Diane Clancy's Art Blog » Environment

Blog Action Day 2010 – Water

Diane Clancy — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 00:34:03 +0000

Blog Action Day 2010 features Water. This website www.blogactionday.change.org every year spearheads bloggers all over the year to write about one crucial issue. This year WATER – and the lack of safe water for everyone who needs to drink – is the chosen topic. Over 5000 bloggers worldwide are writing today about access to water!!

Here is a short blurb that this great website provides about water: “After all, clean water is essential for our survival, but dangerously scarce. Nearly one billion people in the world today don’t have access to clean water and 42,000 people die each week from water-borne diseases. And the issue doesn’t stop there — water availability impacts a wide variety of issues from the environment to women’s rights and from technology to fashion.”

Ocean Dreams is my of my colorful, vibrant paintings that honors the need for water. Perhaps one day we will be able to get fresh drinking water from the ocean too. I encourage us all to be grateful for the water we do have and do what we can to help others who need water.

Ocean Dreams, Digital © Diane Clancy

~ Diane Clancy

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Blog Action Day 2009

Diane Clancy — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:45:18 +0000

Today is Blog Action Day 2009. October 15th is the annual day for bloggers all over the world to unite together to spread the word about this important issue – of CLIMATE CHANGE! Almost 10,000 bloggers from 150 countries have participated so far! Dealing with Climate Change is crucial to the survival of humankind.

Earth Day, Digital © Diane Clancy

This vibrant, colorful painting of Earth Day shows humankind taking the extraordinary leap that we need to take to make the changes we need. All the personal things so many of us are doing – driving more slowly, turning down the heat, eating locally – are all important and we need to each continue our efforts!

BUT war wrecks total havoc on the environment. Peace is much healthier for the earth – besides for “children and all other living things.” The environmental impact of war is terrible!! The fighter jets, bombs, wreckage of buildings, transporting many troops and supplies … all take a large toll on the earth. I KNOW it is terrible with the human cost – and I am so sorry for all of us who have been impacted with human loss by war (which includes most of us) … AND the toll of war on the earth is terrible also.

This is yet another reason we need to strive to create peace – for all of us and also the home we call earth!!

Thank you for stopping by!

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Tribute to Woodstock 40 Years Later

Diane Clancy — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:17:36 +0000

It is hard to believe that Woodstock was already 40 years ago. I am one of the people who was really there – not just feeling like I was there from the movies. I still have my tickets … and the little ceramic animals someone threw from the stage. It was a wonderful experience … it was amazing as we drove toward the festival, the traffic just stopped … the whole highway was clogged by abandoned cars .. abandoned on the way to Woodstock. So we got out of the car with whatever we had … and started walking …

Woodstock Tribute I, Digital © Diane Clancy

Much has been said about the Woodstock experience … each person had a different thread of being and yet we all wove together an incredible tapestry … the details of my own individual time seem so unimportant … it the beauty of the whole that truly matters .. and there are plenty of stories all around.

Woodstock Tribute II, Digital © Diane Clancy

Woodstock is an important milestone on the journey of creating a better world. In my opinion the Civil Rights Movement, then the anti-Vietnam war (anti the war, NOT anti the soldiers – my friends and I was always very clear about that!) moved us toward Woodstock. Music has been such a vehicle to inspire and transform people (like art can be too) .. and there was already very powerful music from both of those movements.

To me, much of the explosion of movements for various social justice issues were supported by Woodstock. Woodstock was part of their foundation, just like the Civil Rights and anti-war movements were foundations of Woodstock. Of course, these are only snapshots of movements through history … lots happened before the lifetime of the Flower Children.

Clamshell Alliance brought together large groups of people, committed to a common purpose (supporting alternative energy that was good for the environment – now, of course, most people realize we need sustainable energy). Of course, there were no drugs or alcohol allowed there … and much of the good will and all working together were formalized into affinity groups where people knew they were responsible for and to each other. Every participant was trained in non-violence theory and practice and needed to make a commitment to non-violence – that was a continuation of Woodstock, among other influences (like Ghandi).

