If you can't stand up, STAND OUT

Little story ....my friend Dave, a quadrapalegic coined the phrase...


If You Can't Stand Up...STAND OUT...


....and lives it everyday. He was injured in a car accident in his early 20's. After a brief transitional period, transformed into the amazing dynamic man he is now.


Dave works a full time job, has skiied in British Columbia, sky dived, parasailed, kayaked, traveled to Europe and all over the U.S. He has been on the Today Show and raised money for charity, not spinal cord injury mind you, but Lupus. The essay he wrote got the attention of the Today Show and and the National Lupus Foundation and he was able to direct peoples hearts and checks to this cause.
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/articles/anmviewer.asp?a=366&z=14

Last year Metro asked him to be the key note speaker at a spinal cord event, he's an incredible communicator and touched lives that day..as always. He has such a calm encouraging demeanor, it touches everyone he meets. Friends, friends of friends from years ago, waitresses, business owners, hospital staff and the easy way he connects, networks and intertwines us all.

I started selling these t-shirts and hats with his phrase on them at my shop http://cafepress.com/imaginestudios with the intent for the proceeds to go toward the care and feeding of his van, his source of freedom. The van is currently running on prayer alone and needs some help.


Sooooo....If you know of anyone in a wheelchair who could use a little encouragement to BE who they were meant to be...or know of any organization that may be interested in carrying these items please direct them my way.


Thanks so much!

Big Party. June 2nd Downtown. Be there.

JUNE ART REVIEW The “JAR”
1301 E. 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114 216-771-0900

A.R.T. Home We’re Blowing the Lid Off the Art and Talent of Greater Cleveland!

June 2nd-17th, 2007Over 17,000 Square Feet to Showcase the Wealth of Art in Our Area

In the Galleria at Erieview

Best of Show Prize

My piece "treasures in darkness" is a contender. It's a 3D collaged piece, wood, paper, wire, rocks, paint, a key.....loads of symbolism and words.....a tad dark, dare i say creepy, but I'm happy with it.

Got my tickets in the mail last week.....MY ticket is number 127......that's MY number, my email address, the crazy number I use for everything, so in my twisted thinking it's my golden ticket from the wonka bar. A coincidence, I think not.

Come out and vote for me....$15, gets you in to the event, live bands, food, a couple drink tickets and the chance to check out some interesting art and the interesting people who created them.

cleveland email list

Ah, yes, spread the word, thanks for the reminder...
I joined this cool blog group...stop over, check em out. It's new and i'm not sure what to do there yet, not to worry though, I write constantly. There are fitness tips, and things for sale and in general what's happening in the Cleveland area info. (i'll figure out my niche soon and get busy too)

http://clevelandemaillist.blogspot.com/

Pay Attention

Opened my email this morning to this happy surprise.......

Congratulations!

Your piece "Pay Attention" has been accepted for publication in the Summer 2007 premiere issue of {32klx}, Central Ohio's newest independent literary journal.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Thank you for your submission, and for participating in our exciting premiere issue!

Sincerely,
the Editors

It's a little something I wrote months ago, and included in my submission at the last second...

pay attention

Love the calm before a storm, the eerie silence, heavy air, the smell, the quickly shifting clouds, darkening sky....I stand out on the porch to see it roll in, and stay there as long as possible. I can hear the thunder, watch the clouds form, see the weird green haze, uncertainty is palpable, and i'm standing still, waiting. I can already see the lightening and it's headed straight for me, this one isn't blowing over.
Change set up camp, started little fires and never bothered to put them out. This storm should douse the embers once and for all. Maybe I should do something, batten down the hatches....whatever that means, move to safety, put the lawn chairs away at least.....no, I'll just wait. Things are set to blow about and I'm going to let them.
Curious, but detached. Normally I navigate this life with my feelings, a person turned inside out. But so much depends on outside circumstances right now, it hardly matters what I want. Contingencies, if/then, limbo, everything is connected, blah, blah, blah.....
I wish I knew what I wanted to see happen but even if I knew what that was exactly, it wouldn't matter. Maybe it's better this way, I can't be disapointed if I'm just waiting. Besides, I've taken self sabatoge and turned it into an art form, like synchronized swimming. Always trying to one up karma. Good things happen and *pow* got to go and even the scales. Ought to send a memo, clue myself in to this stupidity .....no, who reads memos anyway.

reposting this as a reminder....my favorite local band is playing FRIDAY night in Medina, (my original stomping ground)

Skinny Moo, check them out here.....http://www.skinnymoo.com/. they have downloadable songs and all sorts of cool stuff on their site, but you have to see them in person. Check em out...and you too, can become a groupie....er, moopie!

