Diane Clancy's Art Blog

Win 2 free cards!! It’s that time of year again! For the worldwide One World, One HeART GiveAway – I am pretty excited!!  There are already over 400 blogs giving away gifts to people who enter their giveaways!!  You need to leave a comment to participate – of course with a way to contact you. Details for you to join in your own blog are here.

Lisa Oceandreamer started OWOH 2 years ago and she has a blog here which lists all the blogs involved and gives the details. If you are thinking of joining in and having your own giveaway, please go there and get the details.

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

Lots and lots of blogs are giving away items – to show love and build the blogosphere. So once I knew, how can I resist? My give-away will be two of any of these cards of my vibrant, colorful paintings. You choose which ones and I will send them to you – for FREE. (and yes, you can choose 2 of the same).

Reflections in Blue I, Pastel © Diane Clancy

You have until February 11 (at least at most blogs) to leave your name and join in each blog’s give-away. If you want to win the give-away, leave enough information for me in a comment to this post so I can get a hold of you. Remember your email is hidden so it is safe with me.

Reflections in Blue II, Pastel © Diane Clancy

Make sure your email address is a valid one and not one of the no-reply ones. Please do not leave sensitive info like your address or phone .. I can get your address when you win!

Mother Watching All, Oil © Diane Clancy

I will accept all entries until midnight eastern time on February 11 and then the winner will be announced on February 12 … and then your gift will be coming your way! To ANYWHERE in the world!

Sight, Collage © Diane Clancy

Here are more details if you would like to participate. There are tons of blogs participating … so gone on over and check them out! I know I plan to!! Also this list will stay up for 6 months after the event ends – so it is a great way to find wonderful new blogs!

Anticipation, Collage © Diane Clancy

The prize is any 2 of these cards. The size is 4.25 x 6″ and they are professionally printed. I look forward to seeing who wins!!  Starting in March I am going to be doing a monthly giveaway of one of these cards – your choice – in exchange for allowing me to put you on my email list … this is NOT for this giveaway – but for the one starting montly in March.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: One World One Heart, GiveAway, Lisa Oceandreamer, blogosphere, free, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting

The festival of Get to the heART of it!!!! asks everyone to share your HeART by words, art, video – whatever speaks to you around love of art or love of life!

Mother Henna by artist Kara L.C. Jones has been working on an incredible project of making 1,000 Faces of Mother Henna. I am going to write more about that on Friday … it is quite a project!! But she is also sponsoring a Blog Festival: Get to the heART of it!!!! You can see the details in her post. So I am getting to the HeART of it also … hence the badge that celebrates her Festival.

Mother Henna – Get to the HeART of it!!

I am joining into this celebration and I encourage you to join in also!  The gist of joining to is to “post an entry on your own blog before Valentines Day 2009. Share your love of art or love of life or host a heART themed party or tell us about the heART of yourself. Tell us what is at the heART of you! Words, art, video, anything you wish. Write a poem, share a short story, all formats welcome.“

Conundrum I, Collage © Diane Clancy

After thinking about what really represents the “the heART of myself,” I realized that this particular image is the visual representation of myself and my soul.  This vibrant, colorful painting was one that took me dozens of hours to complete. It is also very precious to me because I was spending some time at home with my parents when I started this … and my mom spent time with me choosing some of these pieces of fabric and paper to put together to create this piece. I love it and it speaks so deeply to me.

For many people it is their favorite piece of mine … If I had to choose one piece to keep, this would be it.  Also the double faces look a little like a heart. So this is my contribution for Getting to the heART of it!!!! I hope you also will share your HeART by words, art, video – whatever speaks to you around love of art or love of life!

I would like to acknowledge today that a most wondrous, historic, hopeful event happened as Obama became the President of the US today!!  This has the potential to be a unifying force in this whole earth with the leadership of such a smart, thoughtful person!  Such a joy!!!   I would love to hear how you are doing. Thanks for coming by!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Conundrum I, Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Mother Henna, Kara L.C. Jones, 1000 Faces of Mother Henna, Celebrating HeART, festival, collage

I have been tagged by 3 people over the last couple of months … and I will be doing my blog tomorrow (Wed at the latest) to respond (and thank) to the tags and to tag some of you!! In the meantime I will share this story I have promised you – a story that inspired me greatly!  This was something I read (years ago).  I forget the source and some the of the details may be somewhat inaccurate but sticking with the essential truth of the story.  (I am better on broad strokes than details around remembering things  … oh, that can be one of my things to tell you the tagged items tomorrow <grin>.)  If you want to skip my prologue and epilogue, go right to the story in bold red.

