Art has the ability to transcend borders.

A cardinal flew by during my run yesterday. Watching it’s contrasting red flame against the peaceful winter landscape, my thoughts turned to the golden grassy homeland of my friends in South Africa.

Contrasts and borders.

My friend and I often discuss the similarities our families share. The love of a great family, simplicity of rural life. Her father, a country music fan, harmonizes his rich South African voice to‘Country Roads’ on my Dad’s CD.  Our fathers singing together, a half a globe apart.

Among the abundant similarities, Freedom isn’t one of them.

Not the kind of freedom I have known as a Canadian.

Six years ago when Kenny was brutally beaten in his own home, my heart broke.He survived the attack, with the fortitude of a man much younger than his 70 plus years. His strength, fed by terror the five attackers would discover where his wife and mother in law hid.

It was not the first time they had experienced violence.

Yet the thank you card I received didn’t speak of anger or bitterness.  It resonated with love and gratitude.

Overjoyed their daughter had traveled from Canada to ‘build us up again with fresh meals’ Marina wrote. “We are thankful our daughter lives in a much safer place”.“We have such a beautiful country,” she continued” with excellent weather. We hope it won’t be spoilt by unnecessary violence.”

“ART AND SPORT HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD, THE POWER TO INSPIRE, THE POWER TO UNITE PEOPLE IN A WAY LITTLE ELSE CAN.’ART AND SPORT CAN CREATE HOPE WHERE THERE WAS ONCE ONLY DESPAIR. THEY ARE INSTRUMENTS FOR PEACE, EVEN MORE POWERFUL THAN GOVERNMENTS”. Nelson R Mandela 

Swaziland 11×14 Original oil

Fire & Water 9×12 Original Oil

A special thanks to Marina & Kenny( married 56 years) for allowing me to share their story~ you continue to inspire me every day like my own family, with your gracious hearts & strength of spirit.

I wasn’t thinking about the morning, wandering in the forest shadows weeks ago.
My breath hanging in misty clouds before me.
Or about how the frosty dew glinted in the sun. The essence of autumn in the air, bringing it’s fresh earthly scent was far from my mind.
I wasn’t thinking about how I would tackle this on canvas, what brush I would use, what colours I would mix to recreate just this moment.

The truth is, I wasn’t thinking at all.

I was too busy being immersed.

“Tell stories of THE moment of inspiration. What were you doing in this spot,what were you thinking?’ a customer asked.
A wordsmith, her inquiry peppered with dramatic descriptions of what might be going thru my mind.
Listening to her poetic monologue, I thought what a crushing disappointment I am going to be when I tell her I don’t think.

Research claims may save me from further explanation.

According to Dr. Rossman, author of ‘the Worry Solution’ the conscious logic of our thinking brain works differently than the wisdom of our unconscious emotional intuitive mind.

‘When you are actively solving problems’ he writes,’ the electrical firing of your brain operates at a baseline of 24-42 cycles per second. When you breathe deeply and shift into relaxation mode, the brain slows to 10-12 cycles per second, as it slows further, information from it’s non verbal parts appear as images, feelings, intuition.” Inner wisdom resides here.

This is where the creative juices flow.

I might not be thinking about the sun streaming on maples or about the chill in the morning air,

but I am AWARE,my senses,saturated.
I bring this to the canvas.

Thinking happens during the in-between moments, after the experience, before I start to paint.Composition and colour swirling in my mind for days or weeks.
My mind sparking ideas, working thru the puzzle.

Relaxed at the easel, a shift occurs, thoughts disappear.
I am standing in the shadows, awash in the sun, breathing the scent of autumn once again.

Glen Steen knows about adversity. The former rugby player is familiar with pain, enduring long  physical games of contact.

When injuries sidelined his rugby playing, he took up triathlon. Triathlon? Not just triathlon but Ironman. After a serious neck injury derailed his swimming, he kept cycling, and took up karate.

Karate? Sensei Steen began teaching karate, pursued his passion for long distance cycling, while working full time as a Health Unit Inspector.

His life took a dramatic turn while cycling in 2011. Thrown from his bike after hitting an obstacle, Glen suffered a spinal cord injury leaving him in a quadriplegic state. With incredible drive, Glen has begun to achieve the nearly impossible. He can now stand, take steps and cycle on a trike.

                        Photo from Glen’s blog glensroadtorecovery.com

Years ago I was asked to get my affairs in order.  “I have seen thousands of CT scans, and none like this.” He said. “You may not survive the surgery on top of that, if the tumor ruptured it could be fatal”.

Lying in wait for surgery I considered tactfully begging for my life. My family needs me, I have more paintings to paint, more love to give, I would say.

Yet,I realized the staff had other patients to attend to, families to go home to…. a life.

If it was my last act, did I want it to be begging..  or kindness.

I thanked the team by name, for showing up. ‘Thank you for being here, for doing your best to fix me, whatever the outcome, know that I am grateful,’ I said.

A scar runs from the centre of my chest to above my right hip.

             London Marathon -6 months after surgery.

 Extensive repair among many areas, included my diaphragm. I faced permanent nerve damage in some areas, walking, running/biking with a partly numb leg/ foot.Several metal clips are scattered inside me.

I understand now, how vulnerable our bodies can be.  Gratitude permeates.

New” Sunshine” 24×30 Oil

I am thankful for the incredible medical team that saved my life, the ones that followed with rehab care,  supportive family and friends. The experience has made me a better person, better artist, and helped me be of service to those who fight their own battles.

I asked  Glen where he believes his resilience stems. Personality? history participating in sport? We agreed sport teaches dedication, and dealing with pain. He says’ you just have to make the best of the situation and never ever give up”. It  boils down to attitude. In fact, the latest research says THE Key to resilience is attitude.

We’ve been discussing his return to painting. Glen approaches art in typical fashion despite  physical challenges : gather knowledge, create and execute a plan. If you have to re-adjust, do so. Because tackling the next goal is what he does. That, and never giving up.

Research professor Brene Brown’s work reached sensation with her TED presentation “The power of vulnerability.” http://brenebrown.com/videos/

Brene says working as a social worker you realize “connection is why we are here’’ “it is what gives meaning and purpose to our lives”.

New Autumn 9×12 Oil

For connection to happen, she says, excruciating vulnerability, belief in worthiness, and the courage to be imperfect, are necessities.

She just defined life as a professional artist.

Artists understand vulnerability, and resilience. They embrace imperfection. To evolve, stumbling can be necessary. Now- a -days that evolution can be witnessed on a global scale. Talk about being vulnerable.

Vulnerability can unite us during difficult times or struggle. We are not alone. Resilience builds from struggle.

An artist is a lifetime student. A passionate quest to constantly learn.

“When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful as we discover how truly necessary we are to each other.” Margaret Wheatley

The scent of furniture wax, fresh linens and lingering oil paint fill the air. It feels timeless in the most comforting way.

Is this the fragrance of a home a century ago?I ponder sipping tea at our dining table.

The table is rich walnut, skillfully designed and crafted by my husband Marc.

Wooden chair cradles the way a custom fit will. Sensuous curves Marc carved with hand tools. It’s smooth texture encouraged with countless hours of sanding.

Tea steams in a pottery mug, made by known potter, Al Pace. I visualize his large hands molding the clay as mine wraps around its warmth.

The paintings, furniture and clay intermingle like the scents in the air. Each compliments and celebrates the other.

Some believe the spirit of the creator lives with the art, an energy source, breathing life to the space.

A quilt folded nearby, sewn by our friend Debi, offers comfort on a cool fall evening. I think of her hands running over the stitches, hours of design cutting, & sewing. The inside corner hosts her heartwarming message.

The season of Autumn is upon us.

With it brings Studio tours, One of a Kind shows, and craft fairs.

Artisans offering their wares, hand made with passion and attention to detail.

As you peruse the fairs and studios, it is a treat to meet the artists, to shake the hands that crafted your purchase.

In a society of consumerism and mass production, it’s rare to know your item is handmade.

An original you will not decorate with, but live with.

Created with love that is carried in the smooth craftsmanship of a chair, stitching in a quilt, curve of a clay mug, and resonating paint on canvas.

Who do you live with?

RED MAPLE- original oil 8×10  265$

Original walnut Table- Marc Banning

Dining Chairs-  Scott Morrison Maloof inspired design- Marc Banning

Pottery Mug- Al Pace – Pace Pottery Studio

Quilt- Debi Campbell

Feel welcome to visit the studio, I’d be happy to meet you, peruse the art, share a cup of tea. ~ d

dawn@dawnbanning.com