Author: cometsgirl

So we got arrested today. Not literally but it kind of felt like it.

We arrived at Crystal Bridges Art Museum at 10am. While it actually was to open at 11am today, we we’re nonetheless welcomed as if it was open.

We proceeded through several galleries, aware that many groups of children were gathered alongside art pieces.

When we pushed open the doors to the Early American Art gallery, we were stopped by museum security persons and questioned. “What are you doing here?” “How did you get in?”

Then,”come with me”.

We asked if we could just sit in the galleries and wait until 11 o’clock. “No. Come with me.”

Questioning continued by a higher-up security guard. We explained how we had been welcomed as we entered, and again by guest services.

Questioning grew intense, as personnel tried to figure out how we gained entrance. “We walked in.”

Walkie-talkies went off. Other security personnel came to question.

We repeatedly told how we entered and how we had been welcomed by a number of museum employees.

Eventually we were sent outside to sit in the woods until the 11 o’clock opening.

I write this because much of the art we experienced addresses the plight of refugees seeking a better life and opportunity by entering America.

By no means did I experience what these seekers have, but I was most assuredly uncomfortable being escorted by a security guard and questioned about my presence.

So what must it feel like to be on the margins hoping to be welcomed?

I can go outside and sit on a bench for a few minutes, then return to be welcomed back in, unlike those who may never receive a welcome.

Walking the many galleries within Crystal Bridges Art Museum, I’ve been struck by the variety of ways artists express their feelings, make commentaries, speak out.

Art displayed here is by contemporary American artists. There’s no limit to how these creative minds express themselves through art.

It’s joyous and jolting.

A piece that caused me to linger is titled Unraveling, by Ursula von Rydingsvard. The medium used is cedar and graphite, not something generally associated with unraveling.

I admit that at times in the past ten months I’ve felt like I was unraveling.

Today we attended a drop-in art making session. Led by artist Edra Soto, we used her medium – glass bottles – to create. We used modeling clay, epoxy and a glue gun to make art. After creating shapes using the clay, we affixed them to a bottle. I chose to make free-form shapes to create my version of Unraveling.

I anticipate I’ll have a solo show in the near feature with my solo piece.

One clear thing about art is how it expands our capacity to see. To understand. To delight. The exhibits I’ve seen at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in the past two days do this.

One exhibit in particular does all of the this.

State of Art 2020. A team from the museum visited artist studios across the country, eventually choosing 61 artists to include in this exhibition.

I was struck with this photograph.

Art Miller’s AT&T Cellular Tower, First Church of the Nazarene, Springdale, Arkansas got my attention. Enough so that we decided to drive over to Springdale and see this for ourselves.

Twenty-five minutes later… we were in Springdale, gazing up.

Miller’s photograph is taken from the rear of the church, mine from the front.

The point of our trek to Springdale was to see the original image, a cross that doubles as a cell tower.

Commentary by Miller about his image: Rising high into the clear blue sky above the American heartland, these larger-than-life Christian crosses serve as beacons to those in need of spiritual guidance. Or perhaps, cellular service.

Last night we found a Saturday evening service at All Saints Episcopal Church. This church has a more traditional cross tower.

“Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart.” Psalm 32:12

This morning, as I prepared to leave for Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, lyrics of a song came to mind – “what does it mean to travel…”. I quickly Googled that line and found all the lyrics to Mary Chapin Carpenter’s song of those same words.

From departure to arrival
What does it mean to travel
With your suitcase by the handle
Holding everything you need

.

Are you going or are you coming
Walking slow or running
Toward somebody or from something

Trade your longing in for speed
And the freedom to be a stranger
Is a bargain that’s ours alone
Sometimes you just want to be someone else Unencumbered and unknown

From departure to arrival
What does it mean to travel
And from taking off to landing
You could feel your heart expanding

You walked halfway down Manhattan
Till you met the Brooklyn Bridge
And in a two A.M.transmission
From a high wire act position
How the skyline behind you glistened
As if someone pulled a switch

And I don’t want to be a stranger
And I don’t want to be alone
But sometimes I just want to be somewhere else
Untethered and unknown
When I am far from home

From departure to arrival
What does it mean to travel

Yes, I’m in that chair in the sky once again. This will be trip number 410. But who’s counting? Oh right, me.

I’m headed to Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. Located in the far northwest corner of the state, and surrounded by national and state forests and parks, this is a gorgeous place for a short retreat these first few days of Lent.

What does it mean to travel for me is summed up beautifully by the words of Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Traveling mercies.

What does it say about waiting – longing – for something, when certain criteria first have to be met? I’m talking about snow. I crave snowfall. That is, when convenient, and when there will be no disruptions to my plans.

Then there is the waiting for the snow. No disruptions expected, so where are the falling snowflakes?

Since moving to Georgia I’ve taken delight in seeing and experiencing snow. I grew up with snow and for almost 40 years I lived in non-snow climes. Now that I live in the mountains I welcome snowfall. Just as long as I am not inconvenienced.

You’d think having retired and moved to the mountains, I would relish being snowed in. Well, quite the opposite it turns out. If I have just a hint that I might not “get out” because I have to be somewhere, I completely miss the snow experience.

