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

New artwork: Breathe and Believe

Breathe and Believe

Janet Botes

Mixed media on wood

670 x 340 mm

2012

Part of a new series called Beach Meditations

This artwork is available, please contact me at art@janetbotes.co.za for more information. 

Koekenaap workshop: part two

 

3 October, Monday

 yoga after sunrise

breakfast and painting

meeting a new friend

land art raking leaves

taking photographs

documenting

delicious lunch

talking, inspiring, absorbing

explorative guided tree walk

building a booklet

constructing

dinner

share, talk, discuss, read, enlighten

write, draw

smell the leaves and berries

sleep

 

Kuier om die vuur, snags na 'n dag se werk. Die life of the party: George en Adri - albei met pittigste sêgoed en grappe. 

Stappies in die omgewing, laataand kuiers om die vuur en kunsmaak-sessies met toewyde konsentrasie - en soms konsternasie - vleg inmekaar in, sodat minute ure raak en ure sommer vinnig-vinnig in dae verander. Die tyd vlieg verby.

Die natuurlewe, landskap en self murasies was 'n visuele fees, en net soos wat die heerlike kos elke dag ons gevoed het, het dit ons kunswerke inspireer en gelei.

We went to Doringbaai, and I could've sat on the beach for HOURS just listening to and looking at the sea - words can't even begin to describe what I felt, heard and saw!

From chaos beauty can grow, just as life grows from decay in nature. Too often we perceive things (experiences, objects, people, events, etc.) as 'bad' without realizing the value and potential within it to grow and transform into something better and exquisite (making you a stronger person; an ugly duckling turning into a swan; someone learning from and helping others because of their worst mistakes and 'bad' experiences). And from the chaos that most of the time made it hard to find things in the studio, we created artworks that inspire and celebrate life.

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.