On being in the middle and colliding
In medias res, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica: ( Latin: “in the midst of things”) the practice of beginning an epic or other narrative by plunging into a crucial situation that is part of a related chain of events; the situation is an extension of previous events and will be developed in later action.
January brings the literary term, in medias res, to mind. Social media and blogs are filled with new beginnings and making resolutions and I’m in the big fat middle of the big fat middle. For me, Autumn is ab ovo (“from the egg”). For me, the beginning has crisp air and falling leaves. That said, I do gather my journals from the year and spend at least a day moving through the pages and taking a view from 30,000 feet to see what the year held. As I was collecting 2015 journals, I had to go searching for January. I literally found it in the middle of a journal.
I recently had a kitchen-coffee-conversation with Brilliant #2 and he made this statement:
“I didn’t make any resolutions for 2016 except to keep doing what I discovered I’m supposed to be doing back in 2015, which is the same as 2014, only I’m down the path a little further.”
I love that.
I continue to keep journals and make images and put my work out in the world. I’ll keep juicing the wisdom and beauty out of every experience. Especially the uncomfortable and messy as I believe that they have the richest treasure.
Reflecting on my creative process, I resonate with this quote:
“I’m interested in the moment when two objects collide and generate a third. The third object is where the interesting work is.” Bruce Mau
I continue to practice and teach the process of using journals as vessels to collect all the things. Leaves and quotes and graphite sketches will find space together and I will arrange them until they extravagantly collide.
May 2016 bring a better more skilled version of me creating collisions, finding themes and connecting dots as I make art and walk in the world. May the words and images found here point people toward Love and Grace for self and others.
Be in your life,
Betsy
p.s. Brilliant #2