Yesterday I had to be somewhere an hour’s drive from home. I was reasonably certain I could get back home before the white stuff arrived. I got back by the predicted noon snow arrival, but then I was frustrated by having to wait an hour or so for the snow show. What is it about my timetable?

At last the big show began!

May Sarton talks about snow silence in her poem, December Moon. “…so calm, untouched and white, snow silence fills my head.” I know that hushed silence. It stops me; it quiets me. When time dictates that I have nowhere to be, that is.

Mary Oliver writes, “snow was falling so much like stars filing the dark trees, so that one could imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness.”

Prettiness indeed.

Of course this kind of prettiness and silence is only for a time. While fleeting, my snow craving is satisfied, my soul is quieted. Hopefully I’m learning lessons about patience.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:25.

I wish.

It’s time to get back in the air. After all, it’s been three and one-half weeks. That fact actually surprises me. So soon? Of course so soon!

This a quick trip, just three days. I’m in need of some time with my Texas family. A place I know I’ll be wrapped in love. It’s fitting that I’m flying into LUV on Valentine’s Day.

I follow the Cloud Appreciation Society on Instagram. This posted this morning,

Seated in my “fancy” chair in the sky, I would love to look out the window today and see a cloud heart!

When I learned to fly again decades ago, it was because of how much I wanted to fly to Maine to visit the Downers. They came into my life through Evan. They were parent substitutes for him for a time. They quickly became more permanent parent substitutes for me.

During that first flying trip Millie took me to Rookwood Pottery Company. Founded in the late 1800’s, it had a long history of creating beautiful ceramics. The piece I bought that day became a soap dish for my bathroom. Now thirty-five years later it still reminds me of the beauty of Maine, and even more, the beauty I found in the love I shared with Millie. Each time I reach for the soap, I’m reminded of her.

This day I’ve seen hearts in a soap dish, in Starbucks, the doctor’s office, billboards along the highway, and at the airport.

I’ve had joyous dueling valentine photo texts. I’ve been card-serenaded, and all four grandchildren texted thanks for Starbucks valentines. Imagine that. Just so precious.

Today I’ve noticed more smiles than usual as I’ve heard “Happy Valentine’s Day uttered repeatedly. I’ve smiled in return. I know this day is viewed as a commercial opportunity, and so it is. Yet, the sentiment of love seen and heard throughout the day can’t be just about a means to make money. I’ve seen for myself it’s more surely about affection, about love.

Traveling mercies.

Now that I’m sharing trip driving, I am able to take photographs without pulling over, or worse, snapping as I drive. It’s very freeing! Freeing primarily for the additional driver who was troubled by my photo habit while driving.

I did take one quick pic yesterday. I know. I know.

Today I took my unfamiliar seat as a passenger and proceeded to snap with abandon.

The windshield was covered in ice-art.

It was hard to leave this morning. It always is. We stopped at Coffee Apothecary of course. While enjoying my cappuccino Beth suggested we come in July for my birthday. Yes!!

I am at my best when I know I have trips ahead.

The morning’s drive south to Albuquerque was glorious. Thanks to the recent snowfall, the hills near and far were dazzling. I love this part of the country so much.

This is my healing tree.

Vistas to feed the soul.

Camel Rock with a blanket of snow.

Flying home the sky held abundant vistas.

I’m blessed with the love of travel, and the ability and means to fly off to places I love.

I’m delighted to have you all along.

This Sabbath day we intended to take a road tour of Northern New Mexico churches. There was no way we intended to try to see them all, so we decided to filter by gender. We would visit seven girl churches. That was doable.

But as is our wandering way, we ended up at only two girl churches – La Inmaculada Concepcion Church, and Church of the Immaculate Conception. It was a Virgin Mary kind of day.

We prayed from Daily Prayer for all Seasons.

We prayed Terce (mid-morning)

and Vespers (evening).

In between we visited the Rio Grande Gorge,

spotted interesting Earthships,

amazing vistas,

and took in a movie. Fantastic Fungi. This wrapped up our personal movie festival, having also seen The Farewell, Little Women, and Blinded by the Light.

We ended this Sabbath Day with a New Mexico sunset.

Home tomorrow.

Traveling mercies.

This morning I’m thinking about resonance.

Last night I attended an invitation-only reception for the art exhibit Elemental Resonance. Works by sculptor, Dean Pulver,

I looked up the definition of resonance and found a detailed physics explanation. I also found this:

“People who are not very good at singing sound much better while singing in the shower because the pure notes emitted are resonated in the shower cubicle. The bathroom is enclosed space and sometimes small; as you sing the sound waves hit the walls more frequently causing the wall to vibrate since the walls are parallel to each other.”

I don’t imagine Dean was thinking about singing in the shower as he created his sculpture pieces. But after experiencing the pieces myself, it feels like sound-creating to me.

Though fixed and stationary, there is movement. The shadows cast from the hanging sculptures move in shades and in texture.

I happen to know Dean. He’s the husband of a long time friend. She’s a ceramicist and we have visited their home and art studios a number of times.

It is a privilege to have seen some of the works early in their creation.

The pieces last night filled me with a sense of wonder. Of delight. It’s clear they resonated with me.

Ah…