Words of Faith. Literally.

I am such an art nerd.

I wanted to take a moment and dedicate one post to Faith Ringgold, and the lecture that she gave yesterday at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach.  My apologies in advance, there will be some rambling.

Faith Ringgold is one my my personal 'art rock stars', so when I saw the email from PBCATA- it was a no brainer, I had to go.  I admire her for being an artist...she is a painter and, though she does not consider her work to be textiles so much (seriously, she said it several times yesterday)...fibers folk love her.  She is a teacher, an author.  She is a teaching artist.  And she was sparkly.  Folks, she was sparkly, on the inside and out.  All things that I can identify with and strive to be.

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'I love to teach, and I love being an artist.  I can do both.'  When Faith spoke of her love of teaching, it was so genuine.  She said her mother was a teacher, and she was so proud when she spoke of her, and of being a teacher herself.  This really resonated with me.  So many times as an art teacher, folks think you can't DO.  Why are you a teacher?  You can't be a real artist and be a teacher.  

But you can.  I can.  We can.  

Sure, it means you have to steal away bits of time to dedicate to your work.  But I always think to myself...this is the whole reason I got into this gig in the first place- I love making art.  If I stop doing that- then what?  And sometimes it is discouraging.  I have had some moments in the past few weeks, especially trying this whole licensing thing...when I have thought to myself..WHY am I doing this?  WHY am I making all of this work?  WHY bother?  

But...I just have to do it.  It's who I am.  Like it or not, I am going to make this art, even if it's just for me.

'When they say you can't do something, so more of it'.  Prove them wrong.  Wait, who is this 'them' anyway?  Sometimes...'them' is just our own self doubt.  I know this to be true.  Do.More.Art.  

Note to self...everything else will fall into place.  I will keep on teaching art and making art...and if all these pieces don't get out there someway, somehow...I will just amass a huge collection of work.  It's a win-win.

(Left) Faith in full red-fabulousness talking about her work (Middle) True Story. (Right) Me...a Faith Ringgold art quilt in front of my face. I wanted to take a running jump into the wall and try to get into the composition...roll around in the colors...wait...uh...

Faith Ringgold said alot of things, things that I scribbled down in my sketchpad...but these are just a couple of the things that I wanted to put out there, hoping that her words will inspire someone else like they did me.

Ya Gotta have Faith.