Art Every Day Month: November 20

21 November 2009

Roots and Branches Revisted, originally uploaded by Leah Virsik.

Tom and I were supporting art tonight. We had the great pleasure of seeing The Swell Season at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre. If you’ve ever seen the movie Once, you’ll know who I mean. Incredible show! Great entertainment. They filled the room. I always appreciate a great band and a musician who can really entertain. Glen Hansard, the lead singer, pushed the crowd and had us sing. He said “when you sing from the heart there are no wrong notes.” So true, isn’t it? For so many things in life…

Glen Hansard played a manic cover of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks kinda like this but way more intense. He was so appreciative and grateful for his audience and was by no means taking his present success for granted. I could identify. I’m grateful for the attention I’m receiving for my artwork lately and that I have a class of eight people tomorrow. Yet, it’s the act of showing up and doing the work that is critical – not the result. Whatever comes, comes. I am responsible for doing the work that feeds my soul. From Shakespeare’s Hamlet Act 1, scene 3: This above all: to thine own self be true.

Above is the “front” of what I posted yesterday, “Roots and Branches Revisted”.

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4 Comments

  1. Julie Jordan Scott
    Posted 21 November 2009 at 8:56 am | Permalink

    the texture is so compelling to me. love it.

    Reply
  2. susie
    Posted 21 November 2009 at 10:06 am | Permalink

    Love the colors and textures. I have enjoyed seeing your work this month. I am excited about zentangles, too. I have discovered so many new things this month by delving into artist sites.

    Reply
    • Leah
      Posted 21 November 2009 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

      Susie, thank you very much. Yes, I really have enjoyed AEDM so far. It’s really been great to see what others are doing. Plus, I’ve been super motivated to blog, to do the work and to get it out there. Have fun with zentangles.

      Reply

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  • Artist statement

    I’m hungry to learn and it’s through my process of creating that I’m ultimately satisfied. I’m curious about different materials and take on the challenge to incorporate what I’m most drawn to into my work. I’m intrigued to discover the resulting patterns and repetition. As I create, I explore my inner landscape. I’m attempting to uncover a stifled sound. It’s my challenge to express this internal voice through my art and ultimately, boldly, out loud.

    My quest to connect my voice with my work has led me to reexamine my personal history. The threads in my bookbinding and in my collage are entwined in my familial roots. Growing up, I remember a quilt frame my dad made, taking up our entire living room. His grandmother taught him to quilt using scraps of clothing. Years later, I began a quilt when a friend was teaching a class on patchwork. To my surprise, cutting up fabric and piecing it back together reminded me of my work with paper collage.

    As a child I would sew with my mom and what I most remember is the guilt I’d feel as I jammed up her machine. Now, when the threads and material bunch up they become useful fodder for my work. In some ways the threads act as a binding element, as in my books, and in other ways they are a reflection of my internal processes.