Northshore rest

Most summers I go to the Northshore  for rest, meditation and unobstructed work.  This year was a bit different.  I was(still am) recovering from shoulder surgery.  My friend Gwen came with me for the first week to make sure I would fare OK.  I did.  I went up to the Northshore in sorry shape.  I could not lift my arm and the pain prevented night time sleep.  But I got great physical therapy and acupuncture, sun, wind, fog and rain, liberal doses of wine, naps, good food and a lot of staring out at the lake.

We even experienced a double rainbow!

As the 2 weeks progressed, I gained more strength , more range of motion and a better point of view.

 I continued drawing the injury, by itself, divorced from the body. It became apparant to me that I needed to re-integrate my shoulder with my body...in other words, re-learn that I am NOT my injury.  Watch over the next few weeks or months as these become an artwork that I call DIMETZZATA.  The aching shoulder drawings will become integrated.  These are ambidextrous drawings.  Fine motor with the right hand, gross motor with the left.

 

The left hand doesn't know what the right arm is doing?

 April's fall brought pretty extensive rotator cuff surgery.  If you have even had this surgery, you know how disabling it is.  it is a very long recovery, much longer than it looks like. As an artist having my dominant hand disabled has been very difficult to deal with.  Finally, I took up a pad of paper and the easily available pastel pencils and began to draw the experience with my left hand.  Due to the tendinitis/overuse of the weaker side, I can only draw every two or three days. But here is what I have done.

 

Good News beats tough times

It's been a rocky week.  The weather turned lovely, briefly. Plants are greening, birds are busy.  I was optimistic that, since the last round of cortisone, I would be able to resume a more vigorous exercise program....nothing radical, just walk longer, maybe ride my bike a bit.  After more than a year, there was no pain from the slightly bulging disk in my back.  Hooray!

Well, a sunny Sunday walk fixed that fantasy.  Evidently, I am unable to walk safely in dry, sunny weather.  I stepped on something that rolled like a marble, sweeping me off my feet and throwing me onto my elbow with as much force as possible, thus jamming my shoulder....The dog sat calmly, looking at me with puzzled devotion. Bless his heart. He did not panic and run as he is sometimes wont to do!

Most art making has ceased, again.  I am sewing, spinning a bit...no drawing.  MRI's will tell the tale in a few days.  Regardless the verdict, my shoulder is hurt and not functioning properly.


But, the good news is:

  I won first place in Three Dimensional art at the Savage Art Council show;-)  Nice to have some good news.


More good news:  Many people have offered to help me with Shepherd's Harvest over Mother's Day weekend.

Life is, indeed good.  And it has been snowing on and off today with predictions of measurable amounts by tomorrow night.  That should be safer walking for me...since I've made it through many, many winters without a fall.  It's those precious warm, sunny days that endanger me.  I was probably delirious with weather-pleasure when I fell.

Savage Juried Art Competition

From the Soul

The Gift

Trying to start up my exhibition career again.  The wheels are creaky...I've kind of lost the smooth skills of seeking and applying that were so much of my work of the past.  BUT, I did find a competition in Savage, Minnesota, less than half an hour away.


 I delivered fairly early this morning.  There were, already, some interesting photos and paintings .  There was a collage that especially appealed to me.

Here are the specifics, should  you want to see the show.The show runs May 1-30
• Awards and Reception at McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, 13550 Dakota Ave, Savage: 04/28/13 – 2:00pm
• Show Opens to the public at the community locations on Wed, May 1st
• Artwork Picked Up at McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, Savage: 05/30-

Ophelia's Dream

I just got word to day that one of my poems was selected to be read on Northern Community Radio, kaxe.org.  SO PLEASED!  Not only am I "coming clean" about writing poetry, this poem is part of a much larger project I have written about and illustrated in the past.  

The Ophelia Project, an installation and performance I have been working on for several years, is the location for this poem.  There are many other mixed media/drawings,  more poems and other tech media that will be part of the event.  I expect the event to be ready in the fall of 2013.  The picture above is the first to be highlighted in the performance, introducing the character named Ophelia.  This is her poem, "written" perhaps at a later stage in her life.

Listen to Susan Hensel read the poem Ophelia's Dream

Small work on a gallery day

I spent the day showing I'm not me, she's over there, in the gallery today.  A quiet Monday, a mild cold, a few visitors.  Once I had gotten caught up on a few administrative detail, the call to create whispered.  I had wanted to pull out some of the suit scraps  left over from Deconstructing Power and see what happened.

Deconstructing Power #2

Deconstructing Power #1

Deconstruction Power #3

Deconstructing Power #4

Ash Wednesday, and the art will be hung

Good Friday: Descent from the cross

The Lenten series of mixed media pastels is finished. It has expanded and contracted: been drymounted, framed, cut and reassembled, turned into more pieces.  I will hang it in the sanctuary of Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church for  the duration of Lent, which begins this week with Ash Wednesday.

Holy Saturday: In the Tomb

The Empty Tomb

I don't actually know if I will hang all of them.  Rumors of the Messiah and The Betrayal are new today.  So new, that I do not know if they will fit visually in the space.  I will take them over Tuesday and see.

Rumors of the Messiah

 The Ash Wednesday service is Wednesday night, 7pm, at Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church, 1620 East 46th St, Minneapolis.  This marks the beginning of Lent.

The Betrayal

Easter: He is Risen