October Updates

It is so exciting when what you have been working for begins to come to fruition.

Mother & Child were shown at the Spirit of Charity exhibit (September - October) at Maloney Art Gallery, College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ, commemorating 150th anniversary of founding of the Sister's of Charity order and the College's 110th. The highlight for me, beyond having my art selected, was meeting one of my personal Sheroes, Sister Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking, and the nun played by Susan Sarandon in the film.

Also in September - October, Lady Bird of Paradise Sings the Blues was featured at Eureka Gallery, Hoboken, NJ for the exhibit I Love My Life,

Man & Woman, and Meditation doll were featured in September at Celebration of Lawyers in the Arts, benefiting Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, at NJPAC, Newark, NJ.

Coming soon - Catfish Friday Womens Art Collective and Newark Arts Council present Search for the Real during Newark Open Doors October 23-25, opening reception October 24 7-10 pm 972 Broad Street, Newark, NJ; Essex Exposed 6, curated by Patterson Sims at October 25 through November 22, Pierro Gallery, South Orange, NJ.

IYANIFA'

IyanIfa - 30" cloth over wire armature, paperclay, acrylic.

You belong to the Universe and

the Universe belongs to You

Heaven is home

Earth is your school

The stage is crowded

You stand on the broad shoulders

of your Ancestors

The Orisa live within you

They must be honored

Sacrifice brings success

Contentment is your birthright

I was asked to make a doll embodying the spirit of Ifa, in shades of brown and green. What follows is a partial definition of Ifa, excerpted from www.wikipedia.org

In traditional Yoruba culture, Ifá refers to a system of divination and the verses of the literary corpus known as the Odú Ifá presented in the course of divination. Orunmila is the deity associated with Ifa diviniation. In some instances, the name Orunmila is used interchangeably with the word Ifa. Orunmila brought Ifa diviniation to the world. Ifá originated in West Africa among the Yourba ethnic groups. It is also practiced among believers in Lucumi, (sometimes referred to as Santería), Candomblé, West African & Diaspora Vodou, and similarly transplanted Orisa'Ifa lineages in the New World. In Togo, it is known as Afa, where the Vodou deities come through and speak. The Ifa Divination system was added in 2005 by UNESCO to its list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

The Yoruba divination system enabled diviners to invoke the word of God through the teachings of Orunmila, the Yoruba deity of wisdom, prophecy and ethics. Esu (Eshu), who is in charge of spiritual justice, as well as the god directly in charge of transportation of ebos, lends his authority or ase to the oracle for the purpose of clarifying the issues at hand and providing direction to those seeking guidance. Ifa divination rites provide an avenue of communication between the spirit world and that of the living.

Performing Ifa divination is called idafa (or dida owo and ounte ale). Idafa is performed by a Babalawo or Iyanifa (an initiated priest). Babalawo can be translated as "father of the secrets". The babalawo provides insights about the current circumstances impacting the life of a person requesting this information and provides any necessary information to aid the individual. Initiation into Ifa requires rigorous study. An aspiring Babalawo must learn AT LEAST four verses from each of the 256 chapters (Odu) of Ifa. The minimum of four verses will of necessity include ebos and ooguns (medicine) that are embedded and relevant to each of the verses, plus other issues that complement divination. An accomplished Babalawo must know about ten verses of each of the 256 chapters of Ifa (256 Odu Ifa). Regardless of gender, whoever aspires to practice Ifa must have this qualification.

CATFISH FRIDAY PRESENTS: NAKED

Untitled/Nudes 22", cloth, paperclay, acrylic; spirit dolls, 16-22", cloth, polymer clay, acrylic.

