"There is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light." Stanfill
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." Martin Luther King Jr.
Amidst the craziness of Christmas festivities, I have found solace and purpose in my thoughts and through creating much. I am balancing several projects in various states of completion.
This morning, I finished one I have been focused on for a few weeks now - a very special Christmas present for my children: a bamboo lantern installation.
I have sculpted 6 star lanterns from bamboo and sumi-e paper; completing them with bright hand-stitched nylon thread (silver, red, green, neon green and neon yellow). I hope to create our own 'sky full of stars'.
I have affixed white LEDs inside the lanterns and will illuminate them this Christmas and New Year for my children. I want them to see and experience the lanterns and little lights as symbols of hope, peace, wonder and inspiration for the coming year and to know that no matter the darkness; there is always light and often it is the deepest 'cracks' that allow the most light to shine both into and from our hearts. I want to remind them of the importance of their own light (we cannot give light to others if we haven't found it within ourselves) and then of sharing that light with others (such is the true spirit of Christmas).
Here are photographs of my work in progress. I will publish photographs of the completed installation in the new year.
May everyone find and share their light this Christmas and here's to a peaceful 2017.
geometric magic in the beautiful beginnings ... the bamboo star structures pre-addition of the sumi-e paper.
affixing the sumi-e ... reminiscent of Japanese interior architecture ...
Star lanterns taking shape with colourful stitching ...
condensed and pointed stars ... beautiful geometry
Stitching detail ... the sumi-e paper became like a taught, stretched canvas.