Free Art Event: You're Invited!

Three Knoxville area art groups collaborate to present free performance

Date: October 23^rd at 1:30 pm

Where: On the Krutch Park Extension lawn on Gay street across from the Regal cinema.

Artists involved: Momentum Dance Lab with Bailey Fiber Art and Tin Soldiers Productions

What: "Paint in Motion" improvisational multimedia event

Momentum Dance Lab, Bailey Fiber Art, and Tin Soldiers Productions are collaborating to present a free multimedia event.

On Saturday, October 23^rd at 1:30 pm on the Krutch Park Extension lawn (on Gay street across from the Regal cinema), members of Momentum Dance Lab will present a moving painting project where dancers will paint fabric with their improvisational movement. The painted fabrics are based on color palettes designed by fiber artist, Bailey Earith. Videographer, Tin Soldiers Productions, will be on hand to film the performance. The public is invited to attend this free, community arts event.

After this public event, Bailey Earith will manipulate the painted fabrics in her Farragut studio to create a piece of 3-D wall art. Tin Soldiers Productions will document this process and edit the footage from Krutch Park and Bailey Fiber Art Studio into an art film. This project will culminate in a multi-media performance piece at Momentum Dance Lab’s annual show, “Art Moves” which will be presented at the KMA on March 12th and 13^th, 2011.

Momentum Dance Lab strives for excellence in dance through artistic exploration, professional training and original performances. MDL offers opportunities in most aspects of dance production and arts administration, while creating innovative outreach programs to enhance our community. www.momentumdancelab.com

Bailey Earith is a nationally known fiber artist whose work can be found in collections around the world. Bailey enjoys creating fabric art that has visual and/or actual textural elements. These elements often include beads, vintage buttons, feathers, hand-painted fabric, manipulated fabric, cords, yarns, and found objects. Bailey's art is eco-friendly. She creates with recycled and repurposed items as much as possible. Bailey hopes viewers will experience a sense of joy and well being upon seeing her work. www.BaileyFiberArt.com

Actor, writer, director, producer, videographer Jeff Delaney is founder and operator of Tin Soldiers Productions in Knoxville, TN. Tin Soldiers produces plays, short films and documentaries. Mr. Delaney has an extensive resume of production and performance credits.

Free Art Event: You're Invited!

"Lace": Video

I created this video of one of my fabric bowls. Enjoy!

"Lace": Video

A Poem by Alice Shapiro (guest Blogger)

Calming

A fast walk,
mad lungs spitting air.
Then rest, leaning
on an oak facade
of a vacant shop.
Sunday for some
is church, then
washday. Others,
stay-in-bed,
read-the-paper day.
Where are the sane?
I walk it off, then
Van Gogh ignites
my basement gallery.
Asperity melts into
a single brushstroke.

-- Alice Shapiro
from Cracked: Timeless Topics of Nature,
Courage and Endurance

Alice has several books available at her web site: http://aliceshapiro.com.

A Poem by Alice Shapiro (guest Blogger)

Mandala #398: Million Mandalas for Peace

I am honored to have been chosen as Mandala #398 on the wonderful site: Million Mandalas for Peace!

http://millionmandalasforpeace.blogspot.com/2009/06/mandala-398-by-bailey-earith.html

Mandala #398: Million Mandalas for Peace

Do amazing things

When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.
—Joe Namath

Do amazing things

Guest Blog by Linda Pucci, PhD.

Use Art to Find Solutions and Get Unstuck

By Linda Pucci, Ph.D.

Feeling stuck? Try grabbing your kid's crayons and draw your way to a solution!

As a psychologist and life coach, I often work with people who are feeling stuck. Their usual right-brained, verbally-based approach to problem solving hasn't worked. They go back and forth between alternatives, and around and around in circles trying to figure out how to fix their problem.

That's when I often encourage them to turn to art to find the solution. Although consciously they are stuck, unconsciously they have the resources to solve their challenge. But because our unconscious mind is highly symbolic, to access it we have to speak that language.

Art—whether it is drawing, painting, doodling, sculpting, collages or fabric art—provides a way to unleash your unconscious mind and find solutions.

Sometimes I'll ask someone to depict their problem through artwork. I'll ask them to capture their problem's shape or color. Usually after some initial hesitation, and getting beyond concerns about "artistic ability," they are able to easily do it. Even without their realizing it, they are symbolically capturing all the things that problem represents to them.

I may then ask them to depict what things will be like when the problem is solved, and again, they capture their understanding of the solution through their artistic representation. We can then begin to look at the symbols and figure out what resources to use to shift it.

