What culture most interests you?
A couple of mornings ago I was writing my "morning pages" amongst that background was writing a letter from my 80 year old self to my 57 year old self now...
While in the midst of those words, I became very overwhelmed with the loving emotion flowing through the years... Not tears exactly but pretty darn close...
I am in the midst of enjoying the aftermath of the Featured Artist Reception and all that has lead up to that very moment... Allowing all of the lessons, rewards, challenges, excitement, and blessing to wash over me and inform the senses emotional, physical, and most of all spiritual that I may hold this experience within a depth of me unfelt, maybe even unfulfilled before.
Yesterday the day after the reception I seemed a need to decompress, by mid afternoon I was extreemly exhausted, I went to bed at 8;30 pm... I slept until midnight, read "Beautiful Ghost", more about this book later, and fell back to sleep and odd and wondrous dreams that no long wish to be in my consciousness.
So had 5:30 am I awoke again to read for a while, and then to finally get up to experience a new day, and day full of promise and reward...
A freezing cold walk with the dogs in semi darkness, the moon had already disappeared from the horizon or was blanketed in the grey clouds of winter morning...
Coffee poured, music via ear pods, Gregg Braden, "Harmonic Revelations". Photo slide show, photos of my own, Rieki over the Artist's Way and Note book, to honor the process of "morning pages".
Nothing new arrive about the exhibit and or reception that had not already presented itself in the immediate hours after. So new senses where flooded with creativity and idea's of action...
Wednsday or Thursday I became aware of excitement and fear at the same time. I honored that and pressed on. I finally had the Announcement cards printed, I found the courage to go to Staples and have this cards printed, while I was in the store none the less. I had projected I would have to come back later that day or the next, not so... Cards printed and in hand I went around on our street and presented them to the neihbors here abouts, personally inviting them. and making them aware of what it is that I do, and who I am with my art work.
Thursday morning, I was still feeling a bit frightened and excited about the reception yet I went about my day... trying to keep it as normal as every other day... yet there was still the anticapation of the evening...
I cleaned up, dressed, my yellow shirt and red tee underneath, brown cords... essence oil on, hair a messy mop, but fresh and clean...
My sister came home and we where off into the traffic of 5:00 pm rush hour to get to Woodstown NJ buy 6... made it too. Arden had taken some of the announcement cards to here job, and informed me someone mentioned I spelt the town name wrong and my last name was missing the "r"... I was like oh well, too late to fix now... I looked at the cards when I got to Beans, and low and behold had missed the "s" Woodstown, and the "r" in Stroud, the missing "r" was more of a situation because it is in the website link... Yikes!!! One lesson, have the things proofed first.
I let it go, I was there at the reception, people where arriving, asking how I was, asking about the pieces, getting photos, placing the placard with my name on the wall...
Once, thing settled in, I was quite comfortable, people came in, talked to each other, everyone knows everyone usually. They admired, they ask question, and gave congratulations...
The big topic was the announcement cards... they thought they where wonderful, a great Idea, creative... a small wonder... even with the flaws...
A women who I only know from on line from www.redbubble.com who lives in the area came to meet me and see my photography for real... she has commented many times on my work on the redbubble site... and had created this page for it too.
http://www.redbubble.com/groups/new-jersey-scenery/forums/5955/topics/101661-one-of-our-members-has-a-show
which was and is a wondrous surprise and gift!
I have been truly amazed of the response message on Facebook and from people here on Gaia. of congrats and support as I journey forth in fulfilling an intention I set last New Year... Yes the intention is to continue this path, more exhibits and receptions. I am aware of the landscape of feelings and emotions now... I am honored to have had the opportunity to begin this process once again, honored to have such wondrous supportive people as gifts of light shinning on this path for me, for this work of art that I have been given as a talent to share with and for the earth around me.....
I am Love, Jeff
WINTER BLESSINGS EXHIBIT: Sponsored by Salem County Art League
The Salem County Art League is sponsoring a new exhibit, Winters Blessings, at Beans Coffee Shop. An Opening Reception will be held Thursday,
January 28th, 6 – 8 P.M. A beautiful variety of photography and paintings by the general membership and the Featured Artist for this exhibit is Jeff Stroud of Magnolia, N.J.
Seven years ago Jeff attended a workshop on the healing affects of the beauty of nature. He has also taken several courses in photography. He is interested in nature, first and foremost. Jeff says,” Photography has become a part of who I am, always camera ready and on the search for that moment, that light, that will capture beauty or tell a story from its painting with light.”
The public is invited to stop by and meet the artists and enjoy this beautiful exhibit during the Opening. The Winter Blessings Exhibit will be on display through March 19, 2010.