When a Community Celebrates

For years, a little girl in our community went through treatment for Leukemia.  To celebrate her last treatment and her being cured from cancer, the Chief of  Police, and the town, threw her a parade.










                                                                                                         A community comes together to celebrate.

                  A community holds a parade.

Fun in the Sun

Fun in the sun. That phrase might make you think of a California beach - surfing, warm water, warm weather, the hot sun beating down on you.

That is not what, "fun in the sun" means here in the Pacific Northwest.  It mostly means that the sun is out. And that was what it was like on Saturday, February 2nd.

 It does not mean that it is warm - though it was a nice 50 degrees - and for us that is warm.



It doesn't mean going to the beach, though we might.  Unless it is an El Nino year and a super hot day, the water is freezing. The average water temperature around here is a cold 40-47 degrees.

Our 'fun in the sun' means it was  a sunny day. And a great day to have a  a paddle race in La Conner, WA.

Our 'fun in the sun' was a group of stand up paddles, rowing boats and kayaks - racing seven miles in the slough. Slugging their way through the currents. Paddling as fast as they can in as short amount of time as they can.

Seven miles of  constant pushing and pulling. Seven miles of paddling. Seven miles of standing (for some). Seven miles of heave ho.

Yes, that is what 'fun in the sun' means for those of us in the Pacific Northwest.

Classical

I was asked to photograph the Skagit Symphony school concert. Each year the Skagit Symphony education committee organizes a concert for local elementary kids.  Over 1200 children participate. 

Buses pulled up to the curb unloading hundreds of children as they filed into McIntyre Hall.

 They filled the seats, excited with anticipation.

The Hall echoed as they clapped with enthusiasm.

For a brief time, the children were entertained and educated in Classical music.

Roupen talked about music and introduced the different instruments that make up the symphony.

Then the children in an orderly fashioned, lined up and proceeded to their buses. 

May all Generations be exposed to Good Music and remember to take time, 

like these children did, to appreciate the good things in life - Like Music!

Uncharged Territories

Uncharged Territories.  

Right vs Left 

 Logical vs creative.

Art is most powerful when it comes from our subconscious.  This is the time when the right brain is most active. That could be why our best ideas come to us when we are driving, half asleep, in the shower or daydreaming. Our left brain is on automatic, or in a relaxed state, allowing the right brain time to play.

With life being so hectic and stressed, it is difficult to put ourselves in a state of 'calm', to find our subconscious and let loose. Like all things, it takes PRACTICE!  The right brain has to be exercised like any other part of the body. 

While exercising the right brain, send the left brain away for quiet time. This quiet time allows the right brain to takeover. 

Forms of Exercise for the right brain.

• Art is a form of exercise for the right brain. Creativity pushes the right brain into action which helps build its muscles. Like any muscle, the right brain will get weak if not used. 
• Play  - Play games, play at art, play a musical instrument, play at sports.  Be like a child and  just play. Pull out the toys and play.
• Do nothing - When you are doing nothing, or are bored, the right brain tends to venture forth.  This is probably why we doodle during boring meetings.
• Daydream -   One of my personal favorites.  When daydreaming, a whole world is open to you.  Creativity flows, like a cool river. You can climb mountains with ease. Cross oceans in minutes. You are only limited by your imagination.
• Dance -  Move the body - Move the mind.
• Let your intuition takeover. Put the left side on hiatus and let the art flow.  
• Visualize - Visual stimulation seen in paintings, drawings, photographs and more can stimulate the right brain. Visit art museums, go to artshows. Visually stimulate your right brain.
• Feel it - Textile stimulation feeds the right brain.
• Explore - Venture out of your comfort zone. Try a different medium or art. Take classes. Join groups.

When you exercise your right brain, you can increase it's function, the brains ability to expand creatively, to increase awareness, improve concentration and memory.

Learn to switch between the two sides, allowing them both to cooperate and help each other.  Using both sides of the brain makes you a well-rounded person.

If you are right-brain dominant, don’t forget to exercise your left brain.

A whole brain makes you a complete artist. 

The logical conclusion is to use both sides of your brain.   

The real power of art 

Is the ability to use both sides of the brain

EGO

She's Back....  Her name - Ego. She must have taken a temporary leave of absence during the holidays? But she came back the other day and she came back with a vengeance.  I liked it better when she wasn't here trying to usurp me, or scare everyone else away. She tends to be a bit overpowering and bossy sometimes - ok, she tends to be most of the time. And man, does she ever like to be the center of attention.  

I can't remember when she came to me originally? Or, when she took over? She was just there one day. I don't think it was suddenly? I think it was something that kind of grew over time? 

She is good at what she does. And she doesn't have a problem reminding me, or anyone else for that matter. But it would be nice sometimes if she would do it humbly, not arrogantly. It would be nice sometimes, if she would back off and let me, and others, have a chance to be in control, or have a say. 

I try, but sometimes I tend to forget until afterwards, not to feed her. She feeds off of control. She needs it. She craves it. The more she has, the stronger and more loud she becomes. Give her even the slightest control, or attention, and she stands up straight and lords over everyone. 

It is hard to tamper her down. To keep her in line. She is crafty and likes to lay low for awhile and then make sneak attacks. I don't always know when, or where, she is going to appear, she is just there suddenly - no warning. 

She's an ego. She needs to control. She wants to control. She is control. To send her away, or even get rid of her, would be like taking a small part of myself and causing it harm. Then what would I be without her? Would I be too timid? Would I let others run over me? Would I never get anything done? I need her, without her I might wither and die. But it would be nice if she would learn to share and to respect me. Maybe with time, her and I will learn to work well together. In the meantime, we will just battle on.