Surface Tension, 30 x 40 inches, acrylic on panel, ©2011 Deidre Adams
Surface Tension (detail), ©2011 Deidre Adams
New Year’s Day is my favorite day of the year. Starting with the prior November, the craziness of the holidays takes hold and makes me feel anxious, and I kind of just hold my breath until it’s all over. Normally, I don’t watch a lot of TV except for Stewart & Colbert on Hulu and movies on Netflix, but in the past couple of months, I saw a lot more than usual, and the holiday commercials were just surreal. Somehow, our priorities got very out of whack, and everything feels forced and fake. The bulk of what I saw seemed to be about enhancing one’s experience of having one’s eyes glued firmly to little screens at all times, enjoying who knows what inanity and making no attempt to connect with live humans in one’s vicinity. Or if not that, how to make your woman feel special, because hey, we all know that every kiss begins with Kay®. The defining moment of our sad slide came last night, when we briefly turned on network TV to find a countdown to midnight, and there was Toby Keith singing an ode to a Red Solo Cup, while mindless plastic-faced automatons in the audience waved their red cups in unison.
Now, finally, we have a new year and a chance to refresh, renew, or just plain restart.
I’m really glad 2011 is over. It was a good year for me personally, but for my country, it was unbelievably terrible. I hope that in 2012 we can find a way to come together and start caring about one another and about our planet before it’s too late. I don’t really know where I’m going with this train of thought, but I’ve been feeling guilty lately about enjoying making my art in my own happy little world while so much is going so wrong. Making art can be a very selfish endeavor, as I do it for myself alone, and I don’t attempt to use it for any greater good. I want to change that in 2012, but I don’t know how. Any ideas?
We all have different definitions of success and happiness, but whatever yours may be, may you experience them in the coming year.
Diedre, I too saw and was puzzled by the Red Solo Cup song, thinking, “what a waste of time/talent.” In 2011 I lost my husband (to a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s) and three other close family members, also had a total knee replacement and rehab, then topped the year off with a fender-bender Dec. 31. I am sooooo ready for a new year, and posted some thoughts about non-resolutions on my blog. Keep inspiring us with your words and your work.
Martha Ginn
http://www.marthaginn.blogspot.com
Dear Martha:
Yes, that does sound like a terrible year – a massive understatement, to be sure. I’m very sorry for your loss, and I hope your friends and family and art-making will help you find peace and solace. I admire your spirit and resolve, and I also like very much the idea of not making resolutions, especially about coffee & chocolate. Your “Migration” is lovely. Here’s to a better 2012 for all of us!
Hi Deidra! We met at the Visions show in Oceanside way back in 2010. We spoke briefly outside the museum and you encouraged me to keep in touch. While I frequently stop by your blog and come away totally inspired, I don’t think that qualifies as keeping in touch—especially since I haven’t left comments to let you know I’ve visited!
You asked about using your art for the greater good, and this immediately came to my mind: You could donate pieces of your art to organizations you want to support so they could auction or sell them to raise funds. Now with the Internet, both the organization and your art can reach a far wider audience than was ever possible before. Just something to consider…
By the way, your observations on the last few weeks of 2011 were so accurate—by the time I got to the Red Solos Cup, I was laughing out loud (though I could have just as easily cried at the truth and sadness of it all.)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your art—both touch just the right places in my heart!