In 2011, I was seemingly inspired and my creativity started to perk in those ways which had been missing for many years. Inspiration convinced me to research the contents of several magazines and submit some original poetry to the ones I thought I would like my writing featured in. I assumed that I would be informed if my work was selected by any of the publishers.
I was never contacted by anyone, so naturally I figured my work was not selected. A little over a month ago, I became curious and decided to go online. Yes~ almost two years later! Ah~ better late than never right? I wanted to see if I could access the poems that did get selected for the magazines. I read several good poems and combed the digital pages of three magazines. That night I learned a lesson.
~The Monarch~ Original Poem by Felicia Lujan Voices de la Luna~ A Quarterly Poetry & Arts Magazine October 2011 (Page 20)
It may take me another year to track down a hard copy of the magazine, but nevertheless, at least I know I made the cut. It is a popular magazine with the artistically inclined! I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that “The Monarch” made it into a magazine which has a title bearing one of my favorite symbols~ the moon (luna means moon).
When the sun disappeared last night I attended the 3rd annual Outdoor Vision Festat the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. It was amazing to see some of the multimedia exhibits that the students created. They were interactive, animated, colorful and very creative. The media students include animators, filmmakers, graphic designers, and photographers. Some exhibits were projected onto buildings, trees, geometric shapes, glass, water, and material.
One of my favorite projections was designed by Keith Riggs, who is married to my cousin Jessica. There was even a projection with poetic quotes by infamous authors. I also adored a piece which was flapping in the wind, had edgy music, and a human body which appeared to be ripping off skin. It must have been a symbolic piece. Last night I decided it is finally time for me to dabble with Adobe After Effects. I need to see what I’m really made of.
Without art, writing, technology and music, I would certainly die! I guess when you’re in love~ you’re in love. Here are a few of the photographs I took last night.
The collaborative art team of Ethan Bach, J Craig Tompkins and Charles Veasey are pleased to announce that The Royal Road Project is currently showing at New Mexico State Arts at the Bataan Memorial Building 407 Gallisteo St in Santa Fe, New Mexico and then it will be moved just down the road to Currents 2013 at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe located at 555 Camino de la Familia, Santa Fe, New Mexico from June 14, 2013 to June 30, 2013.
My new web site theme features the infamous 1781 oil painting by Henry Fuseli titled “The Nightmare.” The painting was first displayed at the Royal Academy of Artsin London, but it is now housed with the Detroit Institute of Arts. This painting may be one of my favorite works of symbolic art. Many scholars of the mind believe that the “monster” is in fact the woman’s unconscious. I think it can represent the power of our dreams, addiction, being powerless, or that which haunts or enchants us. It can mean many things depending on who interprets the piece, and maybe even their mood. The picture has been hanging in my office for many years. Fuseli was indeed ingenious with regard to symbolic imagery.
So here is a moving image of my newest art piece. It is a highly symbolic colored pencil drawing. I was happy with the end result. When I showed it to my boss, she said I should contemplate becoming a part of Spanish Markethere in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That would be as a contemporary artist of course. I’m thinking about it. Maybe it would be a good move for me? Let me know what you think about the piece and/or if you are deep, what you think it means? I would be curious?
Today I took the day off from the gym because I had a few errands to run. When I was leaving work two people caught my eye in the lobby. There sat a gentleman and a young lady caught up in their own creative world. I was immediately intrigued by the duo and wondered what they were up to? I decide to approach them on my way out so that I could ask. My first question was “are you making jewelry?” As it turned out, they were “tying flies” to snag Pike in Pilar, New Mexico. I told them “my brother is a fisherman and he would love you!” Hum? They had set up shop in the lobby of my building and they were working away.
While I ran one of a few scheduled errands I couldn’t help but think about these two people. Who were they? Why were they tying flies? Were they grandpa and grandchild? What was their story? I know I love history more than running errands, and by this point I can probably add more than coffee because I made a mad dash back to work. In a split second I had decided that I wanted to know more. I approached the busy workers with a smile while asking many questions. It is always so refreshing to meet new people who want to share their stories. In a short amount of time I had learned all about these people. I also set up a phone interview with the gentleman for this evening.
~Dr. Dinwiddie and Jamie Groves Working~ Photograph by Felicia Lujan_3.5.2013
Since the first of the month I had been contemplating which woman I wanted to research and write about in honor of National Women’s History Month (2013). The more I thought about that particular young lady, the more I realized I should focus on a woman who is currently making history. I was so amazed that a 24 year old woman was so mature, caring, creative, and patriotic. This special woman and her hero/mentor/grandfather figure had a worthy story to tell. This month is indeed Women’s History Month and the Library of Congress is featuring an exhibit titled The Women of Four Wars. Ms. Jamie Groves and Dr. Stu Dinwiddie are honoring our wounded warriors in a very special and unique way which is right in line with that exhibit.
