“Mistakes are portals of discovery”–James Joyce
I’m brooding. I’m in a bit of a funk. Not a depressed funk, more of a contemplative funk. I knew that once I had taken down my art show in April that I would need a break. I needed time to do some thinking, looking and reading. Instead of taking that time I have been pushing ahead on some illustration projects. It hasn’t been going well since I am not respecting the ebb and flow of creating. I spent three days drawing the same profile and hand gesture over and over and over again to no avail. Seriously broody task. I just read a great post on the creative process on Berlin’s Whimsy. I need those reminders that sometimes approaching life with a lighter touch can be more effective than brute force.
Speaking of brute force, last weekend Tony, Mogs and I went on a drive to the communities surrounding Mt. Rainier. Tony needed to do a little geographical research for a fictional story he is writing that includes a volcanic eruption. Driving around the town of Orting, we discovered this development that seems to be in suspended animation as a result of the current housing slump. This plot of land, located in a valley between two rivers would be covered with at least 30′ of mud and debris in the event of a lahar, or volcanic mudflow. I can see why no one is buying. The other big development in the area is on the top of this bluff–the development is actually called The Butte Plateau–overlooking the river valley. In the event of an eruption people are advised to walkto an evacuation route, with ”The Butte” being one of the destinations. We also read that the town was to test their lahar warning siren the next day. (Folks would have 40 minutes to get to higher ground–that’s if they heard the warning and if they can walk to higher ground.)
Good thing the developer installed that gate…
View from halfway up The Butte
Sunday drives to do volcanic research and non-stop natural disasters in the news are probably contributing to my broody funk more than any creative crisis. The earthquake in China has been particularly difficult to read about after experiencing our own 6.8 earthquake in 2001. The muscle memory of that event pulses through me even today.
Ok, so I’ll do my best to make my next post a little less depressing. Pink cowboy boots should help…
The news from China has been very hard to listen to–especially the NPR reports about the collapsed middle school. Between the earthquake and the millions displaced in Myanmar, I feel more agitated than down.
Thank god for pink cowboy boots.
Amen. (and what a lovely photo of a lovely gift of a girl…