Catfish Friday Women's Art Collective Presents: NAKED, an Exhibit, at the Ice Gallery at the Coffee Cave, 45 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey, Sunday June 7, 3-6p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Catfish Friday, Women’s Art Collective presents: Naked
Dates: June 1 – 28, 2009
Location: The Ice Gallery at the Coffee Cave, 45 Halsey St. Newark, NJ 07102
Artists Reception: Sunday June 7, from 3 – 6 PM

Naked is the title of this year’s 2nd invitational art exhibition featuring the work of women artists who participate in Catfish Friday women’s art collective. The topic of the exhibition Naked, curated by artist Toni Thomas, explores the concept of nakedness. What images conjure up when one hears the word naked? Are artists limited to portraying revealing nudes or will they reveal naked emotions on contemporary issues? Artists participating in this exhibition render their take on nakedness within the framework of their personal style, ideology and medium. The means by which they address the topic reaches across many subjects from nude renditions to portrayals of naked clichés, with adaptations of spiritual, emotional, conceptual, ideological and political perspectives. The work to be viewed takes one on a visual journey with many variations on the theme while inviting the viewer to grapple with their own perceptions of a naked reality that goes beyond the tangible physique.
Featured in the exhibition is the work of Janice Anderson, Tinnetta Bell, Sadee Brathwaite,
Maggie Brown, Kathleen Heron, Diana Jensen, Shonda Nicholas, Shirley Parker-Benjamin, Lynn Presley, Judth Salmon, Joya Thompson and Toni Thomas. The artists reception on Sunday, June 7th will include the poetic work of Mary Baldwin, Elaine Lee, Esther Morales and Lebrashawn Turman-Chase.

Catfish Friday, Women’s Art Collective is a growing community of women artists in the Newark, New Jersey area and surrounding communities. Catfish Friday strives to create community among women artists in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Providing critique and support for works-in-progress, Catfish Friday meetings are held on the second Saturday of every month from September through June. Participation is open to any female artist working in visual or literary art at any stage of development. For more information call 973-699-3269 or visit website: www.catfishfriday.org.

Mother's Day

original art card, photo and frame, by LaShay

original grafitti art card (recognize the red glasses? - hmmm); 6" bike - Jerry Gant

It's a great thing to be recognized. Look what I got from the person who made me a mother! I am so proud of this little creative spirit. Having her in my life was/is the best and smartest thing i've ever done and will do.

And from the artist known as Jerry Gant - a token of a appreciation for the exchange and artistic and life journey we are all on. Says JG: the Journey, whether by car, by bicycle, wheelchair, escorted out in handcuffs, carried away on a stretcher, or walking on our own two feet, needs to be recognized and honored. Thanks J.

Blessed be all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Godmothers, Aunties, Birthmothers, Fostermothers, Nurturers, Caretakers, Wisewomen, etc., (because all women are Mothers) we honor and salute you.

Back to My Roots

Always amazing how easy it is to get thrown off my game. A serendipitous encounter, a turn right instead of left, focus is lost, and off I go again, following paths meant for the footsteps of another.

Earth-school is difficult, challenging, as it is meant to be. The lessons we fail to learn once, come back again in another package, over and over again, until we get it. And when we think we got it, the Universe sends it again and asks, “Are you sure?” Need to get centered; meditate, pray, zhikr, shut up, be still, listen, remember what I’m really here for.

Bless the past and those who brought the gift/lesson, even (especially) the hard lesson; love and honor them; release; and send them on their way.

Catfish Friday is planning a show in June. This piece has something to do with a tree, roots, wings. Its been in my head since last summer, and is gradually taking shape. There is evolution here. I don’t know who she is yet…

Anyone Can Fly! -- Faith Ringgold Event 3-8-09

LaShay and I had the privilege of attending this event, and meeting the great fiber artist and author, Faith Ringgold, and a reading and book signing at ABC Carpet & Home, New York, NY. Ms. Faith has been one of my favorite artist for 30 years and an inspiration to me. Tar Beach and Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky have been among our favorite bedtime stories since LaShay was a baby.

Faith Ringgold was born and raised in Harlem, USA, and received an M.A. from City College of New York in 1959. Her work is in the permanent collection of many museums including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is the author and illustrator of 17 children's books, including Tar Beach, which was a Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration.

Thank you, Ms. Faith.

Indigo is Singing Off Key, Dancing Out Loud, Laughing, Shaking and Quickstepping Across the Clouds of Possibilities

Indigo is celebrating the spring equinox.