Slipping, Digital © Diane Clancy

These first paragraphs are giving background information for those unfamilar with these issues. In the United States issues around welfare are seen as a big deal.  In this country, we give some people a monthly stipend and health care for themselves (and often they have children also) so that they may live. This happens when people apply for help because they cannot do it themselves. In this country there is often a negative stigma to asking for this kind of aid.  Also many of us who have disabilities have also had to ask for help (disability payments) to survive. Unfortunately, there is a lot of judging by many toward those needing help.

Other countries tend not to have the same judgments about helping people to have a roof over their heads, food in their tummy and health care.  But in this country there are often pretty tough attitudes toward people needing help.  (I know -  I was on disability for a long time – because I needed it to live). People can become dependent on help for sure … but many people use it for a short term assistance until they can keep a job with a livable wage.

There are many other issues that complicate things for people wanting to get a job that will support themselves and their families.  Some areas have entrenched poverty.  Often the educational system is not giving everyone equal opportunities to get quality education.  Also, there are many personal issues that can complicate things for many.  And, the US, unlike most other so-called developed countries, does not provide health care for all.  Many people, especially women, have felt they needed welfare because they couldn’t make the jump to a job that provided health coverage for themselves and their children. I tell you this to set the background for this uplifting story.

[THE STORY] There was a group of welfare recipients who were chosen to see if they could work together and figure out how to get off welfare and get back to work.  Most people would rather be working (in a decent job environment) … rather than collecting welfare.  But it is often hard to know what steps to take once you get to a place of needing help.  This was a study set up by someone to see what might help get people another level in their lives.

So this group started meeting and talked about what was in their lives that they needed help with.  One woman said her screen door was ripped and the landlord wouldn’t return her calls.  A man spoke up … he said he knew how to fix that and would be delighted to!!  Out of this interaction, this was the start of his creating his own fix-it business and he was able to become self-supporting.

Another woman shared that it was needing childcare that was the roadblock to her going to the local community college so that she could learn skills to support herself.  A third woman spoke up, saying that her kids were at home and she would welcome taking care of some others.  Out of this interaction, the third woman started her own daycare and become self-supporting.  The second woman completed her degree and was able to get a job so she could support herself and her children.  [End Story}

This inspires me so much!! It is the whole idea of looking at people and seeing their assets and not just their deficits. The usual welfare system (and disability system) are focused on seeing people as needy and not seeing their strengths also. That was what was (and is) so inspiring to me around this short part of the story that I remember.  I do think it is important that people contribute to society – and there are many, many ways to contribute.

I think helping people build on their skills is a smart thing to do.  Most people are eager to be able to give – but it is harder to think about others when your own (and your children’s) basic needs aren’t being met.  This kind of supporting people to be empowered and self-sufficient is more time and money consuming at the beginning, but has an excellent pay-off.  It is like giving kids a quality education is much better (and cheaper) for society – in the long run. Remember, any of us could be in a situation of needing help from others!!

If you want to see the 2 articles I wrote in early December (they were the precursors to this), you can see them here (World AIDS Day and Me) and here (HIV/AIDS and Community Organizing). I hope you enjoyed this inspiration of these 4 people … and please forgive all the surrounding details to put it in context for those who live outside the US. Thanks for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: welfare, disability, assets

Monday, December 1, was Worlds AIDS Day and I wrote quite a long post about my 15 years as an HIV/AIDS activist.  This odd little image is sometimes what it was like to be so engrossed in the world of HIV/AIDS – all encompassing and disorienting.   I told you I wanted to share one more part about the organizing we did during those years …  So I will.

Floating, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am very tired because we just prepared everything for the fair on Saturday and Sunday …. but I promised you I would tell you about this piece … so I am going to dive in … we’ll see how far we get today.

We called our group the AIDS Community Group of Franklin County (Mass).  This shows the focus we had on empowering the community – both people with HIV/AIDS, those affected by HIV/AIDS, and the rest of the community too.  We felt (and still do) that it is in everyone’s best interest that all people get treated with respect and also have their needs met.  We wanted to live in a community where everyone was seen as having something to contribute … and gaining from being part of a larger community.

We had no idea that this was a novel or unusual way of thinking about things … it just seemed the correct way to go about approaching solutions to this issue.  We ran into some issues with social service agencies that thought we were naive and ignorant. Now there is a fairly large industry around HIV/AIDS … and that it a very different orientation.

One day several of us were at a meeting and someone gave a keynote speech about the difference between social service models and empowerment models. (I can’t remember the name that the speaker used for the model that was different from social services).  Those of us there picked up our ears … ah, there was a name for what we were doing and other people were thinking about it too.