Sometimes I'll ask them to find a resource symbol and create it artistically. The symbol created is multi-leveled and always has intense personal meaning. Their artistic rendering often becomes a powerful ongoing symbol for them in their lives, and many times people will frame their drawing, or display this highly meaningful artwork as an ongoing reminder of this resource.

The symbolic nature of artwork means that it is a visual (and sometimes kinesthetic) image that captures all the nuances that often can't be captured in words. The artwork and the process of creating it allow them to design solutions, and to see their challenge differently. They can now begin to change their approach and get unstuck.

Linda Pucci, Ph.D. is a psychologist and life coach at Inner Resource Center, LLC in Maryville, TN. She has 30 years of experience helping people get unstuck and find solutions they had not thought possible using her solution focused approach. For more information and free resources for your personal growth go to http://www.InnerResourceCenter.com

Guest Blog by Linda Pucci, PhD.

"Inspire your Heart with Art" Day

In honor of "Inspire your Heart with Art" Day, I present one of my newer works: "Abundance".  This piece uses a gourd as a foundation.  Mounds of fibers in assorted textures and colors spill forth from the mouth of the gourd.  Nestled in the fibers are assorted crystals.  The movement and energy flow like liquid.  Abundance!

 

"Inspire your Heart with Art" Day

Relieve your Stress with Mandala Art

"Mandalas are circular, usually symmetrical designs that create a center of focus. They can be made of paper, mosaic, sand, clay or just about any medium. Many mandalas occur naturally-such as flowers, the sun, sliced vegetables, snowflakes & pools of water. In the East, mandalas depict philosophical & spiritual insight & are used as a tool of meditation. In the West, the benefits of mandalas were first recognized by the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. He saw them as a symbol of "the inner process by which individuals grow toward fulfilling their potential for wholeness & resolving conflicts." Through his own work, he recognized them as an extension of the person creating them. This is why circles have come to represent wholeness or completion, & are a fundamental structure of our identity."

http://howtodo-health.blogspot.com/2008/12/releive-your-stress-with-mandala-art.html

Relieve your Stress with Mandala Art

Artworks lift bodies and spirits

"...It's important, in hospitals, to surround the patients with serenity and beautiful things," said outpatient Virginia Fry. Environment for healing

Any trip to the hospital can stress out visitors, whether they are patients undergoing a routine checkup or family members pacing in the waiting room. The art that furnishes a room can create a more soothing environment.

"It's nice — as a family member or a patient — to take a break from the clinical experience and enjoy something beautiful," said Essick, who is in charge of every aspect of the art in each of Community Hospital's 13 facilities. ..."

http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_11161394?nclick_check=1

Artworks lift bodies and spirits

Whole Brain Thinking

"Do we still have unimaginable potential just waiting to be
unlocked? When you examine the functioning of the human brain, the
answer is a resounding, "Yes!"

In education, the left side of the brain is promoted much more than the right. Much attention is paid to arithmetic and word skills, while art and music receive little, and intuitive
development doesn't get any."

http://anacoana.blogster.com/whole-brain-thinking-210908120606

Whole Brain Thinking

My interview with Madcap Logic

Thanks For Giving Art, Bailey Earith

"Bailey Earith, first found joy when she discovered fiber art. A broad term that covers quilts but is more than that. Her creations involve beads, vintage buttons, feathers, hand-painted fabric, manipulated fabric, cords, yarns, and found objects.Her work is viewed and collected globally.

However, she continues to find, and share joy. As an Artist In Residence with the Tennessee Arts Commission, she uses art to reach kids with disabilities...."

Read rest of post http://blog.madcaplogic.com/?tag=bailey-earith

My interview with Madcap Logic

Gratitude: Commit Random Acts of Art

I found this neat posting. I invite you to leave your "random acts of art" experiences on my site.

"Gratitude is a practice of giving thanks, appreciating others, and acknowledging the wonders of life. It's time to make a gratitude adjustment and carry out random acts of art - a commitment to compassion in action through creative imagination.
In Buddhism, a powerful expression of compassion in action is..." http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-healing-arts/200811/gratitude-commit-random-acts-art#new

Gratitude: Commit Random Acts of Art

Harmony: Gift from a friend

As I mentioned, my goal is to bring peace to the world through art. My good friend Janet Edkins gave me this beautiful card that is hand beaded with the Japanese symbol for "Harmony". I will enjoy it at my desk until the beadwork finds its way into one of my art pieces (probably in the near future). See more of Janet's gorgeous cards at: http://janetedkins.jaydesigns.net/

Harmony: Gift from a friend

My Interview at "Layers Upon Layers"

An interview I did with Layers Upon Layers: Mixed Media Art blog has just been published. Lots of pictures and thoughtful answers about art and my creative process. I hope you will read it (its short and sweet). Feel free to comment. http://www.layersuponlayers.com/

My Interview at "Layers Upon Layers"

World Kindness Day

Today is World Kindness Day. Since I am commited to bringing peace to the world through art, I tought I would share exactly how this works.

