They are still setting up for opening night of Vivid when I’m on my way to Sydney Writers’ Festival. One sculpture captivates me.
I see drawn outlines of the human body, with words written inside.
Write, I mean, right, up my alley.
a Vivid artwork pre-lighting
check out the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background
On closer inspection,
on the Maps of Mistake. I mean, Map of Mistakes.
‘Art is about turning unevenness into beauty’
On the Map of Mistakes, where
The Maps of Mistake
I mean
the Map of Mistakes
the sun un-shines, you
Radiatrix, Goddess of the Heating Element, embraces
Art Therapy – the Movie.
Radiatrix, Goddess of the Heating Element
Sally Swain © original artI made this sculpture out of a radiator and kitchen utensils way back in 1994. Radiatrix hung out for a while with Venus de Salad Bowl and Sunbeam Madonna and Her Winged Spirits in a shopfront at Walking the Street art festival in Newtown, Sydney. She then spent time in the 1995 State Library of NSW Australian Women Artists exhibition.
Today, those Spirits of the House are a bit dusty, scattered and paint-chipped, but still around. And ready to embrace an inspirational movie.
Meanwhile, Sally, Not-Goddess of
for troubled times
Sorry to do this to you, Dear Reader, but again I am compelled to talk about creativity in this political era. I say sorry because I don’t wish to overwhelm or weigh you down. That’s the last thing I want to do.
Art Heart Resource
(who knew a Sally painting could be so simple?)
I harp on about making art in troubled times, because
A (Literally) Ripping Picture-Story Comprising Alternative Art Heart Facts
{Warning: you might not be able to stomach the ensuing facial photos}
{on the other hand, the face has been difficult to avoid, unless you live in a remote cave in an exotic location}
Preface (a poem):
There’s no need to ration
self-care or compassion
when tending a wound
of the heart.
To deepen the healing,
allow space for feeling
and channel your hurt
through your art.
Chapter One
in which
I cannot pretend. I cannot send out a glib, pretty message disconnected from deeper realities. I want to speak with you directly, from my heart to yours, and hopefully back again, in a loop of realness.
I wish to inspire the feeding of creativity, the gathering of community, the radiating of authentic connection.
Sous
Sally Swain © original art
But here comes the Old Steam Train of Doubt … choo choo … puff puff … TOOOT!
Don’t
How to respond?
Purple Heart
Sally Swain
© original art
transforming grief through creativity
How to respond to trauma, sorrow and fear
with creativity, authenticity and respect?
How to heal our hearts enough to move into action?
How to collectively create a compassionate world in testing times?
Ohh. Big questions.
Very big.
Too big, perhaps.
Here’s how one
I forgot.
I forgot what came before.
That’s the trouble with layers.
That’s the trouble with life.
You pile on the paint and collage. One layer. Another layer.
Night Flying Work
Sally Swain © original art
excerpt
You live one moment. You live the next twenty billion moments. You don’t remember every little detail of every little stage.
You forget
The phrase ‘Fly by Night Work’ appeared to me in a dream.
It spoke of intuitive aspects of the art therapist’s journey with clients, in particular, clients living with deep dementia.
Night Flying Work
Sally Swain © original art
excerpt
The client might no longer be
Art and Soul Space 