Just for Fun! Frog Masquerade

The Botanical Gardens has lots of children's group visit so all artwork must be "appropriate." I have an entire book on masks that I want to make someday. In browsing through it, I came across the the frog masquerade at Jonkonnu in the Bahamas so I decided to create one in hopes of making the visiting children smile. Jonkonnu masquerades have been celebrated during Christmas since the beginning of the 18th century. The participants, all male, parade in a variety of frog masks and perform established dance routines, accompanied by small musical ensembles. Mine is much more electric than the ones in Bahamas. The fabric just seemed too perfect to me. I can't even remember where or why I bought it but I am so thankful that I did. I looked for a fly to go on the tongue and settled for a beetle instead. The face is three layers and quilted. The eyes were made separately and attached.  The arms are made out of Timtex.

Frogs have personal meaning for me. I named my first born "Jeremiah."  We moved from Louisiana to Illinois when he was in second grade. He was small for his age and had a Southern accent. The kids at school made fun of him mostly by singing, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog." It broke my heart the day that he came home and declared that he would hate me for the rest of his life because I had named him Jeremiah. Thankfully he forgave me and even had "Bullfrog" on his high school letter jacket.

This mask was just too much fun to make. Sometimes it is just great to play!

Is that True?

Whenever I say or hear a statement of "fact", I always pause and ask myself, "Is that true?"  The other day I was involved in a discussion where someone said, "Nothing good has ever come out of Afghanistan."   I have a necklace that I purchase in Kyrgyzstan that I was told was made in Afghanistan that I love. However, this did not convince the person who made the statement. So began my quest. I know that today's Afghanistan is full of challenges but can we say that this country that has never contributed to the world? I was thrilled when I discovered that carrots came from Afghanistan and they were marvelously colorful too-- purple, black, red, yellow and white. The orange carrots we have today are courtesy of 17th century Dutch breeders who cultivated carrots from Afghanistan. I love carrots and so I want to thank Afghanistan and I'm also thankful for the opportunity to learn something I did not know. I will continue to strive to have an open mind.

Solo Exhibition

The opening for an exhibition of my masks will be Sunday, May 2 from 1-3 p.m. at the Foellinger Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the Orchid Room. The masks will be available to see until June 28th. It will be the first time that all my masks will be shown together in one place. Can't wait!

Sharing More Information

Wow!  Thanks to everyone who has emailed me with questions. I will try to do better next time.

Sacred Threads is an exhibition of quilts exploring the subject themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing. This biennial exhibition was established to provide a safe venue for quilters of all faiths who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey.

Beyond the Barrier was the name of the special exhibit at Sacred Threads that some women at the Ohio Reformatory for Women participated.

I encourage you to visit both sites to learn more and see all the quilts.

I was very committed to having Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories, an oral history project of the Alliance for American Quilts, reflect the entire quilt community which is why I traveled to the Ohio Reformatory for Women to document the quiltmaking that occurred there. I was able to document 6 of the quiltmakers (Tangie Thomas was no longer at ORW so I went to Franklin Pre-Release Center to interview her) and Chaplain Jamie Burns. You can read all 7 interviews in the Ohio Reformatory for Women Q.S.O.S. project. I have corresponded with all the women and have gotten quite close to three of them.

I have pitched another exhibition idea to the ORW and hopefully will have news by the middle of the week. I believe strongly that one way to help recidivism is to provide opportunities for self expression which increases self-esteem. I believe in that making quilts can be life changing.

Houston!

The Alliance for American Quilts is going to have an exhibit of 15 quilts from people who were interviewed for Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories this fall at International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas. I was thrilled to discover that Rosa Angula's quilt was selected. I interviewed Rosa. Her quilt was originally for a special exhibit for Sacred Threads. Rosa is in the Ohio Reformatory for Women for drug possession and drug trafficking. She is a citizen of Mexico. This was her first quilt. I was hoping her quilt was still at ORW and that Rosa would agree to lend the quilt. I discovered that Rosa had sent it to her daughter. And while Rosa agreed to loan the quilt is expressed that she was ashamed about where she was and that her quilt did not deserve to be included. To that I said, "Nonsense!" as did the Administrative Assistant to the Warden. I was able to connect with Glenda who was delightful. She has agreed to send the quilt. I can only hope that this opportunity will help Rosa's self esteem and quiltmaking will continue to provide her with opportunities once she is out of prison and back in Mexico.

Adventures

When I head off to a speaking engagement, I never know what is going to happen or how I will be received. My lecture isn't like anyone's I know and I cram a lot of info including geography and history about places most people don't know or are able to pronounce. Anyway I want to thank the biker on the Harley who helped me find the church. I've always found bikers helpful even if they look scary. The Country Crossroad Quilt Guild will always have a special place in my heart. They were warm, welcoming and supportive and had good food too! Members purchased $200 worth of Georgian quilts which provides much needed cash for the quiltmakers. Barb Wells made her second purchase (two more Georgian word quilts). There just aren't words to express the appreciation.

I always love show and share. One guild member, Sue (hope I remembered her name correctly), got a gift from her brother (photo). He bought an old sewing machine at an auction and turned it into a tractor with a comfortable seat. It brought a good laugh from everyone present.

I have pitched my exhibition to Ohio Reformatory for Women so that the inmates can participate. I should know by the middle of next week if its a go. I will have to supply all the materials which I am more than willing to do. For 8 months I have included my experience at ORW in my lecture yet no one has ever asked any questions. I find this interesting.  Anyway, I am hopeful and even looking forward to returning to ORW. Joy Major Hoop and Michelle Owens have agreed to be my coordinators for the project. I am hopeful.

So much is in the works for me right now. It is a test of patience. Wish I could share more. Just can't yet. It's all good!  

Mindful

 I'm the best procrastinator I know. I do things that need to be done like clean out the frig. It just don't need to be done right now. Right now I should be making signs for my exhibit and getting all the hanging rods made. Don't worry I won't wait until the last possible second to do this as I would have done when I was younger. I just think mentally I'm just not ready and the pull to be outside enjoying spring is strong. Last night I finally admitted to myself  that my lack of movement has to do with an underlining fear that no one is going to show up for the opening of my mask exhibit.  This revelation is in part due to working once again at being more mindful which also means slowing down. You can't be mindful at warp speed.  I remember the first time I read the Zen proverb --"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." Finding meaning in ordinary tasks made me happier, less resentful, lighter.  I love having a really clean sink in my kitchen. Weird maybe and true. 

A few days ago I came across a quote by Kathleen Norris, a Benedictine oblate and author that I think has the Zen quote beat. "You'll have to wake up tomorrow just like you did today. If you despise repetition, what you're really saying is that you despise life itself." Pretty powerful statement.
 
For me, I want to make sure that I'm paying attention. Not as easy a task as it might seem. The drawing was done by my youngest, son, Nathaniel in 1988 when he was not just 4. It's of me. I love that he gave me a big smile.  Isn't life grand!