Our philosophy:
The world is full of turmoil, anger, and strife. These negative energies are very draining and destructive. It is our mission to combat these negative forces with positive energy.
Each work is created in a peace-filled, uplifting, positive, joyful environment.
This inspiring energy becomes infused into the art piece.
Those who view the finished art, experience a sense of joy and serenity.
They then carry that positive energy out into the world
where it is multiplied.

I invite you to share your ideas for spreading kindness by clicking on the comments.

"Dare to be bold, different, and always kind."

World Kindness Day

Is art Therapy?

"...Engaging in the creative process, the arts, is healing and should be integrated into healing environments - into hospitals, outpatient treatment centers, doctors’ offices, the VA, residental centers, long-term care facilities (nursing homes), home care, and hospices.
When you engage in a creativity activity, aka the creative process, you become your own therapist. The therapy (which you facilitate) is to access that space that is intuitive, invisible, intangible, healing, and brings you comfort and pleasure by creating a tangible object..." (Quote from Marti Hand)

Is art Therapy?

Classes at Migun-TN

I am very excited to be able to offer you information about classes that may be of interest to you!

I will be teaching a series of classes at Migun TN (by Fresh Market - Farragut). Each class will offer a different learning experience and project. Each class (ie date/time) stands alone. Someone can take the same class multiple times to make additional items and explore additional techniques. Participants will be able to forward their spiritual journey through creativity in a supportive environment. Each class is offered at the nominal fee of $25 and includes all materials. As an added bonus, students will receive a pair of beaded earring from Bailey Fiber Art Studio upon completion of 4 classes.

Schedule is as follows:
Dream Catchers 11/13 11-1, 1/9 11-1
Mandalas 11/14 11-1, 12/11 11-1
Journals 11/21 11-1, 12/4 11-1, 1/16 11-1, 1/22 11-1
Spirit Dolls 12/5 11-1
Energy Talisman 12/12 11-1, 12/12 6-8pm

E-mail me to register.

Classes at Migun-TN

12 Keys to emotional health

Here are 12 tips from the experts for reducing stress, managing negative emotions, and improving your emotional wellness.

Collect Friends (perfect for the art experience)
Enjoy Solitude (Perfect for the art experience)
Get Fit
Seek Pleasure (Perfect for the art experience)
Find a Passion (perfect for the art experience)
Plan for Problems
Seek Constructive Criticism
Take Healthy Risks
Manage Success Well
Don't Go It Alone
Write It Down
Protect Yourself from 'Energy Vampires'


For complete article see http://www.medicinenet.com/emotional_wellness/article.htm

12 Keys to emotional health

The power of art- an Energy Talisman Class

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art has the power to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness and achieve insight. (exerpted from stjoenews.net)

I believe that empowering my students in these emotional areas through the creative process is one of the gifts I can offer to increase peasce and harmony in the world.

I will be holding an energy talisman class for non-artists at Migun in Knoxville, TN on 12/12/08 from 6-8 pm. Cost: $25 (which includes all materials) Email me for details or to sign-up BaileyFiberArt@aol.com.

The power of art- an Energy Talisman Class

What is Mental Health

Mental health refers to the state when a person is mentally fit and fine. Mental health gives a person ability to enjoy life and live life with his own ideas. Mental health is very important to achieve goals in life. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology mental health may include an individual's ability to maintaine a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve his/her goals. Mental wellness and wellbeing is generally viewed as a positive attribute. This definition of mental health highlights emotional well-being, the capacity to live a full and creative life, and the flexibility to deal with life's inevitable challenges. An example of a wellness model includes five life tasks — essence or spirituality, work and leisure, friendship, love and self-direction—and twelve sub tasks—sense of worth, sense of control, realistic beliefs, emotional awareness and coping, problem solving and creativity, sense of humor, nutrition, exercise, self care, stress management, gender identity, and cultural identity—are identified as characteristics of healthy functioning and a major component of wellness.
--exerpted from healthforworld.blogspot.com

What is Mental Health