This will be the first rally in the alley of the season, a must experience event.
Rally in the Alley -
Main Street Cafe
Date:Fri May 25, 2007
Time:7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Where:17 Public SquareMedina, OH 44256(click for map)

The Traveling Art Carnival, BIG ART SHOW, is coming to Cleveland!
Sunday, June 10th @ Pat's in the Flats 2233 w 3rd
registration for artists to show and sell your work is free.

Art! Music! a couple local bands are still needed for the Cleveland show. For more information and registration please visit- bigartshow.com or email info@bigartshow.com

Spread the Word!

(Copying and pasting this bit of info, I don't know all that much about it....just an fyi.)

"seen one tree, seen them all..." i've heard that phrase more than i care to admit in the past couple months, after about the 4th rendition, i had to wonder....hmmm, i wondered.....are my paintings really that boring, were clevelanders really so anti-tree hugging, or could there be another explanation....thankfully, there was a 'kind man' (hmpf) who let me in on the whole rude drive-by bashing that had been happening....it's a quote, by President Reagan...ohhhhh I see.....but it's still rude. I like my trees, especially now that I'm phasing out of the canvas and deciding to salvage old pieces of solid wood from one of my many insane remodeling projects.....feel so much more wholesome, real, like everything to this point has been like fake plastic flowers vs silk, pretty well made silk vs the real deal, cut flowers vs potted, potted vs in the earth.....seedlings to the compost.....and back again.....

the actual quote, in context, is a bit less biting... http://www.snopes.com/quotes/reagan/redwoods.asp

Mayfest Berea

MAYFEST 2007 Fine Arts Show, Saturday, May 19th, 2007
10-5pm held at Coe Lake in Berea

http://bereaarts.org/coelake_map.htm ( note, the map is from last years event...ignore the date and time info!)

The almighty "they" are calling for a beautiful day tomorrow, come on out!...I believe there are nearly 40 artists exhibiting, plus food vendors ..... and it also coincides with the All Berea Garage Sale....but check us out first! : )

Skinny Moo Crew

....since we are getting personal here....my favorite local band is playing next weekend in Medina, (my original stomping ground)
Skinny Moo, check them out here.....http://www.skinnymoo.com/. they have downloadable songs and all sorts of cool stuff on their site, but you have to see them in person. Check em out...and you too, can become a groupie....er, moopie! This will be the first rally in the alley of the season, a must experience event.


Rally in the Alley - Main Street Cafe
Date:
Fri May 25, 2007
Time:
7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Where:
17 Public SquareMedina, OH 44256(click for map)

Okay, I'm It

Valerie, i.e. art addict, tagged me to share 10 interesting and relatively unknow facts about me/ opinions of mine/ habits etc...

1....can’t sing a lick…but use that sing song voice and make up crazy songs when I’m really tired…it’s like my own personal alarm for ‘Shannon needs a nap’

2...listen to NPR or the BBC for my news…and love independent college radio stations, not just for the off the beaten track music, but for the off the beaten track DJ’s, their views, and sometimes rough presentations....um's, ah's, just a sec's...

3...fancy, expensive, rich…does nothing for me. I’m not impressed by big bank accounts, jewelry shop jewelry, fancy cars, big houses, designer clothes or purses, *shrug*, I like simple, unique, handmade, interesting, things with a story….

4...I love soccer…but hate being called a soccer mom, won’t wear a “I love soccer” t-shirt, or any of the stuff the incessant marketing machine generates, don't drive a mini van.…I play the game, love the cleats, the team, the competition, I watch, ( won’t coach or ref though, many of my teammates do, but I don’t like being “in charge”)

5... I’m not one to go all googly over a kitten or puppy, never feel the urge to run up to a new mom and grab her infant child, don’t speak baby talk…..not that I don’t like these creatures, I’d rather observe than entertain, I suppose.

6... Have the annoying habit of personifying everything, or coming up with a metaphor or weird simile's, connect dots that don't exist, think in spirals, circles, curly-q's…helps in my creative writing classes…social situations…not so much. ;)

7... Avoid shopping ( as my cupboards and children can attest) ….but love exploring new places, outdoor markets, stuff like that…

8... My dream home is either a floor of an old factory downtown, or an old church/school that I can remodel and open most to the public….live and work space together…..currently I live/work in a bag of wonder bread in the suburbs, not awful, not complaining, it is easier to maintain.

9... I have never balanced a checkbook, have no math sense whatsoever…yet love numbers and old clocks, attach my own significance to numbers, dates, times….won’t explain….you’re welcome.

10... I keep a magic 8 ball on my desk…sometimes will even ask it a question or two…..maybe I need more friends….unfortunately I don’t think this list will help in my quest.

and now I need to tag people...um, i don't know....hey, got an idea, if you read this, "Gotcha, your it!" go ahead and post your list in the comments...or your own blog of course.

