arline jernigan

I have been really busy lately. I am getting ready for an art opening in April, at the gallery that I show at. The work is mostly done, I just have some framing details to deal with. I am trying to get everything to the gallery, no later than next week, because I am going to Philadelphia in about a week and a half, to teach a yoga workshop. Another wonderful thing happening in April, is that I will be going to Dublin to teach another yoga workshop. Believe me, I am totally excited about this.

Everything seems to happen at once sometimes, but I will take it.

I have said many times how blessed I feel, to live the life that I do. I love it, and truly believe that a creative life, doing what you love is essential to freedom and happiness.

I admire people who do this, and appreciate the many ways that can happen. Just opening to possibilities, and thinking out side the box has an amazing effect on the soul.

I really want to share what I have in a big way, and through art and yoga, I feel I can do this.

Ok, I have to go back to my studio, and get some more work done. :)

xoxoxoxoxoxox

I am always inspired by dance, and on so many levels.

Last night, I went to see a dance concert called Identity Matrix: works and reworks, Put on by Wayne Smith. It was wonderful. It had depth and brought in many elements to create a beautiful experience. I found myself smiling a lot, and feeling alive in my heart, ready to express my process, with renewed energy and insights.

Like most artists, Wayne seems to be linking together elements of his life, and the experiences that he has gathered through the years, to express and reflect what is going on.

The best way I can describe the work, is that it is loosely structured improvisation. There is an idea to convey within every piece, and movement flows from the idea, each time the piece starts, rather than having set choreography. This makes every performance different, which can actually allow the whole performance process go through an evolution, form show to show, in a way that in a way that a traditional approach cant, and while the pieces were improv, concepts and execution were very well thought out.

There is a huge element of letting go and non attachment here, something I am learning about inch by inch.

Another thing I loved about the show, was that there was an involvement with the audience. The interaction gave a nice feeling of connection. There was an opportunity after the show for questions that members of the audience could ask the dancers. This level of connection, makes everyone feel a part of the process.

Aside from all that, the movement was very beautiful, and there was a tremendous amount of skill and presence within the dancers. The music, the video, and the spoken word (and some singing) that was part of the show, were great too.

I am definitely going to set and intention to bring some of this energy into my daily life, as well as into my art and my yoga practice. I also plan to continue enjoying all the creativity that is out there.

I so enjoy spring, and it is a very beautiful one, as we have had so much rain. I could have this weather all year, and it would not bother me one bit. If I were to need different seasons, I could travel to them.

What I love most about the warm weather, is that I can paint outside. That is my favorite thing to do in the morning.

I have been getting ready for two shows. One in Mississippi, and the other in Montreal.

The Montreal gig is a dual adventure. I am going to be teaching a yoga workshop, and having an art opening. WOW! I am getting so excited.

This week I am finishing up some work, and framing for each of the shows.

Both shows are in May. Mississippi is mid may, and Montreal late may, but I have to have everything ready to go out by the end of next week. I will, I am not worried about that, I just hope my work is well received. That is of course out of my hands.

My job is to do the work, and share what I have, and I have a lot, so that is just what I am doing.

I am expanding and sharing my work outside the comfort zone of Memphis, and not a moment too soon.

I guess I have not felt like writing much lately. I have been doing quite a bit though, which I like, but I did make a commitment to this journal, and want to keep the energy flowing here.

Last friday, I was in an art opening at Perry Nicole. It was a group exhibit including most of the artists that are represented there. I almost didn’t make it into the show, due to some miscommunication, but after a bit of internal drama, and organizing, I was able to put a big piece into the show.

This image of the picture is not that great, as you can not see the layers, or the line well. I wish I had a better one, but I don’t right now, and so this one will have to do.

I was happy with the way the piece turned out though, and I got a lot of encouraging feedback. I would love to see the work go to a new home where it is seen and loved.

Now speaking of painting, I want to go do that now, but I have embarked on a project that is using my painting time. For about a month now, I have been working on house stuff (my house is my personal painting/sculpture). I’m dealing with my ceilings. They were attacked by that AWFUL popcorn stuff, that someone without sense, invented. The last owners of the house were profligate in their use of this ugly material, creating quite an eyesore for me, I had gotten to a point where I could not stand looking at the ceilings that way any more. So after a lot of thought (about 3 years) I opted to cover them with layers and layers of tissue paper.

Why not scrape the popcorn off you ask, HA. I would perhaps have done that long ago, had the ceilings not been KILZED. The popcorn was glued on after that. Only a new ceiling or something creative could have been done in this case.

My idea is working, and I know it will look cool when it is finished, but this project is taking much longer than I anticipated. I was starting to get very grouchy not being in my studio, so I brought some paintings inside the house so that I would be able to look at them and work on them while I work on the never ending tissue paper solution.

I need a massage from all the overhead painting, but I won’t stop til I am finished.

I am finally ready to start adding pictures, and obviously I need to play more. The one on the left is after a fit, and will be worked on some more, the one on the right is what the painting looked like yesterday Yep I lost it. Thats OK though, it is all just play, and my work usually goes through many incarnations.

I am still waiting for a model to manifest. I am ready to draw from life. I am looking, and feeling it out. I want to share with someone or a couple of people, because I want to be around other visual artists, and share some energy, and I want to share the cost of the model. Until then it is trees and self portraits, hands, feet and ears. (yes, I am way into drawing ears)