http://sculptorsjournal.com
http://dawntreestudio.com
http://henrymitchellsculptor.com
http://earth-sign.com
Copyright © 2005-2010 henry mitchell
Copyright for all artwork shown on this site
resides with the artists.
http://dawntreestudio.com
http://henrymitchellsculptor.com
http://earth-sign.com
Copyright © 2005-2010 henry mitchell
Copyright for all artwork shown on this site
resides with the artists.
Monday 14 December 2009- Day by day, higher up and deeper in. At times, one can almost touch the quiet. Bit by bit, things become clear; the world is ordered, and the soul, rested and renewed.
Spent the afternoon fashioning a Cradle, a place to nurture stones, and harbor life from the mountain.
Tuesday 15 December 2009- Whilst working on the Cradle this morning, suddenly all the trees around were filled with the sound of birds singing. In the dense fog, try as I might, I could spy not a bird. The Old Mothers would say that was Rhiannon, announcing her arrival to spend Solstice with us. Jane Ella was born on the eve of the solstice, and we will greet the aborning year with friends at Nine Mile, celebrating her birthday and the lengthening days before us.
Spent the afternoon fashioning a Cradle, a place to nurture stones, and harbor life from the mountain.
Tuesday 15 December 2009- Whilst working on the Cradle this morning, suddenly all the trees around were filled with the sound of birds singing. In the dense fog, try as I might, I could spy not a bird. The Old Mothers would say that was Rhiannon, announcing her arrival to spend Solstice with us. Jane Ella was born on the eve of the solstice, and we will greet the aborning year with friends at Nine Mile, celebrating her birthday and the lengthening days before us.
Wednesday 16 December 2009- Spent the day up along Coldspring Branch, having a conversation with the mountain and harvesting stones, a few to obvious purpose; some will require nurturing for awhile to sort themselves. Those that don't will be given back to the mountain.
All the creeks were running high, which made for an interesting walk. There are fourteen crossings along the way.
All the creeks were running high, which made for an interesting walk. There are fourteen crossings along the way.
Thursday 17 December 2009- There is life for every season. Even deep in December, there is green; there is fruit.
I believe in the seasons. I have faith in winter as much as in summer. I believe the Word who is with us on our bleakest day as wondrously as in our joy, Who is alive within us on the darkest, longest night, drawing us onward toward morning and the Light.
I believe in the seasons. I have faith in winter as much as in summer. I believe the Word who is with us on our bleakest day as wondrously as in our joy, Who is alive within us on the darkest, longest night, drawing us onward toward morning and the Light.
Saturday 19 December 2009- Today, finished moving tools and materials into the cellar that serves as my "winter studio." Until spring, I will miss the splendid light in the yurts, but there is real comfort for body and spirit amid the wilds of winter to toil away surrounded by the earth, down among the singing stones and the roots murmuring as they grow.
Wednesday 23 December 2009- Jane Ella and I were off to the mountain this morning, walking one more time our favorite path. The ice had loosed their tongues, and all the stones, great and small, were singing together a large hymn of praise and joy to the Word aborning. Tonight, snug under my own roof, I can still feel the music drumming in my blood. Kodo. Like the Mother's heart.
Friday 25 December 2009- My friend and mentor, Sula Hurley sent this image (below) from her hermitage with the Carmelites.
Photo copyright © 2009 Sula Hurley
Monday 28 December 2009- Spent the day walking alone through rough country, so life is tolerable tonight. Tonight, I'm baking bread to send to friends.
Thursday 31 December 2009- Ten days into winter and a lot of work to be done before spring. Whoever has waited until tomorrow to start their year is already behind the game.
Ice last night, but not enough to bring down anything, and now rain, to wash us clear.
Joy! After years of searching, I have an agent, someone to hassle galleries and woo collectors so I have time to work.
Friday 1 January 2010- My agent tells me I should stick with making assemblages with text for the present, and build up a body of work. She's right. What I've needed for years is someone to ward me against jumping on my horse and riding off in all directions.
