Millie Donovan- Work in Progress: May 2011

Monday, May 23, 2011

I Want to Believe...

I want to believe that I am on the right path,

That every intention is sincere,

That every moment has purpose.

I want to believe that people are intrinsically good,

That the Universe has lessons that will better our existence,

That with these lessons we become better people, better friends, better partners.

I want to believe that I am good,

That I have something to offer that is more than just the surface,

That the reality of my existence lies beneath the paint and the words.

But before I can believe all these things, I have to be judged,

I have to make myself vulnerable, expose my heart, take off the mask,

In reality, I have to set aside my expectations because...

Because life does not show you good without the bad,

You cannot know love without rejection,

You cannot be free without letting go.

So I will let myself go and forgive the anger,

I will dry the tears that well up when I think that I have lost,

The emotion that stirs when I feel slighted and rejected.

I will let go of the pretense and the games,

I will let go of the disbelief and the negativity,

And in the process I will find myself.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

As artists we spend our time trying to see how we fit. How our work is received. How we can improve and share and create so that we can belong. We speak of tribes and coops and collaboratives. We hold on tight to friends and family and exult in new introductions. We are social creatures that crave connections and conversations. And yet we paint and create while alone. It is an interesting dynamic. One not easily understood because what we are forever doing is reaching out.

This week with arms outstretched I did indeed reach out and was met with enthusiastic *hugs*. I met a new group of amazing people at ARTE Gallery in New Haven. An art space that embraces family and community. An art space with a mission to excel through the language of art (visual, musical and culinary). How amazing! Then I spent 2 Magical Days with the "Elitists" (don't let the pet-name fool you). This group of awesome artists arrive with huge smiles and help transform our humble studio on the Pawcatuck River into a space FULL of magic and marvelous creations. We feed off of each other. We are each other's biggest fans. Encouraging, pushing, challenging. We are always looking forward and dreaming. And our arms are always OPEN.

Thank you to all who attended these events and who accepted the smiles and hugs. I look forward to many more opportunities to reach out. And I will continue to share even when I am alone, creating, painting and writing in my studio along the Pawcatuck River.