An Abundant Life - Art Walking

Almost ten years ago around this time of the year I was invited to a wonderful art show at the Cast Iron Lofts in New Jersey and I met an Artist there who took me on many adventures after that, around that place and also in other areas of New Jersey. One of the places where he showed me was right around the corner on Coles Street where there were murals painted all over the walls and structures near the embankment and the overpass, and I remember thinking every time he showed me some new place or space how awesome Jersey City is because of the wealth of art that is there to enjoy.

Yesterday when I was on a long walk to the other side of Jersey City to go to a favorite grocery store I don't often take the time to go to, I walked back on Brunswick Street and realized I was going to be walking right through another area filled with murals and graffiti art that I'd found near that first area I'd been shown on Coles Street. This other place is underneath the overpass, and I'd stumbled into it one day a number of years ago. I walk everywhere that I can and when I'm walking and I have the time, I just walk wherever the Spirit leads. On the day that I'd found this section under the overpass filled with murals and graffiti art I was in awe, and then later some of the Artists who I've met over the years started posting about their own visits to that place and the work that they and their friends were creating there.

On a beautiful September day when the weather still feels like summer is with us but the fall has begun with its golden light, walking with Art all around just feels right. Living and walking with Art all around always feels right to me actually, and taking this walk on this beautiful day to see what was new in this beautiful place hidden away where Artists meet and work together and alone, creating and inspiring and being inspired and making an outdoor place under the overpass that would usually seem dark be filled with light, is one of the things that makes me so excited about Jersey City and so happy that this is a place where I've come to know so well. With so much gratitude to the Artists I've met who have invited me into their worlds and have shown me the places to go, and to those who create in these places and spaces and bring so much unexpected and breathtaking, transporting beauty to us all.

Under The Overpass

For An Art Filled Walk

In Jersey City

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Gently Down The Stream

This past week I heard that Veuve Cliquot was celebrating the launch of a new vintage by making it possible for visitors to go rowing in Central Park at the Boat House for several days for free. I always love the Boat House, and Veuve Cliquot has long been a favorite, and the idea of having an afternoon row sounded like something that I'd at least like to see other people do if not do it myself. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it because, though I love sailing and used to sail often, it had been a while and I hadn't been rowing in many years.

When I arrived at the Boat House I saw that the line was long but not that long, so I decided to get into it and see what else was a part of the celebration. It turned out that free row boats was what they had planned, and the line was going very quickly, so I went ahead and stayed in line, and found myself getting into a row boat. I had thought I'd feel strange being by myself, but there were a few other solo rowers also, and after it was all done and even during it, I found myself grateful for the time to get my rowing skills back up to speed on my own. In retrospect, rowing can really only be done by one person, unless you've practiced as a team or a duo, and even if there is more than one person in a rowboat, it's often easier if each one takes their own turn.

Being on my own was a bit daunting at first because I had to remember and get used to the way the boat moves with the oars, but being on my own was also freeing because I could sit and experiment and glide and get my bearings, trying out different things to see what worked and what didn't work as well, and to take the time to be peaceful as I figured it all out. Rowing is somewhat like riding a bicycle I think, in that it all came back to me as I started. It didn't take very long for me to remember in my sense memory the different ways the oars helped move the rowboat and in what direction and way to use them to get to where I wanted to be.

It's really a wonderful thing to know that the body and mind can remember physics in this way, that we can remember how to do something that is actually very complicated if you try to explain it in words. Learning by doing is sometimes the best way for some things, and rowing was that way for me. As I found myself on the water in Central Park in New York City, I reflected on the extraordinary circumstances that had brought me to that place on that day. All the years of history, all the times in my life from summer camps up to the present, all the different ways that I had gotten to where I was just then to be able to go ahead and say yes to getting into a row boat in Central Park because why not? And then finding myself remembering after all how to row gently and surely out into the center, and then turn around and find my way back to shore.

An Afternoon In Central Park

Rowing At The Boathouse

With So Much Gratitude

To Veuve Cliquot

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Paper Dreams

This past week was the Art On Paper show in New York City, and I was invited by the gorgeous Linda Gerlach invited me to the opening night with a very special VIP exclusive ticket. I always enjoy going to this show, but having the opportunity to be with Linda as she photographed and created her wonderful images that would become her story and record of the show was enchanting. She is such a beautiful photographer and creative, and is so much fun to be with too. Being invited to join her on this very special evening was a true gift and blessing.

Art On Paper always inspires me because there are so many different ways that people are working with paper to create their art, and in some ways it seems there are endless possibilities when people focus on using this medium. Books and sculptures, paintings, drawings, collage, tiny boxes drawn on with even tinier pens and paint brushes, mobiles, structures, prints and even on at least one year a memorable paper dress and other paper clothing.

The VIP evenings are always a joyous time too, because it's the first night and everyone feels the excitement of being there. Joining Linda made this event that I always love attending become something even more special and beautiful, and with so much gratitude I thank her for thinking of me and extending her generous invitation to this night filled with stars and dreams.

At Art On Paper

With So Much Gratitude

To The Gorgeous Linda Gerlach

For Her Generous Invitation

To The VIP Exclusive Opening

Pier 36

299 South Street

New York City

https://ny.thepaperfair.com

Lane Sell

Printing Live With Shoestring Press

Blessings,

Jannie Susan