THREE THINGS for Twenty Twenty-Three - Issue 01
I have decided to commit to something new for this fresh year that I hope will continue for some months to come. Hopefully my pledge is small enough (only three things :) to help me follow through on this recent intention. Each month my “Three Things” notes will be published about (yes) three things interesting to me and very hopefully to you as well. If you have a curiosity about art, slowing down, art in our culture, teaching art, where to see art, making soup, even walking and more, I aspire to make it a delightful and helpful read.
Here is my January kick off of “Three Things” to note.
THING ONE
Makoto Fujimura is speaking a language I am loving to hear! His long-held presence in the art world has and is continuing to make a significant impact in various ways. Mako creates beautiful paintings using a slow art method of pulverizing pigments and minerals, he’s a leader in arts culture founding IAM Culture Care, he’s the author of several compelling books and plenty more which you can read about here if you’d like to know.
He's a deep guy and there is much I could dive into but I will leave you with some quotes of his to mull over. (These are from Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life)
“What if we committed to speaking fresh creativity and vision into culture rather than denouncing and boycotting other cultural products?”
“What if artists became known for their generosity rather than only their self-expression?”
“Effective stewardship leads to generative work and a generative culture. We turn wheat into bread – and bread into community. We turn grapes into wine – and wine into occasions for joyful camaraderie, conviviality, conversation, and creativity. We turn minerals into paints – and paints into works that lift the heart or stir the spirit. We turn ideas and experiences into imaginative worlds for sheer enjoyment and to expand the scope of our empathy.”
THING TWO
After a lengthy hiatus (covid plus), we are once again starting up Second Saturday. SS is a gathering held on the second Saturday of the month (when else, right?!) which features a bowl of soup and camaraderie. Of course, it would be easier to drop by if you live in my area but I’ll keep you posted on new recipes and the fun that we had even if you can’t make it.
I’m attaching a link for a simply awesome, hearty meal called Italian Sausage & Tortellini Soup. I’ve made it over and over with great success and it’s perfect for the winter months. All the credit goes to Thriving Home for this scrumptious bowl.
THING THREE
If, by any chance, you find yourself in Montreal, Quebec, one of the excursions you may like to consider attending is AURA at the Notre Dame Basilica. A few years ago I took it in and I do not regret it. I’ll be honest that it was short in length for the price but it was an incredibly moving, immersive sensory experience that left me speechless (for a minute 😊). A preview is here.
Well, that’s it for January. If you enjoyed these three things and would like to receive another three things next month, please send me your email address. Thanks for reading!