Ice last night, but not enough to bring down anything, and now rain, to wash us clear.
Joy! After years of searching, I have an agent, someone to hassle galleries and woo collectors so I have time to work.
Friday 1 January 2010- My agent tells me I should stick with making assemblages with text for the present, and build up a body of work. She's right. What I've needed for years is someone to ward me against jumping on my horse and riding off in all directions.
Saturday 2 January 2010- Twenty-five degrees outside, but it is sunny, so it is sixty inside the yurts. For today, at least, I can work in the light. In summer, the leaves will shade the yurts for most of the day. That will be a good thing.
Monday 4 January 2010- My enterprising agent (who is also my longsuffering friend), has unearthed a collector who is interested in the large vessel I've been working on off-and-on forever. Time to get serious or forget it.
Tuesday 5 January 2010- What freedom when people call with "maybe come take a look," or "maybe do a show sometime, " or "maybe buy a piece from you soon," to be able to say, "That's great; you need to talk with my agent about that," and go right back to work. "And he liked having thought of it so much, he said again," If anyone out there is interested in looking, showing, or buying my stuff, you need to contact my agent, Debby Coulter; she knows more about what I'm doing right now than I do. Here's her email address: debby@henrymitchellsculptor.com
Monday 4 January 2010- My enterprising agent (who is also my longsuffering friend), has unearthed a collector who is interested in the large vessel I've been working on off-and-on forever. Time to get serious or forget it.
Tuesday 5 January 2010- What freedom when people call with "maybe come take a look," or "maybe do a show sometime, " or "maybe buy a piece from you soon," to be able to say, "That's great; you need to talk with my agent about that," and go right back to work. "And he liked having thought of it so much, he said again," If anyone out there is interested in looking, showing, or buying my stuff, you need to contact my agent, Debby Coulter; she knows more about what I'm doing right now than I do. Here's her email address: debby@henrymitchellsculptor.com
Wednesday 6 January 2010- Here I am in my winter warren (left)- not as bright or spacious as the yurts, but right now, a whole lot warmer, expecially on the night shift. Put on your safety glasses, you old coot!
Friday 8 January 2010- Today, I am a painter. My agent says I need to do more paintings, "mountain paintings." My favorite kind.
Saturday 9 January 2010- A straight path is always the shortest for me, since I never stay on it for very long. I had planned to spend the winter carving some large vessels, then a few days ago, decided to take a break and finish a small construction bearing the text, "anam cara;" now I've promised to do ten paintings by spring.
So this winter, I'm going to be a painter.
Friday 8 January 2010- Today, I am a painter. My agent says I need to do more paintings, "mountain paintings." My favorite kind.
Saturday 9 January 2010- A straight path is always the shortest for me, since I never stay on it for very long. I had planned to spend the winter carving some large vessels, then a few days ago, decided to take a break and finish a small construction bearing the text, "anam cara;" now I've promised to do ten paintings by spring.
So this winter, I'm going to be a painter.
RIGHT:
"Falls Creek Falls"- Jones Gap
Mountain Bridge Wilderness, SC
"Falls Creek Falls"- Jones Gap
Mountain Bridge Wilderness, SC
I've finally begun work on a project that has been growing in my mind for years, a bit of history/fiction/biography/autobiography, tentatively titled, "Conversations with the Dreamkeeper."
It isn't likely ever to be published in hard print; it is a personal myth, an homage to a life-long anam cara. You can access "Conversations" at http://earth-sign.com .
It isn't likely ever to be published in hard print; it is a personal myth, an homage to a life-long anam cara. You can access "Conversations" at http://earth-sign.com .
The ancient hemlock that stood at the foot of Falls Creek Falls was down when I was up there last week. Rumor is that someone living in one of the new McMansions in the valley below slipped up the mountain and cut it, so it wouldn't obscure their view of the falls.
