Journey in Words & Nuances: 6 June 2013

Spend a moment...

spend a moment outside

and feel

the wind against your face

spend a moment in the sun

and soak

the rays into your skin

spend a moment under a tree

and touch 

the rough skin of its trunk

spend a moment on grass

barefoot

and wiggle your toes into the green

spend a moment in the rain

and taste

the fresh drops wash away the dirt

spend a moment in a field of flowers

and see

the colour reaching into your heart

spend a moment in a forest

and breathe in

the trees and layers of growth and decay

spend a moment in the ocean

and hear

the roar of the water, the power, the rush

spend a moment outside

and be you

be free, be wild and happy.

Janet Botes, 2013

Find your Song

The music is louder and clearer 
to some of us than for others. 
Some people have a drumbeat 
that their life bounces to, 
while others people's days 
are entangled 
as the strings of a broken harp, 
or flowing 
on the throaty tune of a wooden flute. 

We each have a rhythm, 
a song, a spirit song. 
Open your ears, 
open your heart, 
open your mind 
to the notes, 
beat or melody 
of your call to dance."

Janet Botes, February 2013

This poem was written during a writing course that I've been taking, called "Write On". I strongly recommend this course, these sessions have been very inspiring and uplifting! The confidence that I'm developing in my writing is flowing over to my visual art too, so I'm endlessly grateful to Amy's (as the facilitator) encouragement and guidance. Here's the info for Write On:

Write On
Because Everyone Has a Story to Tell. Workshops, Groups & Courses in Unblocking Creativity, Self Expression & Finding Your Voice through Writing. Based in Cape Town, South Africa. Contact us at writeonsouthafrica@gmail.com

• www.facebook.com/WriteOnSouthAfrica
• twitter.com/WriteOnSA

West Coast Fossil Park

We visited the West Coast Fossil Park this weekend, and it was a wonderful and enriching experience. Check out the Fossil Park's website at www.fossilpark.org.za. And the park is really worth a visit - make sure to join a guided tour!

BONES: Stories, secrets, history

Bones tell stories
Bones keep secrets
Bones contain history 

Secrets about the past
locked away in sand and rock
Stories about life before now 

Uncovered, polished and displayed
Stories about days long forgotten
Secrets that may teach us something about today

A fine balance

Emotion bubbling and boiling over the edge
Anger blinding the eyes of compassion
Love forgiving and nurturing all pain
Apathy has no place in a world full of passion

Nearly almost tipping over the ledge
Simply never releasing the hold of age
And always to be washed away by rain
Is the remnants of yesterday's rage

Feel. Heal. Aspire.

Koekenaap workshop: part one

I returned on Monday 10 September from a 10 day art-making experience at the Koekenaap art workshop in the North-Western Cape on the West Coast close to Lutzville, Vredendal and Strandfontein. 20 artists, supplied with art materials, food and accommodation, and granted the freedom to create together, inspire each other and experiment with new art methods...

In stikdonkerte kom ons aan by Koekenaap net nadat Vrydagaand Saterdag geword het, na ons 30 September uit Kaapstad vertrek uit - lekker moeg omdat 7 van ons urelaaaank ge-saamwag en saamstres het oor vervoer uit Kaapstad wat geherorganiseer moes word. Dié was natuurlik 'n lekker ysbreker en teen die tyd wat ons by Koekenaap aankom, skraap sommige van ons nog energie bymekaar en drink wyn om die vuur saam met die ander kunstenaars. Die laastes van ons is halfvyf die oggend bed toe...

 ...net om weer halfnege wakker geroep te word vir brekvis. 15 minutes se snooze, kreun en maak of ek nog slaap, 10 minute op die foon met manlief, 20 minute om dingetjies in die kamer te organiseer en vir my stortbeurt te wag, en 15 minute in die badkamer en toe mis ek sommer ontbyt! 'n Paar vruggies en tee, en toe's ek reg om (nog half-aan-die-slaap) almal te join en te begin skep.

 

After breakfast we start creating and doing art right away. How exhilarating to be able - and be expected - to work on an artwork with no other immediate responsibility or distraction withig the specific space of time!!

2 Oktober, Sondag

Woorde wat vloei in beelde in

en gedagtes in 'n energiebelaaide lug

wat soos 'n wolk hang oor die kampterrein

hande wat verf, teken, plak, klei vorm en gly oor teksture

stemme wat gons oor herkoms, uitkoms, ontkoms

en ervarings van gister en vorentoe

'n vroegoggendstappie langsaan kanaal, plaas en boorde,

tussendeur bome sandpad en heinings

met kamera klets en voetstap op sand.

Vergeet en onthou: a full cycle

'n Rukkie terug het ek 'n half-voltooide gedig geplaas, en hier is die volledige gedig nou:

Vergete Verlede
deur Janet Botes, 2011

Vergete in die verlede
waar selfs gister nog geen betekenis dra
en drome en vrese saamsmelt
tussendeur langsaam voortstroom

Weggesteek in die middernagdonker
waar klein diertjies skarrel en jaag
en ons voetjie vir voetjie moet voel waar ons gaan
terwyl die maan eindeloos voort wentel

Geslote in 'n houtkissie van herinnering
waar spinnerakke en stof 'n lagie mis vorm
en selfs die waarheid minder duidelik deurskyn
tussendeur alledaagse werksbestaan

Ja, daar agter in die hoekie van jou gedagtes
in die skrefies tussen onsin en menig verhaal
waar verskonings en skaamkry saam met lekkerkry lê
en gister saam met môre saamsmelt in gevoelensgety

Daar is die waarheid en die weg wat elk moet volg;
die dinge wat ons teëstry en wegsteek-vermy
omdat ons so bang is vir buurman se opinie of lag
en eerder langsaam, verlangs weer terug op die paadjie wil kom
waar ons eindelik gelukkig, vreedsaam en tereg kan loop
met die Vader, die bron, met lewe en liefde.

Two different perspectives

With a view over mountains and sea
One day with peace and tranquility
The next day with storm and wind

Near the foot of Africa
And part of the Sun Path of our ancestors
With age-old rocks around the sands of time

Here we find peace and truth
Here we can find ourselves.

Kalk Bay, 2011



Leaves on a table within my studio. Hidden underneath a roof. Captured within 4 walls. Contained within the control of my hands, my will, my ego. Control. Fear. Anger. Despair. We all long to feel connected again. Leaves plucked from a tree - death, decay and renewal.

Herkoms

Vergete in die verlede
waar selfs gister nog geen betekenis dra
en drome en vrese saamsmelt
tussendeur langsaam voortstroom

Weggesteek in die middernagdonker
waar klein diertjies skarrel en jaag
en ons voetjie vir voetjie moet voel waar ons gaan
terwyl die maan eindeloos voort wentel

... to be continued.