The artist is distracted

and its not pretty

Jun 17, 2025

How are you doing these days?

I am doing my best to pay attention to my art while also paying attention to worldly upheaval and incredibly inhumane acts of violence. Of course this has happened for awhile now -and I feel comfortable saying I’m uncomfortable. .and angry and sad .. and so very furious.

I feel I try all the right things to take care of myself while so many do not have that choice . Of course that nags at me too . A privilege to be concerned, distraught about others I do not know- yet able to feed myself well, have proper shelter, people I care about and make art or take a walk in nature if I need to . I can try to push some of the ugliness aside. I try to monitor my exposure to the news yet..

It is embedded in my body .

The distress is real.

The complete utter horror of the savage actions of leaders and the complete silence where there should be outrage. I am fortunate to have a few kindred spirits who do not fear talking out loud about what is happening to the Gazan people and Palestinians . Who do not hesitate to speak up against Israel and the USA and other complicit nations..

I do understand the fear. We have been taught and conditioned to think a certain way about nations. We have been lazy about listening to whatever the media feeds us as truth.

Yet I do not understand the uncaring, unfeeling, the removed -the silence and apathy!

I know I have lost many “followers “ of my art for my beliefs and my perspective -and I also know that many are silently in sync yet worried or conflicted about speaking up .

Well the curtain has been pulled back to reveal evil in its highest form .

I participated in a tetra pak print challenge for a week and all I could focus on was images that related to the Genocide in Gaza

Babies, children, women and men murdered in their tents and as they line up at the only resource for food?? Journalists , doctors, aid workers executed? Hospitals targeted and destroyed? What?? All of this for 17 months and it’s not ending. It’s also not complicated .

And Now Iran .

I have tried to participate in ways that an artist might -I have held a few art fundraisers for Palestine charities , sign petitions whenever they are offered, dedicated a few posts to my thoughts here, and attend local rallies in person regularly. Educate myself. I’ve returned to Instagram (not for art!) but to speak up or circulate posts to add my voice ..

(Compared to my art I receive very few likes!)

I feel cheered by the thousands and thousands of people worldwide that walk and protest and risk their lives for this cause. My frustration comes from the day to day chatter that feels empty -from all of the heads in the sand.

for the Madleen and its safe passage -a mixed media piece

This may not be my best or most appealing art but it has helped to express something through the means offered to me.

So I hope if you have followed me for my art that you will also follow me with love in your heart and hope and action and speaking out loud about the unspeakable to anyone and everyone you can. The impact of man’s inhumanity to man affects us all.. !

(If you don’t see my perspective than I am truly ok if you unsubscribe .)

I’m not sure where my art is going currently -but I know I continue to make it because I must.

Please take the time to follow writers, journalists and media that have something to say worth paying attention to . A few people I follow :

Of course there are many more .. I welcome your suggestions !

How are you doing these days ? What more can you do? What is in your means to do ?

Ageless Artist

Discussion about this post