Mami Wata
In Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way she suggests that as you are discovering or recovering your creative self you should take what she calls an “Artist Date”. This date is essentially a day by yourself to just go explore, do something different, perhaps mischievous that you have interest in doing. It need not be overtly artistic. In my case, being a painter, my artist dates usually involve art. Today was such a day.
I had a cancellation in my afternoon, so after seeing a couple of coaching clients at the Dept. of Energy I decided to pop over to the Smithsonian garden and to the Museum of African Art to visit Mami Wata again (see post #) I thought it appropriate to go spend some time with this water spirit on a rainy day. This is my third visit to this exhibit. As it will be up until July I am taking my time to just enjoy and take it all in slowly. As usual on these artist dates I am just being open, looking for inspiration but not really forcing it. I allow myself to go where the mood takes me. Today was beautiful because I was in no hurry. I was able to contemplate Mami in all her different incarnations. She is revered in many parts of the world through out the African Diaspora and shows up in a myriad of forms and religions, mixing easily with such diverse belief systems as Hinduism, Voudon, and Catholicism. Her devotees believe that she brings prosperity and good fortune in many forms. To try and capture who she is and what she represents is way beyond the scope of this blog, so I will not attempt this.
I have been moving in the direction of going back into my studio to paint. There is an unborn piece in the G*ddess series that has been gestating in me for about 8 mos that is getting ready to be born. So much of who Mami Wata is, is finding its way into this piece. Perhaps more on this later.
After visiting her for a while I decided to dip into the Sackler and Freer galleries, also on the grounds of the Smithsonian castle and gardens. I have to say I was very excited by what I found in these buildings. The structure and atmosphere alone was really special, peaceful and pregnant with so much…lovely art and artifacts, much of it from Asia, Persia and the Middle East. To tell the truth I was drawn here by a sign advertising the “Peacock Room.” Not too long ago I went through a period where I was seeing images of Peacocks everywhere so I wanted to explore what this was about. But the real treat that I found in the Freer was a central courtyard with a fountain. I was able to go outside and stand under the portico and look out into the falling rain dripping off of the new leaves of spring. How fresh and clean was the air and the sound of the water from the fountain so soothing. I will definitely be back there on my next artist date.
Tonight I will find my way into the studio to lay the ground work for the as yet unborn G*ddess. I don’t know how this will unfold but I know that I am ready to go there and to see and to wait as it emerges.
By the way…if you have never taken yourself on an artist date and you are looking for your creativity and inspiration, I highly recommend it.
If you want to learn more about Mami Wata or the exhibit at the Smithsonian click http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/mamiwata/intro.html
(first posted 5.4.09)