Jamie Groves and Dr. Dinwiddie are not related. These individuals just work together to help disabled veterans, still Jamie thinks that Stu is “the granddaughter that he never had.” For the last six months, they have been tying flies and giving them to Albuquerque veterans as part of Project Healing Waters. The mission of that organization is dedicated “to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.” It is such an awesome project that I was so honored to learn about. Dr. Dinwiddie is also a disabled veteran who now uses his time to help others along with his youthful partner. He has become Jamie’s mentor by teaching her to fly fish. Dr. Dinwiddie said that he was taught how to fly fish at 14 years old and that he learned from the son of Aldo Leopold!
~Jamie Groves Tying a Pike Fly~ Photograph by Felicia Lujan_3.5.2013
~A Jamie Groves Handcrafted Pike Fly~ Photograph by Felicia Lujan_3.5.2013
Jamie truly is a rare woman. At 24 years old she is contributing to the well being of those who made a difference in New Mexico history by protecting our freedom. She is passionate about what she does and insisted I didn’t take her picture until she “was working” and showing me the Evergreen Hand. The Evergreen Hand is a special tool invented and developed by Jesse Scott to assist disabled veteran fishermen. I was astonished to learn that Jamie will be teaching wounded warriors who have lost a hand or arm how to tie a fly with one hand. After watching them for a while, I don’t think I could tie one with two! This wonderful woman told me proudly that she sits on one hand to practice. This is how she knows that she can teach others. Dr. Dinwiddie told me that Jamie was touched on a recent visit with wounded women. Her participation in this project makes a world of a difference in a male dominated sport/hobby.
I am always so intrigued by the hidden history of our community. These two people are involved in a project so worthy of a mention. I was honored to take the time to learn so much. I learned about a lady and a hero making a difference in the lives of our wounded warriors one hook at a time.
I spent the morning in the warm sun painting. I am working on a mini billboard for an event on March 12. Summer will be here soon and I can’t wait. There was a breeze, still the light draft was invigorating. My wind chimes sounded sweet and enchanting~ which inspires me. Sometimes I forget just how much I love to paint. I enjoy my quiet time- just me, the wind, the sun, bird songs and a brush.
After hitting the track and running a few errands, it got really windy here. I took the afternoon to consolidate my art supplies. My new little cabinet is a rolling rainbow. It will come in very handy!
~~~On the Mend~~ 2.14.2013 Digital composite by Felicia Lujan This digital piece is composed of four layers. The image includes: a photograph of my right hand; a photograph of my right eye; red paint; and a human heart which was rendered in the negative.
An epic poem by Homer made a mythical woman named Calypso infamous. Scholars have concluded that Homer’s poem The Odyssey (free e-book link below) was written off the Greek coast of Ionia during the latter part of the 8th century (BC). In the poem, Calypso was tragically intrigued by her legendary stone named Odysseus who washed ashore from the Ionian Sea. This poem was laced with temptation, seduction, and diversion. This makes it a classic literary piece, and so begins the Greek myth of Calypso and Odysseus.
Calypso was born to the Greek Titan named Atlas. The mythical Oceanides sea nymph lived on the island of Ogygia. Calypso is said to have had an enchanting voice. She lived in a beautiful cave near the sea. Some scholars and historians believe that the island of Ogygia was a myth, while others think it was actually located in the western Mediterranean Sea. Calypso has been seen as a negative symbol. She has been seen as a symbol of that which diverts men from their goals.
Odysseus was a legendary Greek man who was King of Ithaca. He was a hero in The Odyssey. Odysseus drifted for over a week in the sea before being rescued by Calypso. The king had lost his army and his ship after a battle with “monsters” from Italy and Sicily while returning home from Troy. After floating in the sea for 9 days, Calypso pulled him to shore and decided to keep him because she “became enamored.”
For between 5 and 7 years, Calypso refused to let Odysseus leave her island. Many scholars doubt that she actually forced him to stay and that she probably enchanted him with song. Others think that Calypso held him prisoner or hostage on her island. She offered Odysseus immortality and eternal youth in exchange for his everlasting love. The hero refused, though eventually the two made love apparently against his will.
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“Promise” featuring
Calypso and Odysseus
by Jan Styka
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It is natural for me to want to look at the woman and man in this Greek myth symbolically. Homer must have realized the symbolic power of these individuals. Odysseus is the stone. He is the hard, positive symbol of this myth while Calypso is the soft, negative symbol. The nymph is but a mere diversion in a mission for the greater good. In essence, this myth captures Odysseus as a classic hero with a noble cause, while Calypso is simply an unwanted muse who spurs distraction.
