art that speaks..

There is something about these photographs that is both beautiful and unnerving. These works are by Charlie McLenahan - her website is here. I guess everyone who sees them may have a different feeling about them naturally.

Somehow it seems to show both how we care about living beings and how we have distanced ourselves as well (slaughterhouses etc, the reality of SPCA)

Sometimes too we may find we cling on to something that is no longer there... I find this photo of the chookie very impressive.

And this one touching. It may happen too, that our connection with a being has become something that we distinctly remember, and it has become a part of who we are as it lives along in our memories. We treasure this time, as we have treasured them.

____________________________________________________________

Charlie says about her work:

"I am a London born artist now living in Moray,Scotland, where I completed my BA (Hons) for fine art. My art uses the medium of photography to show the things that we all see but never look at. Within this work I have photographed road kill and any other newley found dead to create an immortality for the animal." 

"this work consists of an expose of the soulless exploitation of the natural world it manipulates the interface between the digital and the dead to effect the transition between life, death and eternity"

_____________________________________________________________

All I can add is: thank you life, that is both breathing and dead. Special and cumber-sum, heavy and light. Thank you animals for adding richness to our lives and putting up with our ignorant antics. We appreciate you being here with us.

For more about Charlie's work, there is wonderful interview by artist Leisa Rich (one of my online friends) here.

showing your stuff

Lately I have found people coming up to me and there's a relation between what they do and what I do. I do not go out and track them down and smother them with my product, they simply find me. They listen and get excited; I listen to them and am interested and thankful for what they say.

I have chosen not to promote my jewellery products actively but let it simmer for a bit and when I come across someone I think would be suitable to show it to I find it works better. One step at a time.

Sometimes in the desire of making our product(s) succeed we are too much in a hurry or get too dependent on SOME people's opinion. Truth is, SOME people's comments do not matter, only those that have our respect, and the respect in the industry. Their assessment contributes to what is generally heard and accepted. If we choose to listen to everyone, we get nowhere but to dock at the mediocrity station.

As I have told a good friend recently, in whatever situation you find yourself it may be tempting to seek others council but have you considered that you yourself may be the best advisor you ever had, once you stop doubting yourself?