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Welcome to "Reflections", a forum to discuss different issues related to the arts and creative pursuits. Do you have a question, tips, work that you'd like feedback on, are you in search of some words of support or is there something on your mind that you'd like to talk through with others in the world of art, writing, music, theater, or similar avenues? Please feel free to join into a conversation or start your own! All are welcome! Just be respectful of others so that we make this a positive forum, and jump on in :).

Some related 'can't miss' places to visit

Holly's 'Tell Me Your Secrets' Fiction, Poetry, and Art Forum

Phantasia's Cyber Art Gallery

Subject: My Hunger

Author:
Heather
[ Edit | View ]

Date Posted: 17:44:23 06/30/03 Mon

My Hunger

I said, this is the best banana I�ve ever had,
and it was September.
The scuffed Princess Street pavement leaked
currents of heat
and with it, a tarrish smell that mingled sickly
with the taste of the fruit.
I savoured it. Mashed every bite between
tongue and palate before sucking it
to the back of my throat and down.
Quickened my pace in spite of the heat.

Winter bore down heavily then,
and the chill settled in deep and permanent.
Snowploughs scraped at night against
a Charlotte Bronte backdrop of stars
that ached like teardrops frozen on velvet.
The kettle screamed frantic cups of green tea.
Warm, full and safe, for a time.

The world faded into a whiteness that defied
the efforts of snowploughs.
Tea could not thaw this frost.
The people even were white, their
coats and shoes like a TV show or a dream.
I don�t need your angel-warmth;
I�ll just wait for the spring.

My eyes seek horizons like a hunger, view
blocked by cage of bones
and tears.
It is June.

[ Post a Reply to This Message ]

Subject: New Poem: The Readiness is All
Author: Heather [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 05:35:42 06/11/03 Wed The Readiness is All Pigeon-wing on asphalt, Burst of something more than recognition with This twisted thing that once knew how to fly. Chuckle of black irony For the mouse dead in the church parking lot, Beady eye reflecting face of stone. Lightning-flash remembrances of what I was And what I could have been Before disorder pulled me to the depths Of its terrible, terrible truth: Providence is for fallen sparrows. And God does not exist for mice. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
My dear, beautiful friend... -- m&m, 17:57:33 06/14/03 Sat

