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VSA ARTS, for artists with disabilities

Being an artist is what I consider to be a gift, but being an artist with disabilities and part of the international Very Special Arts program along with many other artists who live with disabilities, is a privileged. If you aren't aware of the VSA program, it was created as a component of The Kennedy Center to foster the artistic talents in those who struggle with chronic illness, disease, or disability, and each state, along with many other countries have chapters which support and encourage artists like us. This month, the state chapter of Alabama will host Creativity in the Magic City in Birmingham and artists like me from around the state will gather at the AT&T Center to enjoy a night of celebration and art auctions. My paintings, "Twin Tanks, Twin Towers" was one of two chosen for this show and I am thrilled to be able to share it. If you know of an artist that struggles with disease or disability, I encourage you to reach out to the VSA Program in your state and to the national organization and become a VSA participating artist. Here is a link to the national chapter which has links to the state info as well.

http://www.vsaarts.org/education/vsa/

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8:57 pm - April 17, 2012 Posted by Ardith Goodwin 1 Comments

Thrift Store Denim Apron

As an artist, I go through aprons rather quickly. There are a few that I will ask to be buried with I am sure, but working with acrylics and glue can wear an apron out so I had to figure out a way to find the type of apron I loved, without breaking the bank. Denim is my favorite material to wear in an apron, as long as it is soft. It holds up well to glue, paint, inks, and just about anything I can wipe on it and it washes up nicely. Back in the day, the denim “moo moo” dress or jumper was quite the trend, but not so much. That makes for great pickings at the local thrift store. The denim dress you see her is a Levi’s Jumper that I scored for three bucks! 

There are pretty aprons, which I make as gifts, then there are working aprons that I make for myself. This is a working apron, requires no sewing, and I am not particular about seams etc. 

Step One: Make a straight cut up the back of the dress/jumper. Depending on which type you get, you might want to leave a few inches to the left and right in case you wish to sew or fuse a seam. For this one, I noticed there was a thicker ‘band’ across the back, so I decided to cut up to it and use it as part of my tie back. 

Step Two: Cut Around the Waist Band. I liked the sturdiness of this waist band so I cut around it. 

Step Three: Cut the back panel out, but leave the neckline to go around your head. This part will need about of ‘trying’ out so that you get a pretty good fit around the neck. Great thing about jumpers/overalls is that the brackets give you the option to shorten or lengthen the apron as you need. 

Step Four: Cut Tie Holes. I cut a small slit in each waist band for my tie strips. I use an old pair of pajamas that are soft. I don’t worry about whether or not the cut is straight, I simply cut a length of about two feet for each strip and tie them through the slit and knot them. Because they are not sewn in, I can change them as I need to. 

Step Five: Try On and Adjust. Pretty much, the apron is ready to wear and use, but this stage is where I ‘tweak’ it. If it is too long, I can mark it and trim it. If there are a few pieces I need to cut  back, I can do that now. The beauty of this working apron is that I am not worried about straight lines, setting stitches, or looking pretty. I spent $3.00, now have a sturdy denim apron, and am good to go until I wear it out. 

        

If I chose to I could sew and hem this, sew some straps on, add ruffles etc, but the beauty of this apron is that it’s cheap, sturdy, requires no sewing, and serves its function well. In my busy life, those qualities are all I need in a working apron. These make great ‘class’ aprons as well if you teach art students and need aprons that are a bit more durable than the traditional canvas ones. 

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6:20 pm - February 22, 2012 Posted by Ardith Goodwin 0 Comments

It’s Gonna Be All Right

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There are no coincidences. I truly believe this. As much as I believe there is a God who loves me, I believe there is an evil force in our world trying to conquer my significance and light. In these two truths, at least to me, I believe nothing happens by chance. I believe one of these two forces in my world, God or evil, moves and life reacts around me, and I to it. Strong beliefs, yes. Controversial, to some. But in this year of my life, I am boldly saying, you don’t have to agree with me, this is who I am, this is what I believe, and I love you regardless.