Many other groups came together in the 1970′s to create the world of peace, love and social justice. I do not see Woodstock as separate from this at all … but as part of a continuum. In the movie I watched last night - “Woodstock: Now and Then” – it suggested that Woodstock was an incredible stand alone phenomenon. (At least that was my understanding of what was said by some of the organizers.) There were lots of interviews including Michael Lang, Artie Cornfeld, Richie Havens, Graham Nash and others….

Wonderful as Woodstock was (as an idea even more than the actual experience …), it’s impact is multiplied by understanding it in the context of the history of the wondrous journey of people coming together to create a better world. Ghandi in India, union organizers in the US, the Freedom Train to help escaped slaves and the Suffrage Movement for women to get the vote – all these movements are part of the foundation that made Woodstock the fantastic time, memory and inspiration that it remains.

Thank you for listening to my thoughts and thank you for coming by!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Heavenly Cosmos and the Sun

Diane Clancy — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:09:52 +0000

This vibrant, colorful painting is Heavenly Cosmos – the heavens are always there. I think it is so so cool that the sun is ALWAYS there!! It may be cloudy, but beyond the clouds – the sun is there in full force! And – even in the night – the sun is still there – fully sending out all its rays … we are just turned away from the sun.

Heavenly Cosmos, Digital © Diane Clancy

And it is AMAZING how the sun is different in the various places during the seasons. The poles in the winter have night almost 24 hours a day. And in the summer – my favorite time of the year – the poles have sunlight almost all the time. Northern Lights are fabulous!! I believe the sun at the Equator is fairly evenly all the time – similar sunrise and sunset times. Nature is so glorious!

And the power of healing is astonishing! I am delighted to report that after this setback, my cousin is doing much better today. Who knows what will happen, but I am so grateful that Vincent has made some turn around. Thank you so much for all your support! I also managed to work a little in the garden today. Thank you for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

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Remembering 2009

Diane Clancy — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:14:18 +0000

Today is a Day of Remembrance in the US. Remembering all those who have served to protect people and to bring peace to the world – who have served in the military – and who have often paid the price with their lives. Thank you for your service that you have given over the years – that service which has protected many people. This vibrant, colorful painting seemed particularly appropriate to honor these brave men and women. There are others I would also like to Remember today.

Remember all those peace and justice activists who dedicated their lives, and sometimes also died, in the service of creating peace and social justice, here and the rest of the world.

Underground, Tempera © Diane Clancy

Remember those who have dedicated their lives to protecting the earth and the environment – they are blessed for striving to live in harmony with the planet that allows us to live.

Remember those who protect, educate, and inspire children – those who work so tirelessly to make sure our wonderful resource of the next generations have a good foundation.

Remember those in the military who have stepped outside their official roles to touch others’ lives at the deepest level and build human, emotional bridges across differences and pain.

Remember those who dedicate their lives to providing health care to others, who assist those who are suffering from illness and pain. Remember those who strive to make sure all receive good health care.

Remember those who grow our food – the farmers who plant and care for the food, the workers who harvest the food so that we may all eat. Thank you for allowing us to live.

Remember those around the earth who are working to create their vision of peace and social justice wherever they are. Remember those who struggle against tyranny and oppression and work to create freedom.

Remember those who create art, music, theater and more – to inspire us and remind us that there is more to life than living.

Remember those who heal and bring spiritual nourishment into the earth and humankind – they give us vision and help create this dream.

