Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Registration is OPEN

ATTENTION CREATIVES: 
The NEW WEBSITE IS ACTIVE and REGISTRATION IS OPEN for the June 7-10, 2018 REFLECT: CONFERENCE FOR THE ARTS held in Boise, Idaho (formerly known as The Creative Church Conference in Boise). 

GO TO: cometoreflect.com to learn more about REFLECT and to REGISTER for the 2018 Conference in Boise. 

This would be a great Christmas gift to a creative you may know (or for yourself!)
3 Reasons to register early:
1) space is limited, as we're holding the conference in a more intimate, smaller setting
2) it will probably be our last arts conference in Boise for a few years, as we aim to expand this conference to multiple cities around the United States after 2018
3) our hotel discount and childcare have earlier cutoff dates this year, so don't delay (and the registration cost will increase 3 weeks before the conference)

Our 2018 Speakers/Artists are:

Scott Erickson (Live Painter-Portland, OR)

Andrew Nemr (Tap Artist-New York City, NY)

Marlita Hill (Choreographer-Los Angeles, CA)

Michael Gatlin (Pastor and Artist-Duluth, MN)

Justin Nielsen (Music Instructor-Boise, ID)

Kobe Watkins Grouptet (Musicians-Chicago, IL)

Dave Blakeslee (Pastor and Potter-Salida, CO)

Rick Jenkins (Potter-Boise, ID)

Dean Estes (Sculptor and Painter-Boise, ID)

Travis and Kathy Nelson (Writers/Poets/Photographers/Artists-Boise, ID)

Jessie Nilo (Visual Artist/Designer/Illustrator, Founder/Director of VineArts Boise and Art Fruition and REFLECT Conference for the Arts-Boise, ID)

(along with several other Artists, Musicians, Art Ministers, Pastors, Prayer Ministers, Creatives and Volunteers, who will be teaching workshops, volunteering, catering, interceding and creating an amazing 4 day experience for us all)

GO TO: cometoreflect.com and register today! 


Saturday, November 4, 2017

You Count Far More (part 2)







Thank you to all who were able to come to Gallery Coffee House in Meridian to experience the opening of my art exhibit "Discovery"! It was a wonderful afternoon filled deep meaning as we connected together in community through collaborative art, food and drink, and lots of great conversations! I appreciate each one of you! Thank you for coming to experience my art and hear my story, for sharing your hearts with me and for your hugs and laughs and tears. Thank you for taking the time to enter a sacred space together...creatively. 
Once again, for me...it wasn't just about the art...it was about you! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see each of you who stopped by (whether for just a moment or for a length of time to hang out)....you are all so beautiful to me! 
Thank you for joining me in the conversation! 
You count far more! 


The paintings in this exhibit have been created over the period of a year, during which I have been exploring a deeper understanding and journey of discovery as an adult being born with a physical disability and on the autistic spectrum. Through this time of exploration of how I’ve been made and wired, I’ve dove into the emotions of facing my limitations and fears and at the same time challenged myself to move forward towards brave possibilities. Painting has been a voice for my processing and a way to relate to myself and the world around me. I’ve created paintings in a series titled “Hands and Feet” that directly correlate with my discovery. Much of what is dealt with in the paintings here in this exhibit titled “Discovery” have to do with the actual processing (what I found myself going through and experiencing in order for me to fully embrace what I have been learning about myself at deeper levels. I’m excited to share this work with you. 


“Layer Exploring”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay.
This painting explains the process of self discovery. Each layer is important and adds to the next. The entirety makes up the whole. 


“Listen”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting is about the unforced rhythms of grace that allow for the pause in life that gives space to hear my own voice from within. 


“The Time We’re Given”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting asks me:  What will I choose to do with the time I’m given? Who will I choose to be? 



“See”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting is about being able to look beyond what I might find as distractions in order to truly see the heart of the matter.


“The Broken Way”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting is about the hard road that requires me to let go of the things that I hold onto so tightly. To be open. 


“Lean Into the Spin”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting is about learning not to fight or fear the spin of the process of self discovery. 


“The Road You Take”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting is about facing my fears when I feel lost and things seem like they’re slipping out from under me. 


“Face the Waves”
Original Not For Sale. 16x20 giclee print on canvas For Sale $159. Prints available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
I created this painting out of an experience 
I had learning to surf. Using the analogy of 
aligning the board directly at the wave,  It’s 
all about facing fears head on. 


“Luminous Extension”
24x30 mixed media on canvas
Original For Sale $636. Prints Available in various sizes (pre-order/pre-pay).
This painting reminds me to not isolate. We’re all connected and we all need each other to burn brighter in the darkness.