creative process, lisa lillibridge, south dakota, identity, vermont, midlife, psychology, creativity, south dakota photographyLISA LILLIBRIDGE

As I walked Town Neck Beach this morning I felt a peacefulness wash over me even though the churn of the sea was quite wild. There was far more seaweed than usual because of the waves and storms swirling out in the Atlantic. I started thinking about nature in its many forms.

NATURE: 1. natural scenery. 2. the external world in its entirety. 3. the inherent character or basic constitution  3. the physical constitution or drives of an organism (Merriam Webster)

I know what happens to my character & constitution when I’m too emerged into the artificial world. I feel less certain, more anxious, disconnected from my inherent nature, and my struggles feel all-consuming. Being in nature makes me realize…well, good grief, it ain’t all about me.

What if we received NATIONAL NATURE ALERTS?

THIS IS A NATIONAL NATURE ALERT:  GET out into nature immediately!  This warning is in effect EVERYWHERE for the next 10 minutes. Step away from everything artificial NOW without any form of communication and just breathe.  If you have more time it is advised that you use it freely.

When I feel more grounded in nature my challenges seem like a teeny tiny portion of the hum of the whole universe and our shared human experience.

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”

—Rachel Carson

created nor destroyed…the total amount of mass and energy in the universe is constant. —Law of Conservation of Mass, discovered by Antoine Lavoisier in 1785

matter: the formless substratum of all things which exists only potentially and upon which form acts to produce realities —Merriam Webster

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of matter and how I spend my time, resources, and energy. I’m not a first responder, teacher, food producer, or any of the many admirable front line workers that kept us going during this remarkably challenging COVID19 year.

I’m an artist and making things and thinking about making things takes up a lot of my time…most actually. I think in potential constantly to produce other realities.

So, does making art in my basement studio matter in any way right now?

I just don’t know.

Here’s what I do know. I was unsettled the other day. I cleaned my studio. There was a lot of cardboard. I rescued it from the recycling. I created the work below. I felt much more settled.