My offering today for Art Every Day Month (over the hump -we’re more than half-way through!) is my new line of sea-nettles.  This little beauty is 9″ tall and could hang on a Christmas tree or just in your window to catch the light.  The beads are all of my left-overs and spills not worth sorting so this little creation gives me a way to not waste anything (that’s the art – figuring out how to best use all your materials!).  I have more – this is the smallest.  I think I may have to make some for my local shops and December upcoming shows (Dec 4 Makers’ Mart at Annmarie Sculpture Garden in Solomons (every 1st Saturday year round),  December 10 at SeaScapes Home Accents Gift Shop in North Beach, and December 11 Prince Frederick Art Walk (multiple venues) sponsored by a committee of folks from CalvArt Gallery).

A Gathering of Women

If you read my facebook, you know that I went to see the Black Crowes at Hubby’s place of work on Sunday.  This requires getting there for load in and staying through load out but wasn’t bad because it was the 2nd day of the show, and getting ready was more about restoring from a late night show (after the Crowes) than about loading it all in.

Lots of time to read and think – you’d expect that I get plenty of that since my kids are grown and gone, and I work out of the house so have lots of time for that, but work is work and reading and thinking usually my end of the day relaxation.  Well.  I do believe a combination of putting myself down on the page daily for Art Every Day Month and being out of my usual space set me up for some excellent reflection time.  Here are some notes from then.

I didn’t even know I was in transition. Usually there is that feelng of restlessness, anxiety, yearning toward something.

Sunday morning, there I was sitting in the Holiday Inn on Solomons listening to Dr  Rachel Brem speak about the Brem Foundation To Defeat Breat Cancer and its work and suddenly I knew I wanted to start something called A Community of Women.  A Women’s Collective. A Women’s Cooperative.  A Women’s Something.

Yes – I’ve been thinking about an organization and trying to find a name for it. But it was more along the lines of a business organization.

This is broader.  It is about social justice, community organizing, leadership, space to play and be quiet, shared goals. I write that and I think – only progressive women. Then I think – we need all voices at the table if we are to talk about the hard things.

Then I think – I need to join that library group that talks about the hard things.

Where is this need to be active again coming from?  Am I running from Art?  Do I just need the ability to stretch my organizing muscles again: leadership training, an organized community, belonging?   There it is.   Belonging to something I start – gives me control of direction. Hmmmmm.   How would it look if I just joined what others are doing?   Or is this complementary?  I have to think about that.

Immediately after I typed that last bit, I opened the book I was reading and read:   When we don’t use our talents to cultivate meaningful work, we struggle. (Brene Brown)

Then (since that was at the very end of the book), I opened the next book (because I’m sitting at the 9:30 Club about 10 ft away from the Black Crowes sound checking for their show tonight – the perq of being married to the Clubs lead sound technician) I opened my next book and read:  ”Putting our voice out into the world isn’t for others, not really – it is only for ourselves, ultimately.  If it touches someone else, if it changes their life or angers or buoys them, that’s not yours to own (Patty Digh).

When answers come back that fast you know you’re on to something.

This is what I’m thinking:   An Active Community of Women.

Requesting Input

[In other words, don’t just read – share your thoughts with me!]

Have you ever thought of belonging to a community of women where you could be yourself, talk about the hard, things, find respite?  If no, okay.  If yes – tell me about it.  Brain storm with me here in the comments or direclty:  info@tammyvitale.com.

How do you envision it?  What have you done towards creating it?  What is keeping you from doing something twoards it?  What are the draw that pull you toward something like this?  What are the drawbacks?  What are the roadblocks?  Where do you go for help?

What might it look like?  Would it be noisey or quiet or both at different/the same times?

How would you tell people about this community?  What kind of space would you create so they could respond?

Is it exhilerating or scarey or a bit of both to think of something like this out loud, in public…or even in private?

What do you think a collective os women is capable of doing to help the world be a better place?

[Note to self:  now I remember why I wrote every day once upon a time – because sooner or later it takes you deep into yourself- there’s no where else to go once the surface stuff is neatly tucked onto the page and there are lines of blank space left to go!]

I seldom come to the Club anymore.  I used to do it more for territorial pissing because my husband is a cutie/sweetie and I wanted to brand himas mine than for the music.  Hopefully I’m mostly over all that now.  But I always and still find that being here is profoundly conducive to creative reading and thinking for me.  I have no distractions here – just a corner out of everyone’s way, something thought provoking in my hands, and my own thoughts.  Of course live bluesy background music doesn’t hurt either!

Wylde Women’s Wisdom

If you can’t find what your heart is yearning for, create it yourself!  Tammy Vitale