002 with the words that came to me inscribed on its back.

 “Abraham’s Chldren” is my plea for peace.  To all the descendants of Abraham: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, we are family.  We have fought as only family can fight.  It is time to work as hard at acceptance and peace.  All the effort, vigilance and commitment we have put into anger and vengeance will create a miraculous and enduring peace for our family.  It is time.

Since then, I have sought the home for “Abraham’s Children.”  Always I have known it needed to belong to people who were doing the work of Tikkun Olam (healing the world) on this level of faith, humanity, and love for this Gaian Earth we share. 

In March 2011, “Abraham’s Children” found its home…with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Eve Ilsen, whose hearts and lives have long been committed to this healing. 

I was honored and blessed to give “Abraham’s Children” to Reb Zalman and Eve when they were in Ashland for a Shabbaton at Havurah Shir Hadash, my own Shul.  I was doubly honored to present this gift on behalf of our entire Havurah Shir Hadash community www.havurahshirhadash.org and in the merit of our own amazing and beloved Rabbi David Zaslow. 

This gifting was a deep blessing to me…a small miracle I cannot define or adequately articulate. I am grateful.

 The Dedication to Reb Zalman and Eve inscribed on the quilt:  

“Abraham’s Children” was presented to Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Eve Ilsen, March 2011, in gratitude and honor for your presence among us, your work in the world, within Judaism and Jewish Renewal, for the uplifting of all faith traditions in unity and loving stewardship of this Gaia-Earth, who births, houses and nourishes us all.  Presented by Stephanie K. Nead, on behalf of Havurah Shir Hadash of Ashland, Oregon and in the merit of our beloved Rabbi David Zaslow. 

Thank you for who you are and all you have gifted us.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by

Wooded Mountain

I love to be in the mountains, in nature where all sound belongs to the Earth and her creatures…from the wind shooshing through the pines high above to the nestlings of the moles and bugs below.  In between are the streams, pouring down the mountain’s flank, the smell of loamy soil and dry lichen rising under the heat of the sun’s kiss, my own breathing.  My soul opens up and drinks nourishment through my body.  It is a blessing. 

Creating these pieces in my studio takes me back to this communion in nature.  So each piece is infused with that loving nourishment and peace.  It’s a joy to create them.  Pay Pal & Checks.

 

"Wooded Mountain" roughly 18" x 7" $60

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by

On a Dark and Stormy Night

As it snowed outside, I felt so warm and cozy inside.  I love being in my studio, marinating in creative juices. 

Standing at my window for a moment to watch the snowfall, I noticed blossoms on the tree under the snow.  Then…my reflection and that of the warm room glowed trancelike to my attention.  I captured this image. 

My studio’s warmth on a dark and stormy night…

Creativity inside and out...nature: the ultimate inspiration...

by

“Bridges To Nowhere”

"Bridges To Nowhere"

“Bridges To Nowhere” has been a long time in process. 

As densely layered with memory, emotion and meaning as any of our lives, I hope it touches that deep and almost wordless place inside.

This is the poem that — in some dialetical process I do not entirely remember — both gave birth to, and was given birth to by, this piece’s creation.

“Bridges To Nowhere”

this quilt lacks a center

a central form to draw the eye

this is deliberate

this quilt is metaphorical

it depicts a very unhappy time in my life…

 a time of grays and blacks and browns…

little color…

no life..

 when I felt like a stick figure…

wandering, searching…

alone…

down streets that led nowhere…

turning corners to other nowhere streets…

searching for bridges to something good…

finding they only reached another side of pain…

only another dead end empty space…

 all that seemed constant was the ticking of clocks…

relentlessly…

far too slowly…

marking the time until I could leave…

run away…

escape…

hoping endlessly this might mean new life…

New life…

is like lightening…

bright, stark, brilliant, blinding…

deafening, terrifying…

coming with storm…

rending the new from the old…

lightening breaks apart the clouds…

bringing new birth…

color…

light…

after the storm…

Kali’s destruction…

necessary…

though terrifying…

for new birth…

Music was my one light…

it softened the pain and gave me strength…

gave structure to my desolation…

as I poured my emotions over the keys…

Music was the new life I hoped for…

the only place where color still lived…

along with hope…

and the possibility of love.

