“Have you put into place or could
you begin a daily practice of observation – even if for five minutes – of writing or sketching what you perceive
with your senses, whatever is directly in front of you?” (Priscilla Long, Minding
the Muse, p. 54)
I like this idea – observation,
even if only five minutes – of what my senses perceive, then write or
draw it. I don’t know how to draw but the attempt, even to think about an
attempt causes me to see differently, see parts and angles and expressions and
colors. I bought a new sketch pad and watercolor pencils yesterday at UW
Bookstore. I have not yet
opened the box or marked the first page. I lack to knowledge, the skill. I do
not know how to make art.
But perhaps it’s about
observation rather than art. No one need see my rudimentary attempts to see and
sketch. I simply need to be brave enough to try.
“Do you tend to work in the same
way all the time? Could you shake
it up a bit, add a random element? What would a lateral move mean in
terms of a piece you are working on right now?
(Priscilla Long, Minding the Muse, p. 54)
I have not been working much at
all this summer. The memoir sits idle. So how would I re-enter and how would I
move sideways to generate new ideas or lost memories? Color, art, music would
help. Daily writing would definitely make a difference. If I get stuck, perhaps
writing in other POVs – mom’s, Arturo’s, Maureen’s, Judi’s.
And then there’s the abecedarian
that might generate ideas/memories, and the idea to copy Rivera’s paintings if
only I could develop the skill. All these things could put my back in Mexico –
place and time.
But was I even living
consciously, or merely floating through, making the movements, saying the
words, but somehow not fully present, not in the present, not creating real
conscious memories when I lived in Mexico? I remember the French class, the ballet class. I was alone. My brain was active. So was my body. But I do not remember any of
my teaching pedagogy classes, only French. So odd.
“What alternate domains (spheres of activity or knowledge) might you
investigate in order to get novel ideas, structures, directions?” (Priscilla Long, Minding the Muse, p. 54)
I remember ballet and French. I
remember piano and drawing in Santa Cruz. Of the four only dance gave me a
sense of confidence, that feeling that I could achieve. But I remember all and
they gave me something, though I’d be hard pressed to identify what it was that
causes me to remember. Clearly I need to try art again – with or without
classes.
Other domains to again explore that will be elements of the memoir: letters and journal. Shall I write
letters again? Save the lost art in some small way? To whom? My mother's sisters? The letters would be much appreciated, I’m sure.
And the diary or journal. Perhaps
my morning pages, these pages of thoughts and exercises, these are journal
pages. But I also need to write about my life, about the wedding, about being
the mother of the now-married daughter, the sister of a woman fighting of cancer, on the edge, not knowing what to do, how to help.
So: art, letters, journal – revisited domains of creativity to explore
Prior posts in this series: