om art designs & workshops
2068 Sunnyside Lane, Sarasota, Florida, 34239-4636. Tel: 941-953-9999 Fax: 941-952-9990
WEB SITE: OMARTDESIGNS.COM --- E-MAIL: gojolly@comcast.net
Studio News
November 2002

A letter from the Editor


Dear Friends:
Truly our entire state of being knows its direction. Our blood travels its destined path, our feet nose and eyes point forward, we grow bigger, certainly older, and often wiser. With all the road signs that indicate the direction of the flow, we often get caught in the catch. The proverbial ‘road to happiness’ ends.

Somewhere we separate the act of exploring with the act of achieving. Forgetting of course that the two are one.
I thumbed through the latest edition of “Art News” and stumbled upon two road signs that helped to confirm and encourage “flow:” A quote from Georgia O’Keeffe and a painting by Morris Graves.

At the age of 36, Ms. O’Keeffe rebelled against her apparent attachment to critical opinion and produced a series of exquisite watercolors that were united with her true self. This revelation was indeed for me supportive to a host of internal intuitive rumblings.

Then, a little bird carried me to the website of Morris Graves. “Irish Bird” painted in 1954 was just one of the marvelous nature paintings produced by Morris Graves (1910-2001) -- one of America's most esteemed artists. Although he is best known for paintings that reflect journeys into the spiritual realms, it is particularly informative to note that for the 20 years preceding his death, his paintings we primarily of flora and fauna.

A trip through the website of Morris Graves reveals paintings that have a detectable mystical energy that one feels through sight. The Graves Foundation mission is to provide the former home of Morris Graves as an inspiring location for artists and art scholars to work and study together in harmony. The facility, known as “The Lake,” is a place of solitude and peace surrounded by ancient beauty. It is a place to rekindle ones heart, spirit, and creativity.

The surprise discovery at the end of this rainbow was that “The Lake” can be arranged for educational facilities -- or, is this the beginning of the rainbow?

For guidelines, description of facilities, and application see www.morrisgraves.com. Happy trails to you all and a blessed thanksgiving holiday.

God bless OM

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Botanical Art Workshops
With Artist, OM Braida
Sunnyside Studio,
2068 Sunnyside Ln, Sarasota, FL
Four five-hour classes 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
$395
To register, call 941-953-9999

Special Events

Art Center Sarasota
707 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236
941.365.2032 voice 941.366.0585 fax,
e-mail info@artsarasota.org
Juried: O.M. Braida and other Florida artists until Nov 11.

The Estate of Morris Graves
American Painter 1910-2001
Visit his beautiful website www.morrisgraves.com
And enjoy a selection of his paintings and writings.

Book Buys

Georgia O’Keeffe and the Calla Lily in American Art
1860-1940

by Barbara Buhler Lynes with
Essays by Charles C. Eldredge and James Moore.
This book features nine of O’Keeffe’s renowned paintings of the calla lily as well as depictions by some thirty other American artists whose works date from 1860-1940. Published in association with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Yale University Press. $35.00. yalebooks.com/art

Cool Product Pick

The Art of Presentation: Finely Handcrafted Boxes and Folios for Presentation and Limited Editions. Portfoliobox, Inc. 166 Valley St. – Bld.3-402, Providence, RI 02909. Tel: 401-272-9490 Fax 401-454-8167. Visit: www.portfoliobox.com. Or, for a free color brochure email: portfolio@ids.net

Soul Biz

Just living isn't enough," said the butterfly, "one must also have freedom, sunshine, and a little flower."
-Hans Christian

In pursuit of happiness, the difficulty lies in knowing when you have caught up.
-R.H. Grenville

All who would win joy must share it; happiness was born a twin.
-Lord Byron

When we look into our own hearts and begin to discover what is confused and what is brilliant, what is bitter and what is sweet, it isn't just ourselves that we're discovering. We're discovering the universe.
-Pema Chodron

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