 Stephanie K. Nead

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by

In Studio: “Today the Tao is Dancing” in progress

My most recent piece, “Lightening Storm” sold quickly.  What a gift!  So, while in the midst of a move, my creative juices are given good reason to take a time out from boxing books and crating cartons to work on a new piece.

All my pieces create themselves in the sense that I start with an idea that beckons me, like chasing the end of a rainbow.  Once I begin, the piece “talks” to me, takes its own turns, sometimes sets off in directions (quite stubbornly I might add) that I had not intended, nor am I prepared for.  It is not altogether uncommon for me to have an idea, start to work, only to set it down…because, while I can feel that the piece knows where it wants to go, I am not able to “download” how to get there. 

“Today the Tao is Dancing” is one such piece.  I am excited to be working on it again.  I pulled it out in the midst of moving, held it up for the umpteenth time…and suddenly knew how to take it where it wants to go.  I love that feeling!!!

So I now return to my studio, perchance to finish it today.  This time I will get a high quality photo to share with you very soon.  Then hang it at the gallery:  Ashland Art Works Gallery, Ashland, OR, 291 Oak Street.

May we all feel the love of creative life flowing through us, relaxing our worries and filling us with soul nourishment…whatever form your creativity takes, may you relish it!

Blessings, Stephanie

And a nature photo to share until my next piece is here.

"Snowstorm" Big fat, fluffy, dry flakes. A cool counterpoint to our Dog Days of August!

by

“Lightening Storm”

Photos at last.  I am sorry to say that I forgot to photograph it in my studio, where I have excellent natural light to capture the true colors of my work.  These photos were taken at the gallery after “Lightening Storm” was hung, so the color isn’t perfect.  You’ll notice the difference between the photos.  The close up has the truest colors. (see my Gallery…button at top of page)

I decided against the wire and beads once I started them.  They made the piece too busy and weighted it too much.  I decided to leave it with the lightening bolts in thread and fabric speaking for themselves.  I think you can hear the thunder crash.

I hope you enjoy it.  If you are interested in purchasing it, please contact me.  sknead7@aol.com

"Lightening Storm" I love thunder and lightening storms!"Lightening Storm" up close...smell the ozone, see the rainbows in the bolts!"Lightening Storm" up close...smell the ozone, see the rainbows in the bolts!

by

And now for something completely different…

"Louisville: A Healing Quilt"

Hi Folks, 

I finished “Lightening Storm” but forgot to photograph it before hanging it in the gallery.  For those who are local, it is in “Rustic Gallery” at Ashland Art Works, 291 Oak Street, Ashland.  Take a lunch and go sit by the creek after seeing the art offerings, mine included.  If you haven’t yet discovered the sitting area by the creek, it is one of the sweetest spots in Ashland.   

I promise to get a photo of “Lightening Storm” and post it this week!

In the meantime, I thought you might like to see a piece I started years ago.  I still have a few bits and pieces to add as finishing touches.  It is a healing piece relating to a dark and difficult period in my life, the years between 14 and 17, when I was utterly a fish out of water…almost literally–but that’s another story.  This piece began with a poem and emerged visually over time.  For me, it perfectly expresses my felt state during these years.  Here is the poem, which also makes it’s way across the face of the piece. 

This quilt lacks a center…a central form to draw the eye…this is deliberate…this quilt is metaphorical…it depicts a very unhappy time in my life…

 a time of grays and blacks and browns…little color…no life…

 when I felt like a stick figure…wandering, searching…alone…

down streets that led nowhere…turning corners to other nowhere streets…searching for bridges to something good…finding they only reached another side of pain…only another dead end empty space…

 all that seemed constant was the ticking of clocks…relentlessly…far too slowly…marking the time until I could leave…run away…escape…hoping endlessly this might mean new life…

New life…is like lightening…bright, stark, brilliant, blinding…deafening, terrifying…coming with storm…rending the new from the old…

 lightening breaks apart the clouds…bringing new birth…color…light…after the storm…

 Kali’s destruction…necessary…though terrifying…for new birth…

 Music was my one light…it softened the pain and gave me strength…gave structure to my desolation…as I poured my emotions over the keys…

 Music was the new life I hoped for…the only place where color still lived…along with hope…and the possibility of love.

Stephanie K. Nead

Poem for "Louisville: A Healing Quilt""Lonely feet walking..."