Remember each of those that touch our lives, each day, in so many ways. Thank you to those who touch my life by reflecting to me that I make a difference to you with my art, writing and vision. Thank you!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, tempera, love, peace, justice

Free Cloth & Featured at One Pebble

Diane Clancy — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:27:55 +0000

Amanda Makepeace featured me on One Pebble: An Art Exchange today. Amanda LOVES pebbles and she has a great offer of gifting someone an original Art Card, ACEO each time someone sends her a pebble. WOW – that is some trade. Awhile ago I walked around the block and picked up a variety of pebbles of different colors, textures and sizes to thrill Amanda … she gets such a kick out of them! She wrote a great post right here about my pebbles (and the ACEO I gave her)!! You can see one of my vibrant, colorful paintings in the image below and much more clearly in Amanda’s post! Thank you, Amanda!

I LOVE the name of her post – Beauty in Diversity!! Please go over and check out her blog about this pebble exchange! Also I want to show you some of the ACEOs that she has traded for pebbles … right here … and from there, you can go check The Artist and other parts of this site. She also have a link to her regular website. Amanda is a very creative artist and very active in online activities. Plus she is kind and generous – a great combo!

Featured by Amanda’s Pebbles

At the Westerm Mass Etsy gathering on Sunday, someone had mentioned that a local shop was giving away tons of cloth (for free – really giving away). RepoDepot is a shop in Easthampton, MA that carries vintage and reproduced fabric. It is about 45 minutes away from Greenfield where I live. We heard it was quite impressive. As we drove up, there were 4 pickup trucks driving odd with cloth piled up 5′ up over the sides of the trucks. Just amazing!

There was a room – maybe 50 x 60′ – that had been full of cloth that was totally being given away. Before there were stacks 7′ high of cloth throughout the whole room – it must have been quite the sight!! Today was the second to last day so it was down to perhaps 400 rolls of free cloth by the time we got there. It was amazing!! We took 5 rolls to use for fairs and also for window displays. I also might be able to figure out how to use some of it in my art. I am not sure if this was a one time thing or periodic – but wow – it is amazing!!

People had piles they werre sitting on while they waited to use the cart to take their cloth home. One person must have had 250 rolls of cloth that she was sitting on while her partner got the truck or van ready. There was one part of the room that had cloth being saved for someone – that stack of cloth was about 8′ high, 6′ deep and 20′ long. It was covered and ready for someone to pick up. Just wild!!

Most of the 400 rolls left were variations of off-white and neutral colors in many different weaves – but I could see from the piles that were being protected that lots of bright colored fabric had already been chosen. There was one roll that I would have liked to take but the roll was at least a foot deep when it was rolled (and very long) and we could never have carried it. In the hallway there were others sitting on their stacks while they too waited to use the carts.

What a wonderful service to the earth and to the community!! Instead of this going to the dump or landfill, it went to theater companies, schools and artists who will put it all to great use. Thank you so much – for me and for us all. Thanks for stopping by!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, Amanda Makepeace, One Pebble: An Art Exchange, One Pebble, WMass Etsy Team, free cloth, RepoDepot

Earth Day – 2009

Diane Clancy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:38:30 +0000

This Earth Day vibrant, colorful painting shows humanity taking a leap into our next level of awareness so that we may live more in harmony with our environment. Today is Earth Day – let’s all do what we can to make this planet and ourselves healthy for humanity and all living beings!! Each step we make helps ourselves and all others! Many of us are in the process of being more aware, concerned and thoughtful about multiple issues. It is amazing all the wonderful groups and concerns that come into my InBox at Facebook. Pretty incredible and inspiring. Many of us are working to make our foot print on the earth smaller … and looking for more ways to reduce our impact. Yay for all of us participating in this consciousness! And there is so much left that we still need to do.

Hopefully with the new leadership in the US taking a role in leading the way with these environmental realizations, there will be lots more progress. It is so important that we do this at the micro and macro levels!! Thank you to everyone who contributes to caring for the earth! What do you do to contribute to caring for the Earth? What do you want to do in the future? What would you like to do but just can’t imagine doing? Any thoughts are appreciated!

