Category: purposes and ponderances

March 13, 2013

It's not easy to move an artist and five cats.

Drawing by BZTAT

As I shared in a previous post, I was offered an Artist Residency that truly lives up to its name. I am to “reside” in a neighborhood in Canton to engage other residents in creative projects that enhance their community. The neighborhood is called The Boulevards, and I have been moving into a house there for a couple of weeks now.

I will be sharing a lot about those creative projects in this space as the year goes on. At the moment, though, it is a bit difficult to focus on the meta aspects of the program’s future goals. That’s because I am up to my eyeballs in the micro details of moving.

I can’t be in two places at once, so I am closing the Creative Ohio Gallery (where I had my studio) at the same time as I am moving my home. That means I have had to move twice as much stuff, and I am still working at it.

I have moved many times in my life and it is never easy, but as you grow older it is much more difficult. First of all, your body is not as well equipped for the rigors of carrying stuff up and down stairs as it once was. Second, you seem to have accumulated a lot more stuff to move over time. And third, you seem to have accumulated more cats than you ever planned to have.

The first two are pretty self explanatory. It’s just plain grueling and physically taxing to move when you are older. But why does the number of cats matter?

All cats have adjustment issues when they move, just like people do. But mine push it to the limit. Especially Okey, who tends to be fearful and skittish anyway.

Okey has had a tough time, requiring that I keep her in the bedroom to help her feel safe. She’s coming along and will be venturing out of her “safe space” soon, but it has been a slow process for her.

Noah has been hiding a lot and only coming out when he knows I’m done moving, unpacking and rearranging things. Slick has had moments where she gets a bit befuddled, as her age has left her eyesight and hearing somewhat impaired. Brewskie and Who seemed to have adjusted the best, although they have their moments too.

We will all adjust soon, I am certain. It is a challenging time for all of us, but I think we are all going to enjoy our new home once we get settled in.

I hope to be creating fun stuff in my new studio and sharing stories of the Boulevards projects soon. In the meantime, we’ll take it one day at a time as we forge ahead with the process of creating a new home in our new neighborhood. Life certainly is an adventure!

December 31, 2012

2013 Vision Board – It’s gonna be a great year!

It has become my annual tradition to create a vision board as I welcome the new year in and say goodbye to the old one.

The purpose of creating a vision board is to define your outcomes and goals, allow them to manifest in your life, and share your vision with others to make your intentions more powerful.

I created vision boards for 2011 and 2012, and I shared them here on my blog. I accomplished some goals, and I am still working on others. (I still haven’t gotten off the Super Size Me Diet).

On my accomplished list: I did publish my book, and I did complete the second Okey’s Promise Project, which will begin touring this year. I did create and sell a lot of paintings and other artworks. I did put together a licensing portfolio.

On my not yet accomplished list: I have not yet developed any significant or lucrative licensing contracts, and I have not yet increased my wealth substantially. I have not done as much public speaking as I would like.I still have to plunk quarters in a washer and dryer that is in the dungeon of my apartment building.

On my always in progress list: Although I sometimes lament that change is a slow and crooked journey, I have continued to do my part to change my world for the better.

So here is my vision board for 2013. Some things from previous years have reappeared, and there are some new things. I hope to check back throughout the year to review and reflect on my progress!

Create my third Okey’s Promise project – a mural on a building in Barberton, OH, that educates and inspires people around the world to take action against animal abuse, child abuse and domestic violence.

Okey’s Promise Art for a Cause mural sketch

.Write and publish another book, or two, or three..

Continue to develop Brewskie Butt into a character for licensing and merchandising various products.

Paint lots of portraits of cool dogs and develop enriching relationships with the people in their lives.

Paint lots of portraits of cool cats and develop enriching relationships with the people in their lives.

Do more public speaking and consultation.

Increase my wealth and manage it more effectively. REALLY. I mean it this time.

Have appliances that don’t require quarters INSIDE my residence. Seriously. This is #1 on my bucket list.

Try harder to get off the Super Size Me Diet. REALLY. I mean it this time.

Continue to do my part to make the world a better place.

I hope that you have creative visions for 2013 as well. Happy New Year to you. May all your visions and best imaginations come true!

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

December 26, 2012

Where does a dreamer go from here?

“Rising Dove of Peace” – Drawing by BZTAT

When I was younger, there were things in my world that I aspired to change. I have always been one to wax philosophical, and I have often held to lofty dreams.

As a child and as a young woman, I dreamed of what my world would be like when I reached the age that I am at the present. And I did all that was in my power to make changes happen so my dream world could come true.

I dreamed of a world where fighting nations found other ways to settle disputes. I dreamed of a world where child abuse, domestic violence and other social ills would become obsolete. I dreamed of a world where human beings became smarter and kinder and more effective in their pursuits of happiness.

I dreamed of a world where gun violence was gauged according to it being a rare event, not according to how it rated against last year’s numbers.

I dreamed of a world where our growing body of intelligence helped us learn to work together instead of developing technologies that made it easier for us to blow each other apart.

I dreamed of a world where common sense became more common, and selfish rationalizations became rarities.

I knew that these hopes and dreams would not all come to pass in one lifetime, but I honestly thought we would be closer to them than we are by now. Instead, I look at my world and wonder, how can it be that we are farther away from these things than ever?

At age 50, I struggle to reconcile the fact that, despite my efforts, and others’ efforts from my generation, my world totally contradicts that which I had dreamed it would become.

Was I a fool to think it would be any different? Am I bitter and cynical and not seeing the forest for the trees? Am I having a “mid-life crisis”? Or is life just bigger than I thought, and beyond my limited imaginings?

I have no answers. I am not even at a place where I can posit any assumptions.

Recent events (Newtown, CT shooting; Webster, NY fire and shooting; 2012; “fiscal cliff” negotiation breakdowns; Syrian Civil War; etc.) have shaken my usual optimism.

Where does a dreamer go from here?

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT