Sometimes if you are over extended the way I have been or you are just torn between emotional forces and are overwhelmed by defeat- You Just Feel Like THIS:

The River By MAILLOL located at the MOMA Sculpture Garden photo by m. diaz

Interestingly enough Maillol Began this piece as a commission for a pacifist and as a statement against war- he had developed it as a woman who had been stabbed in the back and was falling...and that is what I saw when I first laid eyes on it - but the commission fell through and when he completed it - he developed it as THE RIVER - hence all the movement in the piece- something he had once felt had no place in sculpture - IF you have just a ONE MINUTE and 37 seconds you should listen to this description by chief curator of the Moma on the piece:

OR I can say I have been feeling like this one too - legless - immobile and confounded by the characters in my life...

excerpt of Crying in Public 2003 1 of 8 from a series of nine lithographs with chine-colle by CLAUDETTE SCHREUDERS </span>

A portrait can be illustrated in so many ways - Take for example these portraits - one male and one female, Henrik Olesen‘s Portrait of Scott, a deconstructed 13-inch Macbook, and Portrait of Kirsten, a deconstructed Canon PIXMA iP4200 Photo Printer. Lots of food for thought here...every little underestimated piece a vital part of the whole and the object, the tool the extension to the human...

Me behind Portrait of S. by Henrik Olesen

Portrait of S. by Henrik Olesen

Then I kind of fell head over heels over an artist who employs ACTIONS as his art - FRANCIS ALŸS who the students and I see his work akin to Guerilla Art- wonderful for them to see this is not solely a result of the 21st century, but considered much earlier by minds like ALŸS'...I've been intrigued and have started to delve deeply into his concepts.

One of my Favorite ALŸS pieces, ZOCALO in which a social situation lends itself to a sculptural one...read on...

Zócalo (Mexico City, 1999 collaboration with Rafael Ortega) is a 12 hour documentary following the progression of the shadow of the flagpole in the Zócalo (the main square in Mexico City) during the course of a day. The Zócalo was redesigned at the beginning of the revolutionary era as a setting for huge propagandist spectacles and became with time the ideal space to express public discontent. Alÿs' film records how arbitrary social encounters can sometimes be perceived as sculptural situations.

Have 15 minutes??

Indulge in a creativity shot! Watch this TED talk video by Artist Vik Muniz who makes art from pretty much anything! Be it shredded paper, wire, thread, clouds, sugar or (my fave) chocolate!!

I think this is a great artist and visionary to look at on Earth day as his work inspires me to see in new ways and to look at things that I would normally disregard, and notice that these things have majestic potential.

My earth day wish and oath is that we would approach our communities and future with open eyes, a conscious heart, an active hand and a willingness to try. - Amarettogirl

Here in this video he describes the thinking behind his work and takes us on a tour of his incredible images. If you stick it out past the cotton, fluff shapes you'll me mesmerized!!

I was fortunate enough to see this Vik Muniz piece in 'real life' when it was at the MOMA:

So what do you say? After reading such negativity, deceit and hardships in the news why don't we shake our heads and open our eyes to seeing life a new. Lets try to see the beauty and potential in everything. Lets be more creative as we strive to create environmental balance and daily peace.

Lastly, let me share this phenomenal ten second exercise emailed to me today by a brilliant student W. Greenbaum,

Here is a 10 second exercise: Read then try...

Close your eyes. Inhale softly, then exhale slowly. Then open your eyes.

That moment was brought to you by the planet earth. The relative stillness provided by her gravity. The air from her atmosphere. Love and Respect her. That's all you have to do.

Happy Earth Day everyone!

3ww prompt:Deceit, Indulge, Oath