Earth Day, Digital © Diane Clancy

Today most of the day has been spent resolving the stressful situation. I think now it is clear what the issues and outcome are – I don’t like them but they are set. Some things could get changed and some not. After knowing, it becomes necessary to accept what cannot be changed and move on to creating and living a life of joy as much as possible! Thank you for stopping by!! I would love to hear how YOU are!

~ Diane Clancy

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6 Billion Others

Diane Clancy — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:33:43 +0000

Today I made some progress on catching up on some things that I to put aside the last 5 weeks as I have dealt with this stressful family issue. It felt great to get some of my own work done today! And I talked with my friend who is in Paris now – we talked for almost an hour and a half. It is amazing to me that regular people can do that now … really talk with people around the world. Fantastic!!

Speaking of which … she went to this incredible exhibit in Paris that has just closed .. to then move on to other parts of the world. This is .. 6 Billion Others by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It was housed in a 4 story glass conservatory and it had huts inside … ok that was the least important part – but even that sounds so perfect!

Micro View, Digital © Diane Clancy

They interviewed over 5,000 people and asked them to each talk about the same issues and then shared what people said. It was one person sharing after another and very powerful! There is also an online version that you will probably want to go check out – 6 Billion Others (http://6billionothers.org). I have had a chance to only glance at this so far … but it is very exciting!

Such a powerful tool to show how we are all human .. everywhere on this earth. Here is one of my vibrant, colorful paintings! Thank you for stopping by! I would love to hear about you!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Community Organizing

Diane Clancy — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:48:38 +0000

This is a continuation of this ongoing discussion about organizing … thank you for your responses letting me know this is interesting to you!! A bit ago Butterfly wrote a very thoughtful response to my post. Part of what Butterfly wrote is “It seems to me that you spend a tremendous amount of time organizing your own and other people’s work that only indirectly have to do with the actual art of creation. It seems that you hardly ever have time to sit down for hours on end to craft your art, or am I getting completely the wrong impression now?”

Tilting, Digital © Diane Clancy

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

The Enviroment Calls

Diane Clancy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:36:57 +0000

I have been at a Conservation Commission meeting (and pre-meeting) for 5 1/2 hours … never expected it to last so long!! But I need to do what I can to protect the wetlands and the environment. So I can just stop by to say HI!! I have been working on this birdhouse for the library and taking pictures to share with you … as I go … But I need time to do all that. Thank you so so much for stopping by!! Hope you are doing well!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: Conservation Commission, wetlands, environment

Interspecies Love Video

Diane Clancy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:08:41 +0000

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.

Speaking of slowing things down, my blog is loading more slowly than it used to … I am not sure if it is from the java scripts for the shops and places where you come from, or all the little images I have in the sidebar … so when I have time – ha ha!!! – I am planning to put more pages on this blog and put some of my links and shops there and put all my fun awards on another page too.

Others involved in the issue a few days ago say that it is actually I whom is owed an apology – I think that is accurate … but not worth getting involved with. I apologized (way more than I should have - but it is done) … thank you for your support!!!

~ Diane Clancy

Big Day in the Town

Diane Clancy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:53:27 +0000

Some good news on the environment – I have mentioned that we have been working to protect the wetlands where they want to build a 160,000 square foot store in our small county. The developer (who is developing this on speculation) says that the wetlands isn’t really a wetlands so shouldn’t be protected. An independent firm was hired … one that our mayor hand picked. Our mayor has run on a platform of promising a discount store – no matter the cost to the environment. Great news!! The independent firm said that Wetlands 4 IS a wetland!!! So very good!! We shall see what happens now.

Today is also another big day in our town. Today is election day and we shall see if we can get some people into town offices that can take some creative action to get our town back on track. We have some real work to do (as many places do) to get the finances balanced and the schools doing great again. Unfortunately this same mayor had slashed art, sports and music when she first came in to office and lots of students then “choiced out” to other towns … and took the tax money with them. This school choice started in Massachusetts awhile ago and is not working for our town. All in all I am hopeful that we can get some people in office who are not running on their personal agendas!!

