The Give and Take of Art

This past week I lectured and taught at my local Nimble Fingers Quilt Guild. Next weekend I am taking a class with Carol Soderlund through the local Potomac Craftsmen Guild. In between – last night to be exact, I attended the opening of the Second Annual Tribute to Fiber Art at the Black Rock Center for the Arts. Then I’ll be back on the giving end on March 17th (I’ll be wearing green) when I lecture and teach at the Springfield Chapter of Quilters Unlimited, a local guild so large they have 12 chapters.

I’m in heaven because I’m back among my tribe, my peeps, my fellow artists. Taking a year off from teaching was good for the soul and the psyche, but I had not realized how much I missed the art community. I must confess I have not been very active in my local art community. It was a time issue, no other reason. When you are on the road, teaching (giving), it’s hard to muster yourself up to do anything local once you get home. Not only do you want to crash and recuperate (taking), but you need solitude (taking) and time to create (give & take), plus there are always publishing deadlines (giving), and oh, yes, I did write a few books (giving).

At my Nimble Fingers class, I had the pleasure of meeting Anne Quinlan (above), author of Cloth Paper Scissors article “Narrative Collage” (Jan/Feb 09). She is so enthusiastic about creating and forever trying to find the balance between being a Mom to 2 young beauties and finding her own time and mental space to make art. I’ve been there, wait, I still AM there. The ages change, but the pull of children and family remains ever strong.

While I was taking my year off from teaching (giving), I also took a couple of classes (taking). Last night at the exhibit, I was taking – taking in the art, the energy and the friendship. Boy, I needed that. I didn’t know how much. It’s a good thing that I have scheduled as much taking as giving into my life this year.  I think I might actually achieve balance in my life.

My private measure of success is daily. If this were to be the last day of my life would I be content with it? To live in a harmonious balance of commitments and pleasures is what I strive for. ~ Jane Rule