Subject: Our World in Mourning: Excerpt from Phantasia's Tribute to the Tragedy of September 11th
Author: Deb (m&m) [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 14:29:00 10/13/01 Sat Our World in Mourning: A Tribute for the World's Loss on September 11th The Prayer ~Bocelli and Dion I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go And help us to be wise in times when we don't know Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace To a place where we'll be safe I pray we'll find your light, and hold it in our hearts When stars go out each night, remind us where you are Let this be our prayer, when shadows fill our day Help us find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe A world where pain and sorrow will be ended And every heart that's broken will be mended And we'll remember we are all God's children Reaching out to touch you Reaching to the sky We ask that life be kind, and watch us from above We hope each soul will find another soul to love Let this be our prayer, just like every child Who needs to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe Needs to find a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What do you say when there are no words that would ever do such emotion justice? That has been my struggle since September 11th, a struggle that time has not eased. My thoughts have been a tangled web, and the right sentiments to express to someone who has lost a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a husband, a wife, a daughter, a son, an uncle, aunt, cousin, a coworker, a friend�a hero---they've been impossible to come by since words just do not have the power and the strength needed. As a poster so eloquently titled a post on an internet message board that I frequent---My Tears Flow, but My Words Do Not. How can there be understanding, comprehension, and a place made in mind, heart, and soul for something that is beyond understanding, without comprehension, and for which a place in our world for such horrific and heart-shattering events and loss can never really be? I've always been the kind of person who needs to find some sort of understanding of or in a situation to really deal with it, but I'm afraid that will never come here. It makes my heart ache to think of how much the emotion is magnified in the families that have suffered a direct and irreversible loss of one of the lights, the strengths, the loves, and the heroes within their own lives. I continue to pray fervently that as individuals, a nation, and a world, that as the anthem goes, 'We Shall Overcome,' finding peace and comfort in the beauty of lives lived and loves that are eternal. The strength and goodness of humanity, as expressed in so many ways at Ground Zero, in Washington, in Pennsylvania, across the nation, and throughout a world united against such an act, has built a wonderful groundwork from which I hope we can draw strength from and build upon as we do the best we can in continuing to live our lives as those innocent lives lost would want us to. Just as there have been images that have broken our hearts, there are also so many that have done wonders to help heal and comfort them. Though the incomprehensible inhumanity of evildoers made an impact that we'll feel forever, joining together, in the countless ways that we have, overcoming differences to unite in love, humanity, goodness, Godliness, and peace will prove to be the victor, winning by a margin that's so wide it's beyond measure. For me, it's been a time to remember and to reinstate all that's important to me in life, vs. the trivial which was confused for the important until this tragic reminder. Some things lost their power, while others are now moved to their rightful central place. I'm reminded that tomorrow is promised to no one, and that to live as fully as I can in each day is something I should wake up with as a goal each morning that I'm granted. To the city which is still the home of my heart and all who see the wounds daily, my heart is with you and it grieves with you even as I celebrate your strength. So often labeled a dog-eat-dog place, you've shown the true heart beneath your armor. To those who have lost more than anything could ever make up for, my prayers are with you each and every day. I believe strongly that you will be reunited again in eternal life, and until then, that those left on earth to continue the path that God wants for them will have special angels walking through life with them always. You're not alone, and though in different form, those you love will always be with you in your life's journey. To the heroes�firefighters, policeman, rescue workers, those who saved countless lives by sacrificing their own on the flight that was overtaken in the field in Pennsylvania�you were angels on earth, and now you're the angels that millions look up to. Thank you for giving up your lives so that others may live�it's a sacrifice you shouldn't have had to make, but we are grateful beyond words for such an amazing, love-filled sacrifice. God Bless America and all who hold love and peace in their hearts across the world! It's time to unite in our common bonds and celebrate our differences! We Shall Overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand We'll walk hand in hand some day We shall all be free We shall all be free We shall all be free some day We are not afraid We are not afraid We are not afraid some day We are not alone We are not alone We are not alone some day The whole wide world around The whole wide world around The whole wide world around some day We shall overcome We shall overcome We shall overcome some day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Additional quotes and pictures can be found in the full editorial located in the Vision Quest section of Phantasia Thank you for reading, and God Bless! ~Deb [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Re: Our World in Mourning: Excerpt from Phantasia's Tribute to the Tragedy of September 11th -- mlgaines, 00:12:15 03/02/02 Sat

Subject: Your "coastal" gallery, AT LAST!
Author: MLGaines [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 23:33:49 06/28/01 Thu Soooooo, your gallery is finally open for business! Ahhhhhh, I can almost smell the ocean's breeze upon the gallery's walls, adorned with your exquisite brand of art. The sweet, sensitive aroma of your heart's blood, sweat and tears exhuding through each canvas that encases a flavorful tidbit of your beautifully creative soul. You do remember my dream for you, don't you?...~~your own little gallery along the New England coastline?~~Your entire site is TRULY a work of art in itself, you know. I've missed you, Deb and I am so, so glad that I have found somewhere to "find" you when I am yearning for a little of only the "Candyland" you can provide. Best of luck to you and MUCH happiness, my friend. ~Michelle [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Michelle!! How great it is to see you again! Come on inside :) -- Deb, 13:50:17 07/14/01 Sat

