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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Wabi Sabi

Self-Taught   watercolor   12.25 x 9.25
One thing leads to another....and so goes my reading which inspires my thoughts which, I believe, deepens my work. Robert Genn's newsletters are a great source. Recently I was introduced to the Japanese notion of wabi sabi through The Tea Collection , where my daughter-in-law Laura is a designer. The books are piled up on my reading table ready to ingest. I guess I have always leaned toward these notions without realizing it. Wabi Sabi is a complex idea that celebrates the richness of imperfection: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. It is about achieving a balance between action and stillness. These thoughts originated long ago when the tea ceremony evolved from a status-ridden and lush event to a more simplistic one, nurtured by accessories that were available to all people. Wabi Sabi is autumn. Wabi Sabi is a chosen non-materialistic way to live....a poverty of sorts that distills complexities into essences. For me, very complex, yet oh-so-meaningful. The lessons are poignant. The lessons still anxieties. Wabi Sabi.