Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Gathering bones

Here I am halfway into February and I have yet to get January's Bead Journal piece finished. This is typical of my procrastination. I am looking at perhaps another couple of hours of beading to finish it and there it sits. Partly because I have a lot going on - looking for a place and moving - and partly because I am not in love with this month's project, and yet also because it is such a personal statement that putting it out there feels a tad bit humbling. I shall finish.

It is with art and beads that I am starting to collect bones, to collect stories. I love how the author Clarissa Estes Pinkola emphasizes our stories in such mythical ways drawn from a medley of indigenous tubers. We are each our own gatherer of bones. The word "bones" is my word of the year. Or perhaps a lifetime.




Now on a macabre note:

This is a bit morbid. This is a cemetery in Hallstatt, Austria. Its not like any other… it’s really small. When they run out of room, they simply dig you up, paint your name on your skull and stack it with the rest of the overcrowded population. Now, I did hear if you have the money to pay for the spot, your bones will not be moved, well, until you can no longer pay the bill that is.



5 comments:

  1. First of all, get to it and finish the PAGE!! We are waiting.

    Paint your name on your skull, huh. Actually, I don't think its morbid. They arn't bloody or anything so cool. I don't particularly care what happens to my body when my being has left it. But I kinda like the skull pile!

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  2. chuckle Carol you are funny. Thank you for visiting. I will finish within this next week and post it. The whole 6x6 area is ALL beads. I had to take a break.

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  3. Morbid no. I love beading skeletons, fish skeletons, raven skulls, human skeletons. They are so graphic, The black, the white, the whole celebrating the day of the dead! I'll post one for you, Kate http://livingbeadwork.blogspot.com/

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  4. Hi, this is off topic. Did you make the BJP 2010 block on your profile or is it official? I haven't seen anything on the website and I'd like to update my profile as well. Thanx!
    bohemiangirl

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  5. So, where the heck are you? I was thinking of you today and wondering if you are still beading. If you have a minute, drop me a note.
    Carol

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