Hello friends,
As I write this, Oregon is facing one of the worst fire seasons in its history. Over a million acres have burned in the state and over 5 million acres have burned or are burning on the west coast. Our air is so choked with smoke that it is hazardous to go outside. Whole towns were wiped out within hours due to the wildfires. People have lost their lives and so many more have lost their homes. In other parts of the country hurricanes are raging. And this is on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, an incredibly divisive political climate, and continued police brutality and blatant racial injustice. "Overwhelming" hardly seems adequate to describe these times.
I've struggled with how to continue to share my artwork and new class offerings in a meaningful way given the situation in the world right now. Recently, I made myself sit still and just be with all of it - the chaos, fear, anxiety, worries, (not easy - I have MAJORLY resisted doing this). And I asked,
"Where is the wisdom in all of this?"
And the answer that came back was "No more." I sat with that for a while and I think what it means is that we really can't keep going on like this. So many people have been stripped down to nothing - lost their jobs, homes, loved ones, health, connection to community, school, etc. Many others are just waiting for the next proverbial shoe to drop. If we're not yet at rock bottom, we're pretty damn close.
This is clearly when true colors come out.
Now we are getting a clearer picture of our actual reality - without the distractions of work, school, ballet recitals, soccer practices, vacations, social obligations, and overall busyness. Without all those convenient ways for us to turn a blind eye to the attrocities being committed all around us, (and with politicians to overtly endorse such attrocities), we're being forced to take a good hard look at what we are doing to each other and the planet.
And it ain't pretty.
I believe this experience is calling us to course correct in a BIG way. Not just one of these facets of our lives, but all of them. We cannot go through this time and then go back to business as usual or all of these sacrifices and losses will have been for naught. The universe is hitting us upside the head with this wisdom - "No more." She's holding mirrors up to our faces left and right. She's forcing us to stay in our homes and deal with our sh*t. Now is the time to face our demons and grow. We can't "get back to normal once this is all over." There is no more normal. This is it.
At this point, you're probably thinking, "Damn, Jordan. That's not very optomistic. Hasn't 2020 been hard enough without having to rewrite the whole freakin' script?"
I actually don't think so. Sometimes everything has to burn down for you to start again. And that's when you can really grow.
"Death, the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening." - Walter Scott
I love this Walter Scott quote because it so beautifully sums up this idea. Death is a beginning unlike any other. What a huge opportunity is found in a blank canvas! But it scares so many people that they would rather try to rebuild the old disfunctional life they had than to imagine a wildly fantastic new one.
And this is where my art comes in...
I believe we need practice flexing our creative muscles. Now more than ever, we really need to retrain our brains to think creatively. This is critical to reimagining our world with innovative solutions to the problems we face. The world needs you to share your innate gifts - and to do so with your highest creative capacities.
My mission is to create artwork and experiences that inspire us to honor our connection to each other and the natural world. Whether through engaging with my artwork, or participating in a class, I am focused on empowering you to utilize your creativity for us and the planet.
With this focus in mind, I am offering new art
and many new *virtual* art classes for the whole family.
2021 Wall Calendar - inspirational images around nature and connection for the whole year!
This journey of reimagining our world will take all of us. So I am offering *virtual* classes for people of all ages.
Kids Virtual Art and Nature Play Date for 5-12 year olds - Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm PST
3-Part Series: Delaunay Concentric Circles for 7-12 year olds - Mondays starting Sept. 21st from 3-4pm PST
October 2020 *Virtual* Connection Retreat- for adults - October 3, 9am-5pm
3-Part Series: Kusama Dot Pumpkins for 7-12 year olds - Mondays starting Oct. 12 from 3:30-4:30pm PST
*Virtual* October Art Night - for adults - Fri. Oct. 16, 4-7pm PST
3-Part Series: Indian Corn Pen and Watercolor Illustrations for 7-12 year olds - Mondays starting Nov. 2nd, 3:30-4:30pm PST
*Virtual* November Art Night - for adults - Fri. Nov. 13, 4-7pm PST
My deepest wish is that you find one of these offerings (or several) that speaks to you. My deepest joy is to nourish your creative soul and inspire you to take action in your own life.
I know that it is hard to find inspiration these days. It's even hard to just put one foot in front of the other. I get it. I really do. But trust me when I say that art heals. It is not superfluous. It is critical. We need creativity now more than ever. Please take this opportunity to nourish yourself and your family in some way - whether with my classes or someone elses artwork. Soak it up and let it fuel you. We are all in this together. And we need you.
With love and gratitude.