Autocomplete / Collaboration

Autocomplete: Untitled. A drawing by Kevin White and Danielle Foushée.

7.5 x 9.5 inches. Crayon, ink, and twine on matte board.

My friend from our days at Cranbrook, Maya Drozdz, invited me to be a part of a new exhibition she’s curating, called Autocomplete: A Collaborative Coloring Book Exhibition at Visionaries + Voices Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. The exhibition will be on view from May 10 to June 29, 2012.

The Visionaries + Voices Gallery provides artistic and cultural opportunities for artists with disabilities, and builds an inclusive environment where all artists feel valued. They value a world in which artists with disabilities not only create and share their works of art, but also are able to learn, work, collaborate, exhibit, teach, and celebrate with other community members.

I was given the black and white drawing you see above, created by artist Kevin White, and was asked to “complete” the piece. I added the color and the twine to finish it. I always love these kinds of works. What two artists create together is completely different from what each of them would’ve done alone.

Special thanks to Maya for including me in this project. It has been really fun to be a part of it!

New Blue Paintings

Vishuddha #11, Ink on Paper, 6x6 inches. 2012.

I just finished a new series of blue and purple paintings. There are 22 of them.

Vishuddha #3, 6, 7, 10, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22.

Ink on paper, 6x6 inches (each), 2012.

My sankalpa (intention) for 2012 is to focus on the idea of integrity—living from my own truth, and from the inside out. After my thyroid cancer diagnosis last fall, I’ve been thinking a lot about the throat chakra and it’s energetic implications on my life. Vishuddha Chakra is generally represented by the color blue. 

To honor my body and my intention this year, I’m focusing on becoming a better communicator. As part of my studies and spiritual practice, I’ve taken on a course in life coaching, which I think will give me skills to become a better speaker and especially a better listener.

Vishuddha #19, Ink on Paper, 6x6 inches. 2012.

I hope I will be able to deepen my personal relationships, improve my own life and the lives of people around me. I’m also looking forward to grounding my art-making work in the ideas that evolve from these explorations. 

I’m giving one of these little guys to each of my classmates in my Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I hope it will be a happy little reminder to everyone of what a great experience we had supporting each other together. 

Maybe it will also help keep us on task with staying in the present moment, where everything is always as it should be.