CENTER/SOAR

San Joaquin River Delta

Sherman Island East levee road

Flooded fields

Sandhill Cranes

48 x 54 Acrylic, Chalk Pastel

The Sandhill Crane

by Mary Austin

Whenever the days are cool and clear

The sandhill crane goes walking

Across the field by the flashing weir

Slowly, solemnly stalking.

The little frogs in the tules hear

And jump for their lives when he comes near,

The minnows scuttle away in fear,

When the sandhill crane goes walking.

The field folk know if he comes that way,

Slowly, solemnly stalking,

There is danger and death in the least delay

When the sandhill crane goes walking.

The chipmunks stop in the midst of their play,

The gophers hide in their holes away

And hush, oh, hush! the field mice say,

When the sandhill crane goes walking.

SEEM

A heart to hold and a good nights sleep in the company of strangers. 

19x24 Bristol. Acrylic, Guache, Tempera, Chalk pastels

NIGHT/DARK

Storms

Every night that goes between

I feel a little less

As you slowly go away from me

This is only another test

Every night you do not come

Your softness fades away

Did I ever really care that much

Is there anything left to say

Every hour of fear I spend

My body tries to cry

Living through each empty night

A deadly call inside

I haven't felt this way I feel

Since many a year ago

But in those years and the lifetimes past

I did not deal with the road

And I did not deal with you I know

Tho the love has always been

So I search to find an answer there

So I can truly win

So I try to say 

Goodbye my friend

I'd like to leave you with something warm

But never have I been a blue calm sea

I have always... been a storm

-Stevie Nicks

TRUTH

The truth is not what you might expect. What were you expecting anyway? It's behind the scrim, some other atmosphere. Revealed bit by bit. 

In the horse are the 6 directions. The two front legs North and West, the two back legs East and South, the head points up, the ears point up toward the up above and the tail points down at the Earth. Together there is a sacred center. Perhaps the truth is there. 

Acrylic on canvas 

WIND / TREE

This came from a dream I had.  

Acrylic on canvas. 18x24

TRACE

I came upon the Addison st. poetry walk in downtown Berkeley. On the corner in front of a coffee shop, tucked next to the building, under a wine barrel filled with half alive grass and empty cups I saw the sidewalk panel with the etched message 

"1772 GRIZZLY BEARS INHABIT THE HILLS IN BERKELEY" 

I returned with an accordion book that is about 28 ft long. And did a blank rubbing with a block of wood. When I got home I sat with my colors and started to reveal the etched message and sidewalk textures I had traced. I started with block print ink and roller, followed with charcoal and chalk pastels. When the book is fully opened it is "dramatic".  When one flips through page by page, a story emerges and each one has a unique feel. It's like moving through the landscape.  

GUIDE/TOTEM

White Stag / White Fawn

                   Joy of the chase, evasion, and pursuit of new adventure, 
              to capture happiness - mankind's spiritual quest. The spirit of 
           the deer reveals to you the innocence of the inner child with a fresh                                              perspective on old issues.

            With the annual shedding and regrowth of the antlers appears                              regeneration, cycle, and advancement.  Take advantage of                                   opportunities to revise and reverse patterns of thought 
                               or behavior that no longer serve you.