Today, questions have risen to the surface.

Laurence Freeman writes,
"Get the question right
before getting confused or intoxicated by the variety of answers."

What is the role of art in our society?
How do crafts preserve our cultural identity?
What is the difference between the consumer art of everyday living
and the fine art of galleries?
Do we need art or craft to become fully human?
How do we define artists? artisans? craft artists? craftspeople?
Should art or craft have a purpose?
How does art exclude?

Amongst all the pondering and musing I realised two things -
art and craft are only relevant if they enable me to become the best person I can be;
and if they do the same for those who encounter it.

Doll-making as therapy has been highlighted for me today.

Recognising my Euphrosyne and Blue Belles as art which connects us with hope.
Hope as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.

Alain de Botton and John Armstrong in Art as Therapy write

"The dancers in Matisse's painting are not in denial of the troubles of this planet,
but from the standpoint of our imperfect and conflicted - but ordinary - relationship with reality,
we can look to their attitude for encouragement.
They put us in touch with a blithe, carefree part of ourselves
that can help us cope with inevitable rejections and humiliations."

Watching as a support worker guided a woman with Alzheimers to interact with the dolls.
Remembering as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.

Setting up Lamentation to accompany me as I grieve for my cousin.
Sorrow as a function of art.
Surely this is art as therapy.

LAMENTATION
for my cousin Brian who died on Monday January 13th, 2014

 Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tane
The totara has fallen in the forest of Tane

Today was quiet.
Time to watch the pukekos feeding on the grass.
Time to sway with the pohutakawas in the wind.
Time to sit entranced by the play of light on windows and stone.

Today was quiet.
A hush filled The Arts Village.
A contentedness filled my heart.
And I worked at a snail's pace ... slowly, attentively.

I worked on our collaborative piece.
To the sepia tones, words and figures,
I added vintage pattern pieces and running stitch.

I think community markets are essential.
Be they farmer's markets, selling fresh produce,
or craft markets, offering locally-made, handmade arts and crafts,
markets reflect our heartfelt yearning
for community;
for face-to-face contact with producers;
for a sense of belonging with like-minded people;
to encourage and support the creativity and endeavour of each other;
for a slower-paced, intimate way to shop;
to support micro-business;
to celebrate diversity;
to gather.
The Hot Lakes Craft Market is one such place.
Artists, artisans and craftspeople reflecting the diversity of our creative heart.
I enjoyed being a part of this growing phenomenon.

Attentiveness -
the trait of being observant and paying attention
I sat with Vera as she repaired the marionettes.
She carefully studied how the strings were attached;
analysed how the mechanism could be improved;
made changes, tried them, and made more changes!
Her focus, determination and concentration were a wonder.

Attentiveness -
the trait of being considerate and thoughtful of others
I watched as a mother enabled and helped her child optimise her play time with the Fantasyland.
She prompted her daughter;
listened to her;
drew her attention to different aspects of the Fantasyland.
Always she was aware of how her daughter was feeling;
and was guided by what she wanted to play with next.
I was overawed by this loving-attentiveness.

Attentiveness -
paying particular notice
Because my thoughts were elsewhere,
I failed to take particular notice of the doll I was working on.
I spent much of the morning UNPICKING!!
I find I need to be 'tuned in' to the doll on my lap,
to bring out each doll's unique personality;
and to absorb the lesson she (or he) is offering.

It is a life-changing experience when we practice counting our blessings each day.
I have much to be grateful for during my residency:
the generosity of visitors;
time to create;
witnessing the imaginative play of children;
the encouragement of friends;
the demands of discipline;
the fruitfulness of limitations;
a beautiful studio and gallery space;
the shared stories;
warm sun and refreshing breezes;

There is a time to explore new things ...
and there is a time to revisit familiar things.
I am honoured and humbled that several visitors have come back a second time
to share their delight with others.
I am revisiting old pains as I transform an old duvet cover,
covered with kisses, into a series of dolls.
There can never be too many revisits from troubadour, Don Coles.
Music is balm for the soul.
I am revisiting old doll patterns,
considering how I can give them new life, new vision.
Revisiting is both comfort and challenge;
delight and demand;
a time to reclaim and recover.

Paula Kerslake in Studio Two has invited the artists in The Open Studios Project to participate in a collaborative art project. The finished artwork will be donated to a school. Her inspiration came from the Tunisian Collaborative Painting projects. We have adapted it somewhat but it will be a challenging, creative and communal work of art. We are working on it until Wednesday 15th January, 2014, so come along and see it grow and change.

I read this quote from Deena Metzger today:

"Stories move in circles. They don’t move in straight lines.
So it helps if you listen in circles. 　
There are stories inside stories and stories between stories,
 and finding your way through them is as easy and as hard as finding your way home.
And part of the finding is the getting lost.
And when you’re lost, you start to look around and  listen."

Today has been filled with stories.
The Cottage Gallery resonates with the story of each doll.
Visitors whisper and laugh;
 share heart-wrenching tales of loss;
and wonderful stories of life moving and intersecting in circles.

Perhaps the chaotic display of the dolls
is an analogy for our 'trying to find our way through our stories'.
And perhaps as more dolls arrive,
wanting to join the circle,
we come to realise how intrinsic sharing our story is to being human.

When I told someone that my dolls were bought by overseas' visitors,
they responded that now I can say my creations are in 'International Collections'.
I was taken aback.
I could not understand the significant difference between a doll living with me,
and one companioning a friend;
or entertaining a young visitor from Waiheke;
or being a 'signature piece' on the wall of a delightful couple from Perth;
or partying in the nightclubs of Edinburgh;
or distracting the clients of a naturopath in the USA;
or smiling with a resilient couple from Auckland;
or relieving anger in Anchorage Alaska.
What is the relevance of such a phrase?
For me, I simply delight that these Heartfelt Dolls have found new companions for the journey.
They will indeed, continue to transform and enrich the lives of those who encounter them.