" to know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer is to have kept your soul alive" ~Robert Louis Stevenson

"treasures in darkness" this is another 3D collaged piece..the details are hard to capture in a photograph. There are 7 'doors' with key holes in each, the wire tree is attached to the canvas board and there is a key under it, with a tiny copper plaque that says wisdom. This built itself, i had planned on going a whole other direction, but ended up tearing off and adding on, and oila, this is what i ended up with.

This painting is sitting up at the artists review today gallery, awaiting it's debut at the JAR. ( june artists review ) June 1st is the opening reception, come one, come all....live bands, food, drink, fun....all for $15 at the Galleria door.

Hey Mr. Postman....

Even with the postage rate hike..again...I'd mail a letter in R2D2.... I used to have the little robot R2D2 that walked throughout my house, beeping and spinning, a little stuffed one , and all the other action figures and whatnot...but in 'my version' of star wars, R2 always saved the day. :) love the robots.

( shot on East 9th street downtown....haven't seen them anywhere else...)

tears tears and more tears.....

this set of trees will be seen at the pop shops 2nd anniversary show May 19th, Pop, Drop and Roll. ( and available for sale )

These were painted in the height of some disastrous events last year, hence the title, 'tears, tears and more tears' I was determined not to go under, somehow trees helped put things into perspective for me. Walking through the forests, watching the trees in my yard change and painting them.

They are without leaves, without any covering....just like I felt without any covering, my raw emotions set out for the world to examine and judge. The changing colors represent emotions.... yes, Elizabeth Kubler Ross definitely knew what she was talking about.

"LOVE EXPLOSION!"

A friend sent me a picture of zen like painting he saw in his neighborhood coffee shop. A few branches with pretty paper circles glued onto to plain wood board. Thought maybe I could add something like that to my creepy trees, give them some spunk. The coffee shop painting was simple, unique, yet playful.....well, I took that idea and went a bit overboard ( yes, me, ha) cut many, many circles out of scraps of dyed paper I had in the cupboard, and plastered them over a painting that was giving me problems, it just wasn't happy enough.....now though, now it's estatic and it's exploding in love all over the place. : )

A new painting, Pure Energy, in a four panel frame. Love lightening storms and was treated to one a few days ago....this painting was born directly from that night, sitting in the garage watching the flashes.

I love this painting, it's hanging in the hall right now, looks like a window and at night, it glows just enough to make me grin.

An art looker asked yesterday if I was influenced by Edgar Allen Poe, hmm, maybe I'm leaning a bit too far in the macabre realm....

I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks, I do! I do! I do! I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks, I do! I do! I do!

"You'll believe in more than that before I'm finished with you"

Wicked witch, flying monkeys, salvaged painting.....messy fun.
With so much painting 'for' shows and 'for' events and 'for' fundraisers and school plays....it's fun to just be creative just cuz.
I saw a pic of someones studio once, she had a sign above her doorway..."No one gets in to see the wizard, not no one, not no how." I like that. My studio is perfectly trashed at the moment, my hands a pretty awful shade of greenish blue, wild wild hair, ( it felt like being curly today) and clothes that could double as painting rags....doubt if anyone would want to come see me today..with or without a warning sign.

Salvaged another piece destined for the gesso brush with an Alice in Wonderland inspired collage, still working on the details and 5 others to round out the series. I'd like to have 'background stories' to go with them. Or some odd original poetry.....again, still working out the details. Collage is fun to play with and keep the gears moving upstairs. :)

Rereading Alice in Wonderland...fell right into the story, amazingly not one of my students in any of my writing classes had EVER read or even had the story read to them! The Disney version does not count in my book. To have never heard Jaborwocky, to not have any inkling of the catepillar or the Cheshire cat.....in the 4 short weeks before class lets out for the summer, I will remedy this travesty.

Medina County Visual Artists Studio Tour

Sunday May 6th, 2007 1-4pm
The tour starts at the Grace Drake Center for the Arts
222 S.Broadway Street Medina, Ohio
tickets available at the door or from Buehler's in Medina

Participating artists at the Grace Drake Center for the Arts;

Sharon Borror ( watercolor, pen & ink )
Henry Edinger ( acrylics & mixed media )
Barbara Johns ( watercolor)
David Lowry ( photography)
Shannon Marie ( acrylics, mixed media)
Judy Totts ( Ukranian egg painting)

Participants at their open studios;

Charles Basham ( pastels, oils)
Marita Bitans ( medical illustration, photography)
Char Klimko ( acrylics)
Elaine Lamb ( ceramics )
Marge Otley ( watercolor, prima pencil)

come check it out!
FYI...the AI Root candle company is also having it's herb sale on Sunday......