aren't we all shapeshifters

A subtle houndstooth pattern behind, and delicate feathers underfoot, this fox is a meditation on, yet again, seeing things from both sides.  This was the first piece that I began for the Lone Pine Show, and I started it in early summer, in a time that was a bit of a kaleidoscope for me personally.  The fox had been in my sketches for a while, and when I finally started to dig deep into it's mythology, it just proved to be another little lesson.   Foxes symbolically carry a strong sense of intuition, of maneuvering in tricky situations, or being a bit of a trickster themselves.  They are adept at walking in between shadows, in order to observe what is really going on.   Trying to figure out the foxes relationship to it's environment (as well as the fact that there is a pile of feathers underfoot, now how did that happen?) was a great metaphor for taking a look at the featherbed I'd made for myself, and the mischief I sometimes distract myself with.  I mean, have you seen Wes Anderson's version of The Fantastic Mr. Fox?  Talk about distracting yourself with trouble...

It could also be said that on some levels, this is simply a portrait of Kelty.

She's pretty foxy.

it's getting cold in here.

The heating in the PoetHouse went out sometime last week, and the sub zero temps in there made all the artists stay away.  Today, however, Sarah Mik and I decided that we couldn't stay away any longer.  Therefore- we have made a heat art fort.

It's still chilly.

There is a lot of artmaking that is about to happen up in here.  

On New Year's Eve, I went over to Sarah and Christian's house to have soup and beverages.  The small group of artists and artisan bakers chose cards for the year from Sarah's animal totem deck.  I tried to pull one, and three jumped out at me.  The Otter, which makes sense cause it is always around, reminding me of nurturing playfulness for the New Year.  And then, the Owl and the Bat.  The Owl is a hard one for me to accept, just because it has prior significance.  But it and the Bat have important insights into transitions.  

The TBD Loft is using it's gallery to discuss the theme of Maslov's Hierarchy of Needs through this year.  The first part of the theme is therefore Primal.  In partnership with that, the month of February (we are taking January off)  will find the PoetHouse meditating on the idea that we are, in fact, still animals.  I have been incubating a couple of ideas lately, and I think I may hang out with these Animal Totems for a bit, and see what happens.

Until then- Here is the song that inspired it all.