Often a social service model treats people like the problem .. thus something to be fixed … the people are the problem.  The solutions are also seen to lie outside the individuals involved – the system treated or fixed or served them.  (Sort of like the old model of medicine where the doctor was God and the patient was not part of the equation or team).

In the community empowerment model the people and the community are seen as integral to the solutions … they are not the problem, but rather the answer. Ah, yes, I am remembering a little more as I am writing.  It is the difference between seeing the assets of people rather than their deficits.  The social service model tends to see the problems and the lack, and the community organizing model tends to see the assets of community and individuals – what they have to offer, not just what they need.

We were intuitively organizing this way … it sure made sense to me!! (And actually I was the creator and coordinator – surprise!) It is how I mostly see the world – it is mostly part of my personality and world view.  The group attracted lots of people who had never done any organizing before and who felt incredibly empowered by contributing to the community like that.  It was great and as individuals we were also empowered!!

Several of us were articulate about our model and we took the show on the road (we were asked to).  We did some trainings around New England at different HIV/AIDS meetings and conferences.  It was a very exciting and empowering time!!

It was also very validating that a model that we had created from our own life experiences received such notice and acceptance.  It was thrilling that there already were theories backing up our ways and thinking.  Very wonderful – and exhausting – time. Thanks for listening to my story!

This is long enough that I a going to continue it one more day … probably to Friday or Saturday.  I want to share something that I read about once that is wondrous to me … about organizing some welfare recipients had done.  To me, it is an extension of this – and I tell my memory of the story as often as I can because it is so exciting.

Thank you for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Worlds AIDS Day, HIV/AIDS, fair, community empowerment model

Yesterday was quite a busy day – the people downstairs’ lock broke – again – so a chunk of the day was spent on that.  I have to deal with plenty around this house … it is close to 100 years young and is lovely!! and also old. This is one issue that weaves through my life – and for some times of things I need to deal with them quickly – for sure!

I have done community organizing for over 40 years … lots of volunteer work – in many different areas.  Given my health, it was one way I could contribute to the community – yet still take care of my health.  It gave me a sense of purpose much larger than myself and my own issues and concerns.  I feel really good about all the work I done over the years – in peace, environmental, health, and social and economic justice issues.  Yes – I have been a little busy – and much of the work I was even able to do from bed! (I am sure I could write a book with tales of my life and organizing.) (My treatment went well today.)

A couple of years ago I decided that I needed to switch my organizing focus to art organizing.  It seemed important to back up my art career with mainly focusing on the creative arts.  “They,” “The Experts,” all say that the most important thing to build your art career (maybe even more than good art) is networking, building relationships and marketing. So, I deligently started about two years ago.  I dove in.  I refused to take on more responsibility in other areas (that lasted a whole year I think).  I got active in art locally and online.

Actually I got pulled back in to both environmental organizing and local politics organizing. If we don’t have a functional earth, we have nothing to stand on.  And if we don’t have decent local government (and national – yippee!!), then the arts and the economy are not well supported.  The quality of life degrades when there is divisive and power-hungry leadership. But I am once again switching my focus some away from this. There are such important crucial issues in both areas, that I cannot turn my back on them … but I have seriously started putting my needs at the forefront.

Being so sick for so long, it was hard to not put the big picture ahead of me – given my personality.  But I have come to a new place inside myself, and I am pulling inward in a healthy way.  There were years I was so sick I could barely get out of bed, so when I have energy, I want to do things that I feel will help the world and make me feel empowered and effective.

So I am working myself out of some of the things I have been doing.  I have not been the head honcho or anything with these things the last few years – just a good team player.  (I was a leader a lot for years.) But I am letting people know that I am giving myself a chance to succeed with my art career.  People are *mostly* supportive. And I am doing it.

I am going to stop here … and tomorrow talk about the grant and press release. I am wanting you to understand the texture of my life and my thought processes in doing what I am doing.  It was very exciting to get the grant!  It was the first time in my life I have been paid for organizing – I am thrilled.  That is why I am going to start again tomorrow … so it is a readable length.

Thanks for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Butterfly, organizing, community organizing, sense of purpose, creative arts, locally, online

I am so moved and delighted and excited – as is most of the world!! Electing Obama gives me hope that we can move beyond the kind of politics that has dominated this country.  I am also saddened that gay rights took a real hit in this same election that has so much hope. But I also know that it is just a matter to time … clearly, the tide has turned from, say a decade ago. Many people now understand that gay people are people just like black people are people. It will take a little longer, and a lot of work, to give fulls rights to gay people. But in the meantime, we have Obama and he will lead this country with a new attitude of respect and cooperation.

