My Diva Closed Eyes String Challenge Entry Challenge Entry

Closed Eyes String Challenge Entry, Pen, © Diane Clancy

Closed Eyes String: Yinx, Bumper, Xircus, Zander, Raddox, Scarabou, Scoodle, Umble, Dribbetz, Orlique, PokeLeaf

Closed Eyes String Challenge

Each week the Diva puts out a challenge for folks to make their representation of her idea. This week is the Weekly Challenge #187: “String Theory – Blind String”. So here is what the Diva says this week “A lot of new tanglers i talk to say the same thing: They get stumped by the string.  But you don’t need to be stumped. Every once in a while i like to come back to this challenge.  It’s pretty fun, because it takes your brain out of the equation when drawing your string. To begin, draw your dots and your border. Then put your pencil somewhere on the tile (i put mine by the edge of the tile) and close your eyes and draw a string…blind.” So this is a little ZIA (Zentangle Inspired Art) using Closed Eyes String!!

Why “Closed Eyes” and Not “Blind”?

You might wonder why I say “Closed Eyes” and when the Diva says “Blind.”  Over the years I have been a disability rights activist to some degree – having several invisible disabilities myself.  Well, I guess I actually have a visible disability now too since I have to use a walker due to dead bone.  Back in the 1970’s I was very active as folks were struggling a lot about language and meaning within the Disability movement. We struggled a lot about self-identification, being labeled by the rest of society and how society used words related to disability in ways that are not helpful and end up being insulting to those of us with various disabilities.

I have been only loosely connected for years but I still strive to be very conscious about the meanings of words and what impact they have on the human psyche.  People often use “blind” when they really mean unaware.  So put yourself in someone else’s shoes (unless you happen to be blind yourself!) … someone says that someone is blind to the situation when they really mean unaware.  So in a subconscious and unconscious way, that person is then telling you (as a blind person) that you are unaware.

Of course I am not saying that the Diva is using “blind” to mean “unaware” … but I strive to make sure I am literal when it comes to words associated with disability.  Thus my use of “closed eyes.” We all know the Diva is very active in advocating for her son!!!!

Can You Think Of Words Associated with Disability?

Think about it …. deaf to mean not listening and not paying attention. What other commonly used words can you think of that are really mis-used words that equate certain disabilities with “less than” behavior?  It is amazing how words can enforce stereotypes with unconscious usage.  So I work hard to notice any usage I have (inside or out) that might not be helpful and work to transform then inside of myself.

Zentangle Enticed Me

Zentangle has become popular the last couple of years and I have been intrigued and just starting put my attention to it. This is one of those tiles that I cringe a little seeing blown up – with how splotchy the solid black looks.  I am putting one foot in front of the other at times still! And for those of you who really read this … my partner is recovering from an expected surgery right at this moment. So above is my Closed Eyes String Zentangle Tangle ZIA. This – of course – went in a very different direction than expected! More than usual … my original plan didn’t work.

Which Tangle is Which?

There are a lot of spaces in this tiny tile with this “Closed Eyes String.”  So I tried various tangles I had wanted to try – some more successfully than others!!  :)  Yinx is the sort of wheat looking tangle on the far left.  Bumper is those little fingers waving at the top.  Dribbetz are the broken parallel lines to the top right of Yinx.  Orlique is the net at the bottom right to Yinx.  Scarabou is supposed to be the big space to the right of Dribbetz and Orlique – it is mostly unsuccessful!  Raddox is under Bumper.  Between Scarabou and Raddox is Scoodle (sort of at least).  Xircus is to the top right with all those mostly parallel lines.  Zander is like those sheaves of wheat to the bottom right.  Umble is the black straps between Xircus and Zander.  PokeLeaf is to the far middle right.  Whew!! There you have it!! 🙂

I am always a little shocked when I see my ZIA blown up … but I wanted to get it into the Diva’s challenge. I am still creating these ZIAs lying down while working on an Art Card size (2.5×3.5″). So perhaps not too bad given that.  It is very busy for such a small card!!!  I have been slowly sharing my other ones on Facebook. I changed to using Art Card size (2.5×3.5″) since I have a bunch cut out already from good quality paper. It might not be as smooth as it should be. But I am learning!

And my studio is getting more organized so maybe I can cut some new paper!! I can’t wait to find my black paper and do some cutting! One thing after enough keeps getting in the way of that. But stuff has started to clear out of my studio again so maybe there is hope!! (My studio always gets filled up when there are projects in the house that need a place to dump a bunch of stuff for awhile!! LOL!!) Thank you for stopping by!! I LOVE comments!! ~ Diane Clancy

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Technorati Tags: Zentangle, Closed Eyes String, Yinx, Bumper, Xircus, Zander, Raddox, Scarabou, Scoodle, Umble, Dribbetz, Orlique, PokeLeaf, Zentangle Inspired Art, ZIA, Diva, disability, word usage, language