My shop at Etsy is http://dianeclancy.etsy.com. If you ever see an image that you want as an ACEO or any other size, just let me know and I am glad to create it for you!!

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: environment, Etsy

Earth Day!!

Diane Clancy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:27:26 +0000

It is Earth Day!! Here it is glorious, warm and sunny. I feel very lucky. (Walked 8 houses today). The painting especially for Earth Day … it is showing up taking a leap up in our ability to take care of the environment … jumping up to the next level. Also, by jumping up it is showing us have a smaller, lighter footprint on the earth … I hope we can each do that. I am building up my strength again so I can walk more rather than drive just down the street. That is today’s contribution. Thank you so much for coming by!!

~ Diane Clancy

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Printing Issues & Puppets

Diane Clancy — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:22:08 +0000

This is the image that I have spent a day and half printing this little ACEO (2.5 x 3.5″) ..do you believe it? Wild huh? But lines kept coming out in different places that didn’t belong there. I got it printed correctly on the 7th … yes, you heard me, try. But I have lots of little seconds now that I can give away when someone buys one of my ACEOs.

I created this in Illustrator .. sometime I will explain the difference between Photoshop and Illustrator. One is vector and the other is bitmap .. when I feel better I will explain it .. it is a fun explanation. But I tricked all the programs and at last it is gorgeous!! The print quality is so so much better that it is worth all the work. But I got it ..

Right now I am missing a Greening Greenfield show that we worked on for months. I did the program for the show and it should be so much fun. There are people there in corn, carrot, apple, and 2 other fruit and vegie costumes. Sunny Green, a solar puppet, is there and there are 16 foot high puppets that are doing the show. The foyer is going to be a show in itself before and after the performance!! What fun I hope everyone has!!

I hope you are well!! I appreciate so much that you are still commenting when I am so behind. I am hoping to catch up … thank you!! And I am so glad you are in my life.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: ACEO, Illustrator, Greening Greenfield

Local Cultural Council Grant

Diane Clancy — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:10:40 +0000

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and looked and commented – even though I didn’t write. I did not feel well enough to do anything but share an image and it means a lot to me that you came anyway!! Thank you!

I am pretty excited because I got news of the results of my grant application to the Local Cultural Council. Some of you will remember I applied back in October 2007. I got the notification letter and was awarded the full amount I asked for. I have never even applied for a grant before so I am very delighted! This grant is to coordinate the AWE (Artists Window Exhibits) Project in downtown Greenfield, Franklin County, western Massachusetts, US.

I don’t just get the money … I have to do the work and then submit invoices for the particularly parts of the work. One of the big things I will need to do is make a database of all the potential places to exhibit our work (mainly store windows), contact information and any specific details. To do this, I will have to learn a new program to make it easily accessible to others. With this database in other years someone else could more easily take over.

I am now off to the board meeting of the local group, currently Create Franklin County, which works to stimulate the local creative economy, the economy that includes artists, web designers, and lots of small home-based businesses. I think it also includes building the green economy – or at least they are in conjunction with each other.

Tonight is a big step for the town. We have joined ICLEI. ICLEI is an international membership association of local governments working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They provide programs, tools, software assistance and technical expertise towards this goal. To find out more about ICLEI and its programs go to www.iclei.org. The is for local towns and cities working to deal with climate change. Much of this paragraph is taken word for word from the promotional materials. This is sponsored by the Greening Greenfield group that I belong to and am active with.

These are 2 important meetings to go to today … and I am still only at half steam. (This is an expression that means I still do not feel very well). Thank you for coming and reading!! I will catch up your blogs soon.

~ Diane Clancy

Technorati Tags: grant application, Local Cultural Council, AWE, Create Franklin County, creative economy, ICLEI, climate change, Greening Greenfield