Black Button, center detail of Wired mandala, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
The weekend is winding down. The great thing about Holidays is the opportunity to relax with friends and family, and step out of our normal routines. It wakes us up.
On July 4th, we spent time in the Casket Arts studio with friends, talked about writing, art, politics, played albums, organized, tried to watch a projection movie but that didn’t work out. In the evening, fireworks from Nicollet Island exploded in the sky. Neighborhood kids were setting off bottle rockets in the street below us. A symphony.
We turned out the lights to watch the display but could barely see the downtown fireworks for the thick, overgrown branches of elms. Someone suggested we head down to lobby where there are two sets of floor to ceiling windows. We raced each other down the 100-year-old halls. Perfect view. It seemed like the fireworks went on forever, a wonderful end to the day.
When we were sitting around the table on Friday, we created and colored mandalas; our studio mate made animals out of pieces of wood, wire, and sticks; we drew Animal Cards, listened to music, alphabetized albums, laughed at the faded covers of records we’d collected since the late 1960’s, and had a little mini-picnic.
Things rarely slow down enough anymore to hang out like that with friends. To not be moving forward full speed ahead, planning the next thing, or feeling guilty that we’re not being more productive.
We’re heading off this morning to do more practical things, enjoying a few more minutes of peace before walking into the thick of the Midwest summer — July in Minnesota. We’ll also spend part of July in the South. I’m looking forward to Summer. But for the time being, I’m just going to hang out in the present, exactly where I am.
Wired, Fourth of July mandala, created from an empty blank circle, Materials: marker paints, oil pastels, Elmer’s glue, coated wire, foam shapes, pipe cleaner, plastic buttons and rings, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 2008, all photos © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
-posted on red Ravine, Sunday, July 6th, 2008
-related to post: Target — May Mandalas
QM, What strikes me when I look at this mandala, is the free-flowing loose rhythm, giving a sense of having been created while you were relaxed, hanging out with friends.
BUT,then I noticed the little guy up in the green corner, all by himself, and I feel sorry for him. He is like the shy, introverted child on the playground who would like to be a part of the fun, but he doesn’t really see where he could enter into the circle, as it seems so complete. That big button in the middle is probably the “bossy” one who told everyone where to stand! (Fun to imagine a story-line.)
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oliverowl, it IS fun to imagine a storyline for those rings and buttons. The green guy up in the corner, yeah, he’s stubborn, kind of autonomous. Yet he remains connected within the circle mandala as a whole, and by color.
It reminds me of these intimacy rings a therapist once had me draw for her. It was a set of rings within rings. And inside every circle you had to write the names of those closest to you (you in this case being at center), then the next circle out closest to you, then your very outer ring.
It’s an insightful exercise. Surprising. And the people in those circles change over time. There is also something powerful about seeing rings of intimacy drawn out like that. I agree, the big button in the middle is probably a bit bossy, in a leadership role, somebody has to take charge!
Thanks for the fun comment. I plan to move these mandalas into paintings soon. Just to try them out on canvas. Probably acrylic. Probably won’t be until August, but I am working up to it. I also want to incorporate some of the buttons Mom sent me (that reminds me I need to talk to her more about those).
I am really enjoying working with the circle archetype. Circles within circles. Hope you are having a good wind down from your July 4th parade!
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QM, what a fun mandala! The circles-within-circles are so cool. I love those sort of transparent colored circle rings. They look like lifesavers. They’re gorgeous.
I also see bodies of water, and I’m reminded of your retreat to the Great Lakes.
The mandala paintings sound like a good next move for expanding your mandala practice. The buttons will be put to good use.
The black button on your mandala, btw, serves as a real focal point. It’s perfect in the center, amidst the wire connectors.
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ybonesy, thanks. Our studio mate brought tons of art supplies, glue, etc. to play with. She teaches art to the young ones and is fully equipped. My gratitude to her for bringing all that along on Friday.
You know, I see bodies of water, too. And Earth. I was talking to my friends, listening to music most of the time I was making this one. So I didn’t know until it was done what it was going to look like.
The black button at center — that’s where it all started. I took that button, strung some wire through it, poked holes into the paper and wound it around and through (kind of like sewing), and everything evolved from there. I kind of like that black button. Very centering to me. 8)
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Oh, it was also the first time I had moved above the flatness of the paper. I tried to capture in the photographs how the wires were coiling above. Don’t know if I was successful, but it was fun trying. 8)
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You’ve inspired me, I’m going to do some with the boys tomorrow (they’re on a looooooong summer break). I will check out past posts for tips.
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Your July 4th sounds like heaven. Beautiful colors on the mandalas, maybe the fireworks inspired the brightness.
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Very nice. Vibrant, bold, THERE, HERE, EVERYWHERE.