Sunday 10 January 2010- As an artist, it is always intriguing to get a glimpse of how others see your life. It always looks better to them than it does to you. They think what they see in a gallery or read in a review is all there is of you. They have no clue about the long days of frustration, the long nights of downright fear, the long seasons of having lost the path, searching for some familiar landmark to guide you back.
Sunday 10 January 2010- As an artist, it is always intriguing to get a glimpse of how others see your life. It always looks better to them than it does to you. They think what they see in a gallery or read in a review is all there is of you. They have no clue about the long days of frustration, the long nights of downright fear, the long seasons of having lost the path, searching for some familiar landmark to guide you back.
When I go to church in town, I always carry my sketchbook, in case I can't connect with the sermon. It is small and has a black cover. The Baptists will think I'm carrying my Bible. The Quakers will say it is my Bible.
Monday 11 January 2010- Got in an afternoon of satisfying work, which has centered me for the retreat at the Anchorage tonight and in the morning. Looking forward to spending some time with these fellow sojourners, and resting together in Spirit. Most of us, I think, are in sore need of it at the moment. Sr. Caroline has her work cut out for her.
Monday 11 January 2010- Got in an afternoon of satisfying work, which has centered me for the retreat at the Anchorage tonight and in the morning. Looking forward to spending some time with these fellow sojourners, and resting together in Spirit. Most of us, I think, are in sore need of it at the moment. Sr. Caroline has her work cut out for her.
Wednesday 13 January 2010- Twenty-two degrees at sunup this morning. I fantasize about living someplace warmer in winter, someplace quieter, someplace with fewer people, someplace with more trees and greater distances between houses, but I have been bound to this place with hard stone, it seems, and I can't quite see myself abiding in any other country. In an alien landscape I would see things differently, therefore I would work differently- I might not be able to work at all.
Thursday 14 January 2010- People have been coming through the house this week. A friend stayed with us while he was in town for the Anchorage retreat. Carroll is a storyteller, and himself a story worth telling. Jane Ella's brother Bruce will arrive this evening and spend the weekend with us. Bruce travels for a living, and will be full of tales from over the waters.
I was brought up to believe that hospitality is a sacred duty. It is also a sacred joy.
My lunch break got extended today as I listened in on a conversation between two friends about the difference between Spirit and magic. I tried to stay clear of it, except to offer now and then a strategic comment designed to provoke them into saying outrageous things to one another. I realized pretty soon that they could be outrageous aplenty without me.
We make up a lot of dichotomies that have no relations with reality. The work of Spirit is mostly hidden from us, so when we see the fruits of Her labor, it seems magical to us, as if sprung from the air. Actually Spirit is creating wonders all the time, unbeknownst to us, like the roots of trees, splitting rocks underground all winter long, while we wait for leaves to appear; like a flower, wondrously hidden and fully realized inside a seed, while it is still buried in the earth.
Thursday 14 January 2010- People have been coming through the house this week. A friend stayed with us while he was in town for the Anchorage retreat. Carroll is a storyteller, and himself a story worth telling. Jane Ella's brother Bruce will arrive this evening and spend the weekend with us. Bruce travels for a living, and will be full of tales from over the waters.
I was brought up to believe that hospitality is a sacred duty. It is also a sacred joy.
My lunch break got extended today as I listened in on a conversation between two friends about the difference between Spirit and magic. I tried to stay clear of it, except to offer now and then a strategic comment designed to provoke them into saying outrageous things to one another. I realized pretty soon that they could be outrageous aplenty without me.
We make up a lot of dichotomies that have no relations with reality. The work of Spirit is mostly hidden from us, so when we see the fruits of Her labor, it seems magical to us, as if sprung from the air. Actually Spirit is creating wonders all the time, unbeknownst to us, like the roots of trees, splitting rocks underground all winter long, while we wait for leaves to appear; like a flower, wondrously hidden and fully realized inside a seed, while it is still buried in the earth.