Two weeks ago I had my neck fused. Many of you know this, but many of my new fans and friends may not. Actually, this was my 23rd surgery, no car wreck, just a joint disease that has been a challenge since I was 23. Despite the physical limitations I have faced, the pain, the tears, I have and still believe I live a beautiful, unimaginable life, and am grateful.




Surgery is hard. Many of you know this, and many of who may be facing surgery are probably apprehensive, scared, and worried. I was, with every one. I have also had to deal with the post-operative depression that comes afterwards. Not to everyone, but to some, and to me, often. Part of it is meds, part pain, part life issues that surround me, but like my approach to everything, this will not conquer me, it’s gonna be all right.


Today, after almost two months, my Occupational Therapist worked with me to begin painting again. Not a masterpiece, just a simple piece of art to teach me how my posture and adaptations will change for the rest of my life if I want to keep painting. The neck brace, it will be my new best friend. I kinda look at it at this point as an albatross around my neck but I will mentally deal with that because expressing myself creatively is a must, and I will not allow my physical limitations to conquer me either.

The back brace is a new, and constant friend, too. The collar keeps my neck from bending down, the brace helps my core stay stable. And, as I am told, starting small, with baby steps is what I must do, so I will. I wanted to share these with you, because many of my friends struggle with neck and back pain who are artists. If you know of any art friends who face these same issues, please share my blog with them. I have found limited resources and would love for them to know they are not alone. These are my adaptations, but they just might help you as well, especially if you are healing like I am. The painting is simply a start. I have no clue what it will turn into, but it felt good to put paint to paper and feel connected to the artistic spirit that flows within me.


And in the midst of all of this, life can actually fall apart, or it seems. Tears will flow, fears will become real, but in those moments I stop myself and simply breathe, breathe in God, breathe out everything else. My dear friend Terri Keller knows this, and for us, and hopefully many of you, those moments are what becomes the glue to our sanity.


A few hours ago I checked my Facebook page and my blessed college friend Pam had posted a video for me that made her think of me. This is where I know, coincidences don’t happen. Every word of that video I needed to hear, to know, to believe, and there it was on my page. God is like that. To me, it’s not about religion, it’s about a loving God who knows how to gently reach out is hand, even through FB, and say, “I have you, I love you.”



As I researched more about Sara Groves, this artist, her song, “It’s Gonna Be All Right” struck a chord, especially the quotes. I felt the two videos simply needed to be shared, for private reasons, and for the simple fact that someone out there might need to know, IT WILL BE ALL RIGHT, in time, in faith, with the support of others. I love all of you, I love that you follow my stories, my journey of courage and healing, but most of all, that you love me for me, faults and all. Stay strong my friends, it can be overcome, it can be done, and WE WILL HEAL!

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
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11:16 pm - May 27, 2011 Posted by Ardith 4 Comments

A Snail’s Pace is Perfect

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It has been almost two months since I created, painted, or delved into that whimsical world of mine that is as much a part of me as my faith. Actually, I believe they are intertwined, and the time has been oppressive. That doesn’t mean I have laid wailing and whining about a horrible life, on the contrary. My life is blessed beyond measure. It simply means there are parts of us, that make us each unique, and when one or more of those parts slip away, the person begins to fade just a bit. In my world, I hate to fade. 


One week ago I had my neck fused. Surgery isn’t new to me, but what that means in reality is that the creative process will take a bit longer to come back full circle. This morning, I went into my studio, lit a candle, and breathed in God and breathed out everything else. I have missed this place. The place of being surrounding by color, and potential, and imagination, but mostly the place where God is in the midst of it. As I sat, I pulled out a quote by Ira Glass and spent a long, southern bit of time pondering it, kinda like my grandpa used to do on the front porch in his rocking chair. 



What I gained from this is that part of healing is loving myself enough to believe a snail’s pace is perfect for now. I may draw a line on a paper, I may simply dream in color, watch the sun dance through my colored glass window, or I might even go back to my all time love of Play-doh. No matter the pace or the product, the beauty is that for me, creativity doesn’t have to be limited to making a painting or a collage. It is simply part of who I am, part of my beautiful world, and God has been surrounding me with it the entire time. 

