The idea for an art quilt making journey entitled Passages: Inside and Out came to me as I began yet another physical moving episode cross country “From Arizona to Maryland.” (1)30x36 I realized that a move of this nature is packed with situations and circumstances that are both difficult and exciting at the same time. As well, this disruptive period in one’s life is simultaneously an external and internal journey. The following expresses what I came to understand and question through art quilt making as some doors shut and others opened:
I recognized that life is not a linear journey taking us from the “Birth
Canal” (2) to our grave. It is more like “Going in Circles.”
(3) Life is, at its best, a joyous “Walking Meditation” (4) that
help us follow a “Labyrinth” (5) of confusing emotions. We must
choose our way from the beginning, our “Alpha, One Way” (6). We
choose and decide what is best for us, until we meet someone else and they show
us their “Omega, Another Way.” (7) Often we think it is the end
of us because their way works too and so what does that say about our way?
Ah well, we then choose again. This time we choose “The Road Less Traveled”
(8) because that is surely our way. That choice leads us to reach, stretch and
grow until we have learned how to climb to the top of a “High Rise”
(9), figuratively speaking of course and we see for miles. What we see is that
from this perspective everyone seems to be the same, but “Looking In”
(10) through the windows of the High Rise, we see how different people are.
We are both the same and different, at the same time, depending upon our perspective.
After that lofty realization we need a bit of fresh air and thankfully find
“Gaia Gate” (11), a pathway to enjoying Mother Nature in all her
splendor. She saves us from ourselves by slowing down our circular trek through
life long enough to smell the tulips, breathe fresh air and dive deeply into
cool waters. We swim mindlessly through the meandering tunnels of “Cavern.”
(12)
It doesn’t take long before we are met with
confusion. Why is it that in order to really be alive we must know the struggle
of “Freedom and Fear?”(14) And how is it that “Through Fire”
the forest brings itself “to Flower?” (13) Knowing that “All
Doors Lead Somewhere” (15) and after going “In and Out” (16)
of the many doors we open and shut, we discover our truth. Life and death are
“In the Palm of Your Hand.” (17) We build our own “Totem”
and realize, “Matter and Spirit” (18) are only different perspectives
of the same life. We are both matter and spirit and both matter.
Simultaneously I value two perspectives that help me choose which door, window or path to enter or exit, one borrowed and one learned on my road less traveled. From the Navajo wisdom teachers—we are all “Just Passing Through” (19) so be kind and bless all. And no matter how our passages go, whether marching, strolling, staggering or running, we would be well advised to learn to tap dance, because “Tap Dancing to Heaven” (20) makes all our passages worth the effort.
Linda Taft Walburn
April 2005