Subject: Hey, Miss m&m
Author: Holly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 21:29:56 06/24/01 Sun I was wondering whether I might be able to persuade you to let me commission a couple of engravings/prints? I've looked all over for copies of William Blake's engravings from Songs of Innocence and Experience. Found nothing. Found the poems I wanted (The Tyger and The Lamb) but not the engravings... um wheels turning? sound tempting? doesn't have to be reproduction... [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Hi there, Ms. Holly-gal! (click inside :)) -- Deb, 13:46:30 07/14/01 Sat

Subject: Beautiful work m&m...
Author: Louise [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 16:24:52 05/09/01 Wed Your entire site is wonderful. I just spent 3/4 of an hour browsing through the galleries and realizing as I looked around that one day your work is going to be famous. You have an amazing talent. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Thank you, Louise! Your visit and your thoughts mean so much to me! (click) -- Deb, 18:40:46 05/10/01 Thu

Subject: Note of Welcome and a Self-Introduction
Author: Deb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 18:59:50 04/13/01 Fri Hello all! Welcome to the Discussion Forum for Phantasia, with its focus on the arts. I thought I'd give the forum a bit of a test post in the form of a self introduction, a little about myself and where my heart lies in terms of art. Please feel free to test out the board and tell me about you in return! :) * * * * At twenty four years old, I'm originally from New York and am currently residing on the North Carolina coast, and "I want to be an artist when I grow up." I think that's the best way to put it since I feel like I still have so much to learn, and that every day and every life experience is my continuing education and inspiration for what I hope will be a lifelong dance between myself and art. It's been my expression and one of my passions since I was big enough to hold a crayon, a pencil, or a paintbrush�whatever was closest at the time�and I hope that's the way it always will be. I graduated in May of 2000 from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, with a Double degree: a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. With that education as a background, my interests lie in both producing art in various media in addition to continuing my study of art history and the pathways of art from ancient days through contemporary times in various regions and within various cultures throughout the world. In that same trend, I was drawn to and came to love Anthropology as well through my college studies and completed a minor in the subject; I would like to use the inspiration found in the unique styles of art in other cultures, and their identities as a whole as one path of exploration and influence in developing my future art work. I find it hard to settle on a particular style or medium and call it "my own" or "the thing for me": the subject, the emotion, the mood, and the inspiration seem to guide the why and how in which those elements wants to be expressed, so I tend to get stuck on categorizing an overall style that is "me". Maybe in time that will change; maybe I'm still searching or maybe there is some organizing factor that I just don't see myself just yet. Right now, I'm content to keep searching, experimenting, learning and experiencing and hope that there is truth in how that all comes across in my work, and that it serves as the big unifying factor. In general, I tend to lean towards realism over abstraction or expressionism in my works because it feels more comfortable, but then there are some things that just want to be expressed in a more abstract way; where I used to be afraid to go in that direction, a challenging class in collage has opened my eyes to the positives and the value of stepping outside of that comfort zone sometimes. My favorite medium types are oil and acrylic painting on canvas for when I'm feeling "color-bound", and printmaking, which I love to work in when I'm feeling more "tonal". I also enjoy charcoal and pencil sketching, and I have recently started to dapple in the world of computer graphics. The subjects closest to my heart to capture are wildlife and animal art, as well as scenes that uncover the depth of beauty and purity in nature, and different landscapes of life. While I'm not currently focused on 'figurative art,' in the sense of physical individual likeness, what captures me more about people is what's on the inside, the emotional aspects and conditions that are both individual and collective in terms of what it is to be human. It's really important to me to develop more powerful meaning through expression in my work, and I also hope to find a career that works to promote the impact of the arts and creativity on the individual, and community. A lot is stirred up in me as I look around at the world and see things that overwhelm me with their beauty or that hit so deep in a way that leaves me hoping for change or something that I can do on some level, and I hope that even if I can't always make sense of it in thoughts or in words, that it will find its place in my work. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]
Replies:
Wow!!! -- Holly, 20:11:43 05/03/01 Thu Hi Holly! stops to do the 'it's a visitor and its Holly' mental dance :) -- m&m, 23:57:24 05/05/01 Sat