Flow

I find I can really get stuck. I mean really really stuck.

After the big move this summer, I realized I was super burnt out, and that I needed to give myself some time to rest and regroup. So much energy spent trying to launch and keep everything together and on track left little for me to land with.

I'm really fortunate though. I have found a lovely community in this new place and the teenager is loving school, so it's all been really worth it.

Part of this new community experience is an incredible Non-Profit called the Art Alliance of Idyllwild. The people of this group have been so entirely kind and welcoming, and I feel cared about and cared for. I know that many of these folks will be dear friends for the rest of forever.

One of the things they do is put up one day events for their artist members to submit work and be shown to the public and other members of the Alliance. This last weekend they had their annual "Winter Solstice" show. I entered two pieces, one of my orb jars and a shawl I'd crocheted. The teen made a really great mix-media piece. I had a great time volunteering to set up the show, and then we had so much fun during the event.

"Frozen In Time," Mixed Media, 2024, Percy Piccolo

Part of what was cool was that an independent judge came in to look at all of the artwork and award prizes to pieces in individual categories - 2-D, 3-D, Photography, Youth, etc - and both the teen and I took home ribbons. Super exciting for us both!

First Place in 3-D! "Orb Jar #9," Ceramic, 2024, Page Kelly

What I discovered these last few days was that I really needed to get out of my self-induced hermitage. I was invited to show my work at a couple of local galleries, and getting my stuff out of my studio/kiln shed and getting it into places where others can see and enjoy felt very energizing. The energy is no longer stagnated, it's flowing. It's still just a trickle, but I will take the movement and the motivation!

If you happen to be wandering around in my shop here on the website, please note that any items you see that are marked "Out Of Stock" are actually at a gallery. Please get into the description to see where a particular pot might be, and reach out to those incredibly nice folks. I've added their addresses and phone numbers to the descriptions.

Next week the teen and I are heading back to Helena for winter break, and the new year will bring more opportunities for us to build our new friendships with our new community here in Idyllwild. For now though, I better go find my winter coat!