Sunday, December 22, 2013

Mary and Susan and a Christmas gathering


There was a gathering of the Marys last night for the Solstice. And a gathering of other women too- me, Wesley, Susan, Laura, and a bunch of other girls whose names I unfortunately can't recall, because I'm old that way :) It was a beautiful night, and after Susan's show we were able to go downstairs to Antonia's and sit outside and drink wine and eat amazing food and enjoy the winter evening, not that it really felt like winter. Some of those who purchased sculptures took them out and set them on the table around the candles, it was the coolest energy. Now isn't this what art should be about?
It was a great evening and so special to share that time with Wesley, my now very grown up daughter. We moved into a different kind of relationship this weekend, and I am liking it.

My good friend Susan Wells had an exhibition of her recent kiln firing last night in Hillsborough and it was a great success. Many came and purchased Mary sculptures and Susan gave a very inspirational talk briefly about her work and the energy and prayer she puts into each piece. I cried. I'm so proud of her and what she has been able to accomplish. Susan sets her intention and then she makes things happen. When I first came to Chapel Hill I signed up for a pottery class at the Artscenter in Carrboro so I could meet some potters. Susan was my teacher and she still continues to teach me things. I remember when we first met, she talked about building a wood kiln on her own and I thought she was nuts. Then she roped me into helping along with a bunch of other people that wanted to help, and with the hands of many, she got a kiln built. My very first blog post was about firing that kiln for the first time, it seems like ions ago....


Last winter I sat in a coffee shop with Susan and sipped a warm latte while she told me about this intention to do a sculpture show with Mary. Sometimes people speak of ideas or dreams for their work and it stays just that, an idea. But when Susan says it, you know it will happen. And her idea last winter became a reality this winter. It is inspiring to me to see someone set an intention and then complete it. I don't do enough of that. I think that is why this past year was such a pause for me. I had no intention, I just got up in the morning and waited to see what would happen. Maybe sometimes if something is going to happen you have to set an intention for it and then make it happen. I made very little happen this past year. I rested from the past few years of making shit happen. But I'm fine with that. It was good for me. But going to Susan's show last night inspired me to think about what I want to make happen next. I'm still not sure, but I feel some tiny flicker in the recesses of my art brain, just waiting to see what the flame will become.


Wesley chose one of Susan's Mary cups an early Christmas gift. Last night we filled it with red wine (the blood of Christ?) and drank from it together. I could get all metaphorical here, but mostly we got a nice buzz and giggled together through our entire meal. It was kinda funny to see my little girl all giggly from red wine. My mother would have a coronary just reading this!

This morning I got up early and made some orange poppy seed muffins and some fresh apple, orange, pear juice and we had a nice breakfast. Looks like bad weather is coming today. Poor Gerry was going to go climbing up at Saurtown, our old home crag that just reopened, but the weather is doing to him what it did to me during the studio tour. Twenty two or so years ago on Christmas eve, Gerry and I went up to Saurtown with our climbing mates and we had our first lead on a new route. Our friends had picked out this route and gave it to us for  a Christmas present. It was sprinkling rain and I was scared to climb it because it had an overhang that I had to get over. I had never done an overhang before, but they said I could do it, and so I did. We got to name the route and we called it Clean Sweep. It's in the NC Climbers guide, but only Gerry's name is on it since he was leading and I just cleaned the gear following him. It's fun to think back on that day. It was a good one. Except for the hike out. I had my hood on because it was raining and I walked right into a low hanging rock face and knocked myself out. Go figure, I had just climbed lead on a 5.8 route that had never been climbed, pulled an overhang, and couldn't even walk out on the trail! Luckily, our two climbing mates were both EMT's at the time, and they checked me out good. There was rain running down my face, and I remember not wanting to reach up and touch my face there, thinking it was blood pouring down my cheeks! The weird thing was the impact made my jaws hurt more than anything and then later I had a nasty bump on my forehead. Ahhh the good old days! haha.

Happy Sunday to all of you. Today, I am going to bake cookies, Gerry is sitting out on the front porch in the swing playing his guitar, our front door is open, I can hear his conversation with Wesley as he plays. I am having a nice warm cup of caramel oolong tea and writing about last night so I won't forget what a special time it was. I have to strike A Civil War Christmas tonight, another play comes to a bittersweet end. I will pack up all the props and when everything has been taken down I will stand on the empty stage and smell that familiar smell of the theater and sigh with contentment. It's a good life here in Chapel Hill today!

peace ya'll

12 comments:

smartcat said...

What a lovely time you had. There is something wonderful that happens when a child becomes an adult and friendship ensues.
A very dear friend used to say......don't let them stay too long after they grow up or you'll never want them to leave!
How appropriate for Susan to open her show on the Winter Solstice.
Enjoy the day!

oldgreymare said...

How happy you are- makes me smile

cookingwithgas said...

sweet,sweet sunday....

littlemancat said...

It was good to read your post - a feeling of contentment yet one emerging from creativity, not from status quo living. Lovely.
Susan's work is just amazing - I popped over to her site and am in love with the beauty. The cup Wesley selected is wonder-full. May it be full of blessings!
Mary

Sandy Miller said...

I love hanging out with creative friends! It fires the engines and blows the dust off the wheels. They you can percolate for a while and then out of now where you can get your art on!

Happy Solstice and peace to all on this winter night......

can you feel it? we are heading to the light again!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey y'all I have been at the theater, just catching up on my blog, thanks so much for the comments, happy Christmas to all of you!

Dennis Allen said...

You had a wonderful time and didn't feel obligated to do anything except be there. That's a nice Christmas.

Tracey Broome said...

Absolutely Dennis, in fact I feel no obligations at all this year and it feels good!

Lori Buff said...

Yes, art is about energy, community, people, and emotions. It sounds like this event made all of that happen.

Michèle Hastings said...

What an enchanting evening!

Michèle Hastings said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tracey Broome said...

So much energy and enchantment Michele and Lori! Art is so much fun!