The golden kiss and enchanting voice of Calypso.
It is also interesting to see how scholars have studied the etymology of both names. The origin of the name Odysseus has been connected to two phrases amongst others. Odysseus means “he who causes pain” or “the one who is wrathful.” The name Calypso means “to cover, to conceal, to hide.” Etymologicum Magnum says that the name Calypso means “concealing the knowledge.”
In the end of this myth Calypso releases Odysseus on the sea. She does so against her will so that he can return to his wife Penelope in Ithaca. She had no choice but to do so even though she herself had become enchanted.
Last night I posted Eye 2 Eye. After I finished writing,
I checked my reader and saw that two of the deeper women
I have come to know posted something along the same lines
as I did. I truly believe in interconnection. I believe that our
energy and intellect can connect in ways that we are yet
to fully comprehend. Here are images I snapped from two
awesome posts by two awesome women~ Bluand Ela.
This is a prime example of the collective consciousness at work.
Vincent Van Gogh quote posted on Mitablu by Blu on January 29, 2013
“To hell, to hell with balance! I break glasses; I want to burn, even if I break myself. I want to live only for ecstasy. Nothing else affects me. Small doses, moderate loves, all half-shades, leave me cold. I like extravagance, heat. Letters which give the postman a stiff back to carry, books which overflow from their covers, sexuality which bursts the thermometer!
This woman has a brain that is absolutely lovely. I adrore this woman! She is an amazing creative force with a love of Nin, yet another great woman! This post is worth every bit of your time and that is the truth.
~~~Felicia
Half a spirit in the sky
and half to roam my land.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Demi~God of myths unknown,
just take me by the hand.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Power far beyond my grasp,
yet still clutching to the core.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Approach the gods, offer my
heart and consume me with
your lore.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
This duality in my hero
thrives and it does make
a mortal weak.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Deny the seed of strength
within to reap what it is we
seek.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Divine is light compelled by
dark, just a servant at your
call.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
Subservient to a celestial
being who will refuse to
take it all.
«««••••••••••••••••••»»»
«««••••••••••••••»»»
«««••••••••••»»»
«««••••••»»»
«««••»»»
by Felicia Lujan
January 5, 2012
“The first time I ever saw a box jellyfish, I was twelve.
Our father took us to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
I never forgot what he said… That it was the most
deadly creature on earth. To me it was just the
most beautiful thing I had ever seen.”
~~~Ben Thomas in the movie “Seven Pounds”
My new theme is centered on one of my favorite creatures. The jellyfish may be the most mysterious and deadly creature known to man. I took these photos of jellyfish on a recent visit to the National Aquarium. The aquarium is located along the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland (USA).
If you have a chance, check out these two creative pieces I wrote which reference the jellyfish. One is titled Stinging Medusa (2012) and the other is titled Ocean of Whispers (2011).
All I can say for tonight is that I seriously feel like throwing up! I have a severe case of information overload and I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of history in Washington, DC. I am now back in Annapolis and it is 11:55pm here, 9:55pm~ New Mexico time. My feet hurt, my brain is aching, and my stomach is sick. There is just so much history. It was so much to take in. I didn’t get to see many things I really wanted to see because I only had one day. I spent like 14 hours in DC and I am now ready for bed. In one day I went on a White House Tour, kicked it with my cousin Melanie and her son Luke, visited the Natural History Museum, went on a Capitol Tour, and then visited the Library of Congress, Air and Space Museum, National Archives, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. I have so much to share and write about, but for tonight I will leave you with one quote taken from the National Archives Building and two interesting JFK images. I captured his painting pondering fresh roses (the spiral being my symbol) in the White House. I was also shocked to see his initials prominently cloaking the National Archives (of course). I didn’t know about a new exhibit there highlighting records associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960s. The exhibit draws from the collections of the Kennedy Library and the National Archives. Now it is time to take a bath, eat a pumpkin cheesecake, then go to bed with a full stomach and a full head.
~Quote of the Day from the National Archives Building~
The heritage of the past is the seed that
brings forth the harvest of the future.
~JFK Exhibit Banner on the National Archives Building~
Basically this blog will have whatever is on my mind more than often in the form of Poetry, but we will see what happens down the line. Sincerely, Taylor Menczynski
A way to put my thoughts into words... May be I am just talking to myself...may be aloud...These are my thoughts in a poetic form, which are very much a part of me and which makes me what I am...
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