During 2021 I found myself struggling to get out of bed and off to my studio. I became frustrated and frightened for our future. I was searching for love in a world of chaos. Feeling vulnerable, unable to concentrate on my own anxieties I threw myself into the public realm and started making ephemeral artworks as a way of motivating others to keep going. I drew with natural materials; words, poetry and patterns, on local footpaths, parklands, and beaches around South Australia. I imagined this work as a conversation, offering care, surprise and delight in a time where human touch has been eliminated. Slowly this simple everyday task has consumed my art practice and is now affecting others.
The other day, a man leapt from his car to thank me three times for my words of hope, saying that I didn’t know how much my works were helping others. Children are helping me to gather nature, write words and are also changing my words into other positive sayings. Neighbours are standing over the words discussing them. Someone else recently told me, they were sitting in a café and everyone at their table had been affected by these words. An elderly lady is taking photos of them to send pictures of them to her friends in nursing homes who are unable to come outside.
The most inspiring story so far is that of an aging Chinese lady who battles to walk with a stick each day. She walks alone, focused. concentrating on her every step. I tear up now when I see her excitement in discovering me, her face lights up, her hand raises to give me the thumbs up, she stands over me while I write and draw. Her fight to walk is courageous, no matter what’s happening in our world, she is determined to walk, to beat her demons, to win. I don’t know her, but I love her. My words of love have affected her journey, she has affected my entire life.
To love, to share love, and to respect each other through love, can change our world. All beings, human and non-human are starving for love. Nature is calling us to love more, to look and pay attention to the signs of Global Warming. We should be walking together focused on looking, listening and caring for our land, our planet. My ephemeral art practice is proof that small steps can make a huge difference.
Fragile, is
the world we live,
dangling precariously
like puppets
on a string.
Our life is
threatened now,
uncertain, vulnerable
jeopardized
changed for good.
A virus
is the culprit
a twenty first century
enemy
of the globe.
Love hovers
it can bring change,
love allows us to dream
it delivers
us to hope.
It’s simple, just love!
