samsara

Or should I say pig samsara...

I was at the farm again yesterday with my daughter, who had early dismissal from school, and we saw these big piglets sleeping in circular formation.  It reminded me of the concept of samsara and also the image of the ouroboros -- bringing to mind the cyclical nature of things, the constant cycle of renewal and rebirth, etc.  (Side note: I think I am missing my old days in divinity school right about now.)

Image from this link.

Not to cheapen these lofty concepts by applying them to the drama of my day-to-day life, but I was thinking how my art life is this constantly repeating cycle of working like crazy, installing a show, having the post-show slump, and then kicking it back into high gear again to prepare for yet another rapidly-approaching show deadline.  And then that show gets installed, and the cycle begins again.  As I have mentioned in the past, ad nauseum perhaps, I have still not mastered the art of working steadily, day in and day out.  I'm much more about the valleys and peaks.  And I sort of get off on the rush of it, but it is also exhausting and emotionally and physically draining, and it makes me slightly crazed all the time. 

Speaking of rapidly approaching shows, over the weekend I designed the postcard for my upcoming show at Rare Device. 

 

I've been wanting to title a show "Shapeshifter" for a while now.  It's a more elegant word than "morphing" (which I have probably way overused at this point), and I like its mythological/folkloric connotations. I think it applies mostly to my she-wolf and she-falcon drawings, but it still works for my animals who change forms, too.  I will be out in San Francisco the first weekend in June for the show opening, and I'm looking forward to meeting the two Lisas out there.

So I am continuing to plug away at my work table in the studio, where I've been working under the stern gaze of an old painting I did of myself (was my hair really ever that short??), and now that I look at it, I think I am done being stared at by a younger, painted version of me!  That thing is coming down today, pronto.

Happy Thursday to you all!

Comments

[camilla Engman]

I wish I could meet two Lisa's and one Amy.
Those pigs looks very much like Morran, very cute :)

[katrina]

i love seeing your studio and that lovely earlier painting. yes, those pigs are quite incredible in their circular formation. certainly like samsara or like a mandala of sorts. AND i can't wait for your show at rare device in SF! i just put it on my calendar so i won't forget. what fun...

[nina]

I love the image of the piglets!
I think I have yet to meet an artist that manages to be even-keeled in their work process. I am sure they *could* exist, I just haven't come across someone like that yet.
I am in constant awe at how much you produce and of what quality --and that on top of that you are a mom - so I say whatever you are doing (while at times it might seem like too much/crazy) it is working :)

[Esti]

I think that painting is so good, but I relate to that feeling of not liking being stared at by a younger you.
The piglet picture is funny! ;)