But, to be absolutely HONEST, I’m having a little trouble with the buttons … think it would have been better altogether in PAINT, but hey, just me, no big deal …
Keep at it. Cheers.
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Jo, sounds fun. One of our frequent commenters, alittlediddy, left a link in one of the mandala posts on red Ravine about how to download free mandalas for kids (if you want to go that route). I think I’ve added it to the comment sections on a couple of the mandala posts. A search on red Ravine might locate it. If you don’t find it, let me know and I can search, too.
Christine, thanks. I thought of that later…how the bright colors were so much like the fireworks we watched.
C., point well taken. I had to go back and look at that last mandala; then I imagined painting all those rings and buttons. Actually, that would have been kind of fun to do. But maybe a little time consuming for the laxness and playfulness of the Holiday. I have to admit, it was fun to use all kinds of different materials and experiment. But I’m looking forward to painting some larger ones on canvas when I get the time.
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QM, I just returned from my visit in western PA today. What a delight to check in & catch up on what has been happening on redRavine & see this post! You know I love doing mandalas with children & can’t wait to do more creative ones! I especially like the orange button, he (or she) looks happy to be surrounded by all of his (or hers) favorite friends! Just what I am feeling after my visit back to my hometown! Thanks! D
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personally, i found the use of different materials refreshing. they added a richness and depth to a project that you create fairly often, and while they are all beautiful in their own rite, the fun, candy-like pieces in this one really popped. : )
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diddy, welcome back! I missed you! Hope you all had fun in western PA. How was the ceremony? I thought about you.
The orange button – you know what’s weird? I just noticed that it’s the same size as the black one. And the same color as that orange wire going through the holes in the black one. An unconscious color connection. Can’t wait to hear about your trip. I’ll be in Pennsylvania again at the end of next week. Can you believe it? I was talking to Mom today and we’re very excited.
scaramastra, they *are* kind of candy-like, aren’t they. I like the orange triangle, too. It was especially meaningful because we were in the middle of having a discussion about “triangles” at the table that day while we were creating. There was a history display at Pride the weekend before, and part of the display contained photographs of the pink and black triangles that Hitler used to distinguish gays and lesbians during the Holocaust. The pink one I see fairly often. The black one I had forgotten about. Liz and I had also just watched a documentary on Art of the Holocaust narrated by Maya Angelou.
But how did I get off on all of this? Triangles. An archetypal shape, like the circle. Thanks for the comment, scaramastra!
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QM, thanks! I will fill you in on all of the events when you get here! I can’t wait either!The ceremony for my friend was so awesome. My Dad got a few really great photos & hope to have them before you arrive. There were well into the hundreds of friends & family there that day! It was a walk down memory lane with happy & sad memories.
I also noticed the candy like mateials used & of course, as usual, scaramastra & I seem to notice the same things! The orange triangle also attracted my attention!
Love you & looking forward to your visit! D
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Cool-O. 8) So glad the ceremony went well for you. Hundreds, wow. That’s a huge testament to how much this person was loved. Looking so forward to seeing you and love you, too! Wish Liz was going to be there for this leg of the trip. But maybe next time! Hope we can steal a day to go the cemetery on your island in the Susquehanna. 8)
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QM, the island is a must! We will make time! D
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I have made mandalas for years, a kind of art therapy in evolution, and never once have I thought of using mixed media stuff. But I love the wire and buttons and now I’m inspired. I guess it’s time for expansion. And I’ve got the perfect hoard of buttons to use.
(I thought I didn’t have plans for today! Now I do… thanks.)
I didn’t know about Hitler and the triangles… what a piece of history that guy was.
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Bo, art therapy in evolution – I love that. Art is good for the Soul. I’ve been trying to mess around with different media each month so I can get a feel for what materials I like. All the mandala posts have been kind of therapeutic for me, too. No matter what’s going on, when I work on these, even if it’s as simple as coloring one of the templates, I calm down and am brought back to center. I like how they can be as simple or complicated as you like. It doesn’t matter.
Yes, Hitler was a real piece of work. He didn’t discriminate in his hate. And was very persuasive (as evidenced by all of his followers). The DVD we watched (with Maya Angelou narrating) on the making of art by survivors during and after the Holocaust really drove home how art makes a huge difference in people’s lives. Sometimes in difficult situations, art or writing might be all we have available. I’ll have to check on the actual title. And maybe I can find a link. It was hard to watch, but hopeful. A time I believe none of us should forget.
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Oh, Bo, the buttons! I wanted to mention how Mom and I were talking about buttons again this week. I’m amazed at how many women have collections of buttons they have squirreled away over the years. They are really fun to use with the mandalas. I like the idea of sewing them on, too. Let us know how your mandala comes out!
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