The heat goes on...

I met with another artist tonight for Art in the Arboretum and a peaceful evening with watercolors and a gentle breeze to cool the end of the day's warmth.  The panels have been restored in the rightful positions in the trees...the whispers survived the 100 mph winds and only one panel actually broke away from the leather restraints...it was twisted in the tree limbs and I brought it home and literally threw it in the wash.  A now or never attempt to see how this beauty would survive...and it is as brilliant as the day it was first installed in the trees.  I met Ken for dinner as he is heading over to Indiana tomorrow to have a visit with his Mom and play some golf with his brothers.  The summer is quickly drifting past in a whirl of activities and he goes back to school early in August.   Do you all remember when Summer began after May 30 and lasted until Labor Day?  I do not know how we did so well back then and had less stressful state mandated tests and such to deal with...what were we doing right then?

I met with the Advocate reporter and photographer yesterday as I walked around the the All Seasons Garden and shared the story and journey of "Whispers in the Trees".  Luckily Brent had his tree tools and was able to recapture and place the tangled panels into their rightful placements and the sky was once again completed with graceful whispers.  On Tuesday I met with the Community Connections adults for a quiet Listening walk in the nearby gardens.  Neha is a beautiful, quiet young woman with deep piercing eyes, Tutti is a bright smile of sunshine and the last courageous man Louie used his walker to participate and not one mumble about difficulty in keeping up with the small group.  The warmth of the sunshine, the sprinklers whirring in the morning, the songs of a pair of cardinals surrounded us.  We sat down under the shade of the trees and experienced the various fragrances of the blooming flowers and grasses.  We then returned to the studio and played with watercolors to capture their impressions of the colors and images they had just seen.  I loved witnessing the power of their sacred marks touching and recording on the white watercolor papers.  Each person comes equipped with their own visual voice and for a moment in time I was there to share the power of making Art.

I am having some difficulty getting back to my old schedule and writing each day.  I am still working ...but the patterns and rhythms have to be brought into a new appreciation.  I was very spoiled by the quiet of my days in the lager space and quiet in the Dawes studio and my downtown Whispers and Echoes Studio is out in the very public arena of life in The Works community.  I know in time the days will return to a normalcy and I can get my senses coordinated for success.  I am slowly beginning to put my work tables and supplies back into some semblance of order.  I hope the rains will return soon...we are struggling with the heat and drought...the farmers are struggling with their fields and poor crops.  Imagine and live in Peace,  Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart