Tunnel Vision

I have an art condition called Tunnel Vision:

a drastically narrowed field of vision, as in looking through a tube.
It has been creeping up on me over the past month and now I have a full blown case....It is treatable prescription drugs are not necessary but what is required are longer hours in my studio,more hot baths,many movies,lots of cuddles with sir shadow, chats on the phone with family and friends,long walks and bike rides.

Sunday April 25 th 2010 was the Young At Art Reception here at the gallery...This month hanging in the gallery has been the creativity of School district 78 primary-senior students,their creative expression fills the walls.What has been delightful is seeing the kids come in full of enthusiasm and pride as they see their art on the wall,that is something that I don't tire of is the being in the present moment attitude that children have..Ok speaking of children I am going to be a Nana this year yep my daughter Taylor and her husband Tj(newlyweds) are bringing a new generation forth...

I also feel I am birthing more in the sense though of my artwork...and I am getting closer to the harder labor of pushing my own creative expression in the world for u all to see..Over the last little while artist acquaintances/friends have strolled through my studio the feedback I have received has been food for thought that I have either pondered or acted upon... being so close to my art its very easy to lose sight of the vision/outcome for a piece. The perspective of others has assisted me in taking a particular piece to the finish line..I appreciate all of the insights..Thanx so much for that!!!!

I am living/breathing/talking/acting out another dream that I also spoke about...experiencing my daily life as artist in residence is way beyond what I dreamed in fact its even better..when I am feeling out of sorts/stressed about how I am going to bring all of this together,little things pop up that solidifies that for today this is where I am in the moment doing,being,seeing,feeling my way about in my artists way and tomorrow will come without me wanting or needing to know what's next.

I am off to the BC Arts Conference at the end of the week so that will be fun to connect with like minded on a bigger scale.So ya see this writers creative journey rocks and rolls..Thanx for tuning in..

In Artistic Solidarity;

Rhonda

Pics:

1: side table or???

2: Top of an Altar

3: Afri-can Warrior Screen

4: OM

5: Artists Reception at gallery "Young At Art"

6: Chalk Art(gallery)

7: Graffiti Door on display at Agassiz Library

8: bottle caps I've been collecting on morning walks to be incorporated in a piece

9: "Young At Art Show"

Studio Intervention & Trippin

My People,My People;
How the hell are ya? I am alive and kicking here at Casa De Sanctuary and Alteredanything Studio...So i owe u all a few posts,lets get at it....The last post i am whining about a suggestion given to me by a friend of clean and organizing my studio as it would help...Well at that time i thought this friend had completely lost it. As i tell people to remain open this was a time when i needed to take my own advice, keep my mouth shut and go with the flow.

Goddess love my friend Megan,she truly has been a huge support to me and us Artists need that well i know i do. Megan,Pam(Megan;s sister) & Chris showed up on a Friday evening with dinner,drinks and loads of energy. I was a bundle of nerves cause i had things organized in the studio that worked for me and people were going to be moving and changing stuff up,truly i was so wrong. After Dinner we all stepped into the studio the music was put on and each of us took up a position and dived in...my things were everywhere and nowhere it was a blur..four hours later as i looked around there was a difference...yes things had a places to live,there were open spaces..temp shelves were in place and the biggest difference were my work tables..For the past six months i have not seen the tops of my tables. Behold i could walk around the table and see clear space all around.I welled up with emotion or maybe it was the paralyzer.

The studio had a rebirth my heart soared and what weight i carried around these last months was gone. Truly i had a an attitude adjustment. There were so many memories of that intervention that i will carry with me and talk about as it truly made a difference in my creative life. One of the fun things that we did that night was to do a random changing installation on one of the tables adding bits and odds here and there( i will post pics of those later) no analyzing as to how and why of these sculptures..WE JUST DID IT.. Thank You Megan,Pam & Chris!!!! U womyn rock

Studio Update:
I gotta tell ya now weeks later,i love my clean,organized studio..Creatively i am on fire cause i am clear inside and out.not to mention organized.

Away Away;

Days later after Studio Intervention..i took some time out and away with another gal pal Jody..we were off to Powell River..we had fun especially since the weather was in our favor..i love being on the ferry and Jody& I caught up on the beautiful drive and ferry's.. We saw our gal pal Nancy who resides in Powell River...it was a whirlwind visit but much needed...its always a pleasure to hang out with friends..

Well this is a long overdue quick to the point post..coming up are new pieces in progress and coming to finish on many of these pieces. Its hard to believe that my time is almost up here in the outback of Harrison Hot Springs. However for today i am enjoying each and every moment that i creatively have here.

Just a shout out to all that take the time to read my ramblings...Thanx So Much...U all also make a difference in my life....

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda

Shout Out!!!!

Calling All Creatives:
Its almost that time when i will be signing off as Artist In Residence here at Ranger Station Art Gallery...The New year for the next artist is September 2010..

Yeah Yeah i hear ya...September is way off.ok got that but here's what i need you to do..

Dear Artists;
its time to update your CV,dust off and add to your portfolio..think about what your creative year looks like...Deadline is June 1st.

For More info on the Artists in Residence programme:

http://kentharrisonartscouncil.org/

I will return with an update from my recent get away and Studio cleanup/organize.............

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda

The Creative Bed

Salutations from the Sanctuary...nice to see ya here.as I write this I am tying up some loose ends to take a time out actually some time away from the sanctuary as I am feeling alot of stress along with exhaustion meeting deadline after deadline.

April brings me to three months to complete all the pieces with a small window to tweak before July..Yeah I know what your saying.." you have lots of time Rhonda" well actually no as I look at the 6 studio lists that document pretty well all the pieces and what needs to be done...its the little things that can do one in. I have over thirty pieces .....SHIT!!! rather ambitious when it all this started although there is much headway being made...being smack dab in the middle of it all makes the big picture so much larger...Friends have jumped in to help in various ways and I am damn grateful...

The most interesting help I am receiving is the organizing and cleaning of the studio,now when this was first suggested I was doubtful,resistant,cynical cause I could not see this decreasing my stress as i glance at my studio chaos so I gotta say reluctantly am saying yes..I will get back to u on the outcome of studio clean/organize.

The picture of the bed is kewl huh?? this piece was given to me and it will be used as part of my show...that bed is a great symbology for how I am feeling these days there it sits waiting for me to just lay down and chill...

My time out will be a good time to rebalance,connect and just be with friends in a different environment..

No Art for awhile...unplugging from u all...see ya soon.......

May the creative force be with u.....

In Artistic Solidarity;

Rhonda

Thoughts Become Things......

Howdy Ho Readers;

I hope this post finds your life full of abundance....Although i say that i am very aware that its challenging on so many levels for many of you right now,it just seems that so much is out of balance these days.

As i step into the studio daily and realize that time is ticking to meet this enormous deadline naturally stuff has arose which has impacted my creativity in one way or another,however i am in the studio even when i am creatively blocked there i sit or clean up the studio.I had a dream of one day being and doing art and today for the last six months I've done just that.Eat,Breathe,Talk Art what an amazing journey thus far its been. It has been much about self discovery and hmm i think maybe only a couple of layers have been peeled back.

I have so many of you to thank for your support which makes my work all the more full of meaning.Because been in overwhelm mode my mentor Luchia suggested that i write all my pieces down and what needs to be completed..Holy jumpings what a task before me...This is real what is happening here in the studio!!! My days begin anywhere from 6-7 am..the morning walk(dependant on weather) is a great kickstart as i allow my mind to wander and my body moves into balance.

I still continue to love my surroundings here...the peace and quiet are my best friends

What i am trying to say as each day when i step over the threshold into the studio i find out what i am made of and its alot ,the good,bad and the ugly but still there is a part of me that holds back..not quite sure what is going to come out of me.There are surprises from when i began in my head thinking of what i was going to create,my head had some pretty strong ideas,the heart and soul translated what truly needed to be created through my hands.

Thoughts truly do become things but i think that u are not told that they have to get by your heart and soul first...

The above pics are pieces that are in progress...Do something for me actually for yourself. take time for u,treat u in a way that u want to be treated.!!

To Thine Own Self Be True and rock on in the creative world.....

In Blessed Artistic Solidarity;

Rhonda

P:S.....I've chosen to share the pics with you but i am not going to put a name to the pieces at this time..Please be aware theses pieces are all in progress...

Become A Fan On my Facebook Page......copy and paste into your web browser

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rhonda-Simmons/360161663155?v=photos&ref=ts

Art-Full

How do readers?? are ya enjoying winter in whatever form it is visiting you....I am happy with the sprinwinter(spring,winter) this year how grateful i am that being here this year that last years winter didn't repeat..yahoo!!! i continue to yearn for blue skies,humid air and sunshine..however writing that i am happy to be where i am today as an artist in residence.

Today is my six months that i began this adventure...so as of March 1st i have four months to complete my body of work!!! Yikes.i am border line overwhelm and hysteria especially when i look at the big picture..Stay with me here for a minute while i BREATHE! its full moon today

Quickening moon:
This is a month when new life is beginning, but still lies dormant. Pregnant animals, due in the spring, begin to feel the quickening of their unborn young. The earth itself is quickening, as seeds and bulbs far beneath the soil begin their journey towards the light. We know these things are coming -- and we know also that this is a good month to make plans for the future. We can dream and hope, and set goals for ourselves. Accept responsibility for mistakes you've made in the past, and move on. Magical workings this month should focus on personal achievements and advancement.

Progress is perking away in the studio,i have had to stop with bringing any new creative ideas aboard as my creative hands runneth over....

The title is fitting of my past week....Casa De Sanctuary/Studio was full up with guests coming and going...the truly kewl factor is they are all are artists..yep yep..

Monday: Krystin from Mission came for a play time in the studio...as usual we chattered and created...Krystin has worked her artistic magic on invitations for my show in July...I'll share a sneak peek soon. Take a stroll over to Krystin's blog to see more of her art.

http://www.walkingwithkrystin.blogspot.com/

Tuesday: Violette from White Rock also came for a play time but we ended up talking and brainstorming which is a bonus as it helped me push through some blocks i was having with some of my pieces.. u know the drill stroll on over, i love her work.

http://www.violette.ca/blog.html
if u scroll down a day or two u will read Violette's thoughts on her visit to Casa De Sanctuary. The title of the entry violette wrote is called "Assemblage Heaven"

Wednesday: Daniel from New Jersey USA,picked up Daniel on Tuesday night ...I met Daniel last year in San Miguel,Mexico and he has been a great supporter of me..this young man is uber talented..this is his second trip to Canada to visit me ,last year a couple of months after i returned from Mexico and this time which is perfect timing as i have been grieving Mexico lately.(it will be one year March 7th that i returned from Mexico) My new website was built by Daniel.Love his Text and Thoughts Work

http://www.danielpatrick.org/
http://www.thepricelesschapel.com/

Wednesday: I hired a couple of the teenagers from the Alternative school to come to my studio to build some of my pieces.

Thursday: I facilitate a art programme that i set up for the Alternative High School once a week,this is part of my outreach for my artists residency.

Friday:The end of an Art-full week at Casa De Sanctuary,i am exhausted but so creatively filled..Thanx so much for reading along

The beginning of March has me with a consistent full schedule but i love the fact that its all art related....I got a load of gratitude for my life right now...............IT ROCKS..

Well its 8:36pSunday night February 28thfull moon,i have a gal pal visiting but felt compelled to finish this up....Thanx so much for stopping in.......let me know that u have passed by here leave me a
word or two....

In Artistic Solidarity
Rhonda

Pictures:

1. daniel &moi in the gallery

2.Alt School art project for gallery show in April (chair)

3.Alt School art project for gallery show in April (screen)

4.Daniel working in the classroom at the alt school

5.Building of my art pieces...Justin,Harley and yours truly

6.Justin and Harley working it

7.Violette

8.Creativity by Krystin

9.Krystin

10.Studio piece in progress

Drifting.................

When I began writing this post in my head a few weeks back,I was on my morning walk on the beach marveling at the many pieces of driftwood strewn about.Yesterday was a beautiful,clear sunny coolish day ,after coming to a resolution with one of my creations it was high time to step out...The driftwood never left my mind and it was time to take a pic.

At the end of this month I will be halfway through my residency which is totally blowing my mind. The creations that want to be seen spill out of me I dream of asleep and awake which makes it difficult at times to be totally present with people unless u want a hell of alot of art talk. There are those kindred creative souls that are open to sharing this experience with me and want to know what's cooking in the studio..Thanx so much for that!!!

Mornings are a beautiful window in the beginnings of a day for me,regardless of what time I go to bed,morning appears and I am up.There are times when I do force myself to languish under the bedcovers and gaze out the window to the lake,however I am called forth to the outdoors... Many things here at "Casa De Sanctuary" are showing themselves in the flow of the creative process.. I named my show which is kind of funny cause as things go it wasn't the name that I started out with quite awhile back.

I will sign a contract specifically for the show....so get out your daytimers as my Artists Reception opening of my solo show will be July 4th 2010 2-4 pm. I share this date early as hoping that some friends that are a distance away will be able to make it.

Thus far I have 26 pieces that are in some state of progress in and out of the studio. So now my focus will turn towards completing these pieces with so many varied diverse details. I'm beginning to be excited and scared shitless cause this is real time folks...big steps here inside and out!!!

The driftwood becomes part of my sanctuary in one way or another from these morning walks and this is only a small part of what is too come on the beach so the locals say. Last week I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful evening with a local resident who resides here part time. Alex's main home is in Toronto but his family home is here in the village. This is a space that I've admired on my morning walks through the village so I was thrilled to step over the threshold.

Our evening was full of good food,spirits(Thanx Alex) laugher,sharing,becoming acquainted..Alex is also an artist a photographer to be exact and his work is very kewl!!! We shared what we enjoyed about Harrison Hot Springs and something Alex said took my breath away and I became deeply reflective.. Alex said that he enjoys the "Silence" Yes I can so relate to that I have embraced the silence in a big way to the point that its hard to move me away from here if only to run errands. If u were to ask me already what is my fave time of year its NOW...its just me,nature and the locals...tourist season is not part of the equation ........there's space all about and I love it Yes Alex especially the silence.

The environment is a fab place for an artist to create....there is no time to feel lonely..hell no with the amount of company I have out here lol lol...I am happy that u all are enjoying the Casa!!!!

Well its another creative day and so I must say my see ya sooner rather than later....

In Artistic Solidarity;
Rhonda