Mighty

 

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Mighty.  I chose to photograph the original building of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for my interpretation of the prompt.

 

The building itself is certainly a mighty structure, but I also chose the museum because of the art it houses and the opportunities it provides to all of its visitors. This building and the newer Bloch Building, opened in 2007, house outstanding permanent collections and are continually stops for some of the best traveling exhibits available. In addition, the museum has excellent programs that emphasize education and participation for all ages. I think the Nelson-Atkins does a mighty fine job in its commitment "to engage, educate and serve the community."

 

What does the word mighty bring to mind for you? Tell us in words or images by providing a link in the comments on the prompt post. Thanks to Rebecca Barray for this week's prompt.

 

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Writing Out Grief

 

 

Writing Out Grief

 

I face the page.

It represents the way

I feel as is-empty.

Yet, I need to share

words, to talk about

you, about my day,

about the way your

loss has changed me.

I must say what I want

 to say in my own way.

I need to write out

the grief even though

that will not make

it go away.

 

 

Writing is a useful tool in the grieving process. Why?

• Grievers need to tell their stories and writing is one way to do that. 
• Everyone's grief is unique and so is everyone's voice. No one can tell your story like you can.
• You can be honest in a way you can't in talking to someone else.
• Write to remember (memories) and not to forget (what is happening at the moment).
• Write to think things through.

What could you write?

• A word or two-perhaps the same words repeated.
• Phrases or sentences-again, these may be repeated.
• Meditations or affirmations.
• Prayers
• Letters-to your lost loved one, to God, even to yourself.
• Journal Entries-Even these don't necessarily have to be long. Take a look at the book A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. His journal entries varied in length.

How do you start writing?

• Start writing by writing-put words down on paper or screen.
• Write whatever comes to mind.
• Turn off your inner editor or critic. There is no right or wrong about your writing and no one will be grading it.
• Say what you need to say.

Have you ever written out your grief? Did you find it helpful?

 

 

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Water

 

 

This time of year in the Midwest, you see all kinds of sprinklers going. They are various shapes and sizes. Sometimes when you play golf, sprinklers will come on unexpectedly or you way have to wait while the grounds crew waters a green.

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Water. Give us your interpretation of water in words or images by posting a link in the comments on the blog post. Thanks to Dana Dampier for this prompt.

 

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Travel Game

 

 

 

Since I lived for many years in Western or Central New York, I spent a fair amount of time traveling on the New York State Thruway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

 

As a child, I remember seeing lots of cows along the way. Horses were more scarce so I liked seeing them.  There was beautiful scenery and a few areas I was  happy to put behind us. 

 

 

Travel Game

 

The child looks

out the window

eying large stones

sitting high above

the highway.

They could

dent a car,

shatter a window or,

hurt a little girl.

She heeds

the warning

sign and

watches for

falling rocks.

She never

sees one drop.

 

 

What do you remember seeing out the car windows when you were going on vacation?

 

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Wish You Were Here

 

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Wish You Were Here. The idea is to talk about your summer vacation.

 

Since I haven't gone out of town yet this summer, I'm going to tell you something about Kansas City, Missouri, that you might not know. It is just one of many reasons why Kansas City is a great place to visit and a great place to take a staycation if you live here.

 

Kansas City is known as the "City of Fountains" and has more operating fountains than any other city in the world, except Rome. Click this link to the city's website to see more beautiful fountains.

 

What's your response to the prompt "Wish You Were Here?" Post a link to it in the comments on the prompt page. Thanks to Kasie Whitener for this prompt.

 

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Portrait of the Artist

 

I attended another great program at the American Jazz Museum last night. “Bob Barry-Jazzography in Black & White”-Salon and Screening. The program included a panel discussion and screening of the Dailey Pike jazzumentary about Mr. Barry.

 

He is an iconic jazz photographer (actually music industry photographer) who takes what he calls performance portraits of  musical artists. The photos are black and white, candids taken during a performance and shot in existing light. His work has been on exhibit at the jazz museum since early May and this exhibit remains open until July 21. You still have a few days to go see it and I highly recommend that you do.

 

The evening certainly was a portrait of Mr. Barry as an artist, but it also became a portrait of artists in general. Following are some thoughts that I came away with from the discussion by panelists Barry, Pike and Jason Piggie, a videographer and Kansas City resident and from the film:

 

1. The need to express oneself through an art form has to be the No. 1 motivator for the artist. If it isn’t, the individual probably isn’t going to stick with the art long term because
2. most artists have to find a way to survive as an artist. This generally means a diversity of revenue streams in order to survive financially. Most artists have to do this at one time or another even if they eventually become stars in their art form.
3. Sharing is a component of expression. In fact, it completes expression. I don’t recall hearing this relationship described quite this way before. It makes sense to me because I started this blog and my participation in open mics because I wanted to share my work more often than I could by  getting published.
4. Do not limit yourself. Let your artistic gifts take you where they may. Don’t be afraid to move from literary art to visual art or to combine the two. Try a different form, medium or genre. Let your creativity lead.

What is your portrait of an artist? How do you share your work?

 

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Chip

 

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Chip. After giving this prompt some thought, I came up with the above visual representation of an old saying. Want to hazard a guess?

 

Why "a chip off the old block," of course.

 

What does chip make you think of? Post a link to your response in the comments on the prompt page. Thanks to Carol Early Cooney for this prompt.

 

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Happy Fourth of July

 

 

Fortitude

 

Responsibility

 

Empowering

 

Emotional

 

Determined

 

Opportunity

 

Masterpiece



 

 



Summer Sunrise

 

 

This time of year, the sunrise is a little northeast. It comes up among the houses rather than at the end of the street, like it does later in the year.

 

I can't move around much or the houses block the sun.  I really like the cloud formations in this shot and wanted to capture as many of them as I could. Consequently, the power lines came into play.

 

I think this is still an interesting photograph with the power lines in it. What do you think? Are the power lines spoilers or do they add another dimension?

 

This week's Wordsmith Studio Creative Prompt is Summer. Create a response in your favorite genre and post a link to it in the comments on the prompt page. Thanks to Rebecca Barray for this week's prompt.

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