MoonTree Artist Statements

Statements : November / December 2012
Show : Tangible Evidence
              MoonTree Studios
             Donaldson, IN 46513
            JAN 26 - FEB 24, 3013

Tangible Evidence

I recently came home to Michigan after twenty years away. I did not know how my life would change. I did not know how my changing life would alter my creative path. I did not know that I would have to go back to the garden, put my hands in the literal dirt, and begin again.

These artworks are then an emotional response to my return to and experience in the natural world. They are metaphors for my Life pushing up and against itself in the process of re-discovery. They are the Tangible Evidence of a journey taken in Mind, Spirit, and Body.

The sky in Iowa is open; you can see forever ... or until the next hill, whichever comes first. Around my Michigan home, hill or no hill, I usually have to go find the sky. You might think that wouldn't matter, but it does.

Connecting ones creative spirit with a new piece of earth and the world surrounding it is an awesome experience. This is the adventure that pushes me forward and brings me to this current place, here and now, and in this moment.

And so the process begins again. Art comes from life; life comes full circle.

© Susan M. Sutherland Barnes 11.2012

If I came up to you pick-a-place and told you that I make these really cool, unique bowls, would you believe me?

There are lots of ways to know that something is honest and being able to caress the evidence is one of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IN THE STUDIO

Finding Your Own Voice and Evidence Orientation

You will come away from this Experience, any Experience, with "Something."

Part of the "Something" will be Intangible. That part will be The Experience itself and the things you learned that are now part of you. You will recall these Lessons later and use them as your own. They will add to your newest effort and make it something more than it was before The Experience.

Another part of the "Something" will be Tangible. These are the "things" you will create during Your Experience. These tangible objects are the Evidence of a Journey Taken - Your Journey. They are your proof that something happened. They are touchstones to your creative future. They will remind you of where you've been and inspire your next journey.

Your Journey + Your Lessons + Tangible Evidence = Your Experience + Your Lessons + Tangible Evidence = Your Journey + Your Lessons + Tangible Evidence = Your Experience + Your Lessons + Tangible Evidence = Your Journey

You can see how it all rolls up into a nice ball that somersaults itself forward. And it gives you, as a creative person, something in The Center to create around. A nugget made up of who you are. This is the place from which YOUR VOICE will call.

You WILL know when you are working from this Center and you will know when the VOICE is YOUR OWN. And if you aren't sure, keep working. You WILL find it.

© Susan M. Sutherland Barnes 12.2012