Animals V, Digital © Diane Clancy

This image is for the Pet Monologues which is the blog which I directed you to showing that incredible video about the lion hugging the woman who rescued him. Also they highlight art, poems and more that showcase animals every week. You can see their blog here. And this is the post for this particular challenge. I hope you enjoy the images there!!Here is that other lion video I told you about the other day. This video is absolutely amazing!! If you loved that lion video I showed you before – and who didn’t? Then you will LOVE LOVE LOVE this video … it is utterly amazing … some of us have cried from the beauty. I know I could put the video here … but it slows things down more – so I wanted to link you to it. It will open in a new window.

They put up a few of the images and then have links to the rest of the sites … perhaps you will feel moved to participate!  Thank you for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Obama, gay rights, Pet Monologues

This year again November is Creative Every Day, Art Every Day Month. Sue O’Kieffe of Sacred Circle Mandalas reminded me through her blog newsletter that it is that time of year again. Sue makes incredible mandalas and you can follow her here.  Sue is a very gifted artist!

Art Every Day Month was started by Leah Piken Kolidas 6 years ago.  Leah blog has all the guidelines for participating. This post has all the details. As Leah says, any creativity counts – and it is great if you can create every day or whenever you can.  She encourages people to let her know that you are participating so she can list you if you like.

Here are some logos for this challenge – you can put them on your blog or website if you like. I encourage everyone to be creative in some way in Novemeber.

Art Every Day, © Leah Piken Kolidas

Art Every Day, © Leah Piken Kolidas

Cyan Carnival, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am on pins and needles – like so many others of you – waiting for the results of the election. I sure hope this country gets back on the track of self-respect and respect for all others … including the earth. We are on the verge of such a gigantic step of moving forward for all people!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Creative Every Day, Art Every Day Month, Sue O’Kieffe, Sacred Circle Mandalas, Leah Piken Kolidas, election

Today is Picasso‘s birthday and has been chosen to celebrate International Artist Day. Here is a website International Artist Day (http://www.internationalartistday.com) and blog (http://internationalartistday.blogspot.com/).  This is truly international – it is very exciting. There are articles on the website from different parts of the world – like Mexico, Canada, Nepal, Spain and the US. It is wonderful to see people cooperating across borders around the earth!!

International Artist Day

I think next year it might make sense to have one of the AWE Projects (Artist Window Exhibit) in Greenfield, MA around this special day. What fun to be networking and connecting with all these artists all over!! The blog and website have lots of suggestions of how to promote and support art.

The articles are thoughtful … reminding us all that artists have always played an important part of creating culture … and artists have also tended to be at the cutting edge of change. Let’s celebrate us all and each other in knowing we are a crucial part of our world … and give hope and inspiration to us all.  Thank you for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Picasso, International Artist Day, AWE Project

This looks like a Goddess Mandala to me.  It looks mythical and deep with layers of meaning. It looks like a scared symbol of an earth culture. For me it is a sacred symbol – I see a goddess created from ancient, significant symbols. There is a human aspect and also a nature deva facet. And of course, the colors have profound spiritual implications. Absolutely amazing the way the unconscious speaks in art!!

Life Mandala, Digital © Diane Clancy

I have a give-away to celebrate my 500th post. You can still enter to win!! Here are the details. It is FREE to enter! Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Goddess, Mandala, scared symbol, deva, spiritual, unconscious, give-away, FREE

In the United States this is Memorial Day … to honor those who have served our country.  No matter what you think of some of this countries policies and actions, I appreciate the service that people give this country … and the intent of them to serve peace in the world.

This makes it especially horrifying that the TV station that puts itself forward as THE real patriotic, fair and unbiased, news station … has gone way over the edge. There are many ways to give service to one’s country, and running for public office is one of them. Barack Obama is running for President of the US for service. It is not for gain or ego – it is for service.

Tropical Gateway, Digital © Diane Clancy

I am horrified that that news station showed 2 people – laughing none the less – on the air saying something that is way, way over the deep end.  (That means very, very extreme for those who might not know the slang.)  I do not want to even repeat it here … but I am giving you 2 links where it shows it and gives people action to take.

I hope you will take the action that you feel moved it.  Here is the Huffington Post and Daily Kos with some good information.  This kind of behavior has no place in this (or any other in my opinion) country. You know I don’t talk about such things very often – but I felt the need to on this one.

Here is a portal into another reality … where you didn’t expect it … in the middle of the rain forest.  On second thought, there is some pretty far out spirituality and views into other realities coming out of the tropics … so perhaps this is one of those gateways!  Thank you for coming by!

~ Diane Clancy