It is easy to feel defeated. Physical pain can zap my zeal in an instant. Emotional and Mental Pain can completely debilitate me. But for today, I am choosing to embrace my creativity in much smaller ways, find the juicy tidbits of joy that surround me, and give myself permission to create anything, knowing full good and well the best of me will show itself when it is meant to. In that I am content. 

Regardless of where you are, I hope his quote encourages you to see that creativity is meant to be experienced daily, in some form, no matter how small…..nothing or no one is insignificant!

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
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4:37 pm - May 20, 2011 Posted by Ardith 1 Comments

Art at the Murray House

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Annette and Jami Buck
A fellow artist and friend, Connie Hozvicka, wrote a blog the other day about what it means to hit the big time as an artist. The thought perplexed me. For months I have tossed that concept around, chewed on it, tip toed around it, and occasionally given it up for dead. Alas, it would never leave me, and then I read a blog about the exact same thing and I knew, like I was breathing, that it was something I must come to grips with. Some greater force in this crazy artistic world knew I needed an answer to that big time question so I threw in the towel and decided to really pin my thoughts down about it. During the pinning, I was invited to go cut and paste with some ladies in their 80′s and 90′s, and I oh, so couldn’t pass that up……idea on hold yet again.

The Murray House is a retirement center in the heart of Mobile on lovely Dauphin Street. I have passed it many times, but never had the opportunity to visit, until Jami Buck rang my phone and invited me. Her dear friend Annette Simmons, who is sister to a dear friend of mine, Mary Beth Culp, lives there and Jami had thought the idea of doing an art class at the center would be grand. I was thrilled and suggested we do an art party for Annette, work with collage, and we both got excited. Now, we knew the ladies would be in their upper years, some of them artists in their earlier days, but we actually had no idea, other than Annette, who we would play with. I say play because art is always play to me, or it should be at least. 

When we arrived, we had met our four ladies, which turned to six, which turned to seven, which ended up at nine! And, rather than freak out, we rolled with the punches, shared supplies, and had a lovely time with these ladies. They all, well into their 80′s and 90′s still had their wits about them, were quite hilarious to be honest, and had a come back for every joke we threw at them. They loved the color palettes we worked with and some of the images brought back happy memories for them, of pets, and family, and things they didn’t like. They told a bit about their occupations, Flora Mary was an elementary school principal at Mary B. Austin and Annette, who was an occupational therapist for children, was also an artist. It was just a great experience sharing art with them and here is why….

That hitting the big time question came full circle to me during this event. With total clarity, at least for me, I realized that hitting the big time as an artist was in this moment. It wasn’t about being ‘discovered’, selling a piece for a ton of money, getting into what some would say is ‘the best’ gallery. It also wasn’t about me getting my name out there or about me trying to network or sell my art. All of that, which is necessary for a professional artist, is trivial to me really. What means the most, what tells me that I have hit the big time as an artist was the look on Lurlee’s face when she clapped, and with teary eyes, said, ” This is so much fun, I had so much fun.” Yes folks, clap your hands, I have hit it big! 
Thanks Jami for this photo, love it!


After we left, we learned that many of those women were the movers and shakers of their time in Mobile. Mary Abbey Berg, who now has a senior center named after her,  was not thrilled at the temperature, but she was pleased with her finished piece, especially the use of the word “fearless.” I hope and pray that when I am their age I still feel fearless and am able to create art in some capacity. But more than that, it would mean the world to me if I am in a place like the Murray House, to have some young, whipper snapper artists like me and Jami show up with paper, scissors, glue, and paint ready to make art. 

Annette added the phrase “Don’t Be Afraid” to her collage

Ms. Sullivan was a hoot, kept us on our toes.

Their finished pieces, which I think are beautiful!

Flora Mary thought out of the box, loved her!

Can you tell they were loving this?

Annette’s finished collage

Mary Abby Berg’s finished collage

I have seen with my own eyes how our elderly folks are forgotten and it’s heartbreaking. The Murray House seems full of love and it’s clear that they have families who visit and love them, which is rare for so many their age. If you are an artist, I hope you would consider hitting the big time with me and volunteer at a senior center. We will be there one day won’t we? 

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
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3:32 pm - September 26, 2010 Posted by Ardith 3 Comments