Art Lesson: Art Lessens our Anxieties

Stringing beads together can be like stringing a life together. The tranquility of working with jewelry, is soothing. Beading, wire wrapping, and linking jewelry require a focus on the elements of design. As I work with colors and forms, I don't need to think in sentences. Whlie the fluidity of language allows me to communicate effectively in my everyday life, I have found that creating art is wildly fulfilling. 


And perhaps surprisingly, creating art is even more important than the art itself. 

When I'm creating art, I have no need to think in sentences, I need not focus on my anxietes, worries or hurts. I stop the running soundtrack of my thoughts. I have no need to replay memories or to hesitate about my future. To swerve away from the constant chatters of our restless minds is so therapeutic, so healing. 


Designing jewelry is a parallel process to collage. I see both as essentially the arrangment of colors and forms with the transformation of many apparently disparate elements. The finished piece itself is fulfilling. But the process of creation itself is what most engages me. The allure of a peaceful mind is irresistible. The process is good for the soul. The act of creation soothes and clarifies my own center.


My mind becomes like a summer sky, I am either empty of clouds, or they are passing and fleeting. 

Neighborly Love Neighborhood Art

Tomorrow I will be able to put up  the message to Binghamton area folks that all sales of my art, from 9/7/11 till 12/31/11 will go to those who need it after this  disaster. It has been overwhelming  for all who live here, no less to us who see our neighbor’s losses. I can’t think of a better way to help in this effort, and hopefully this can be something by way of soothing the losses of  the people who lost so much this week.

I would like to post more tinoight, but I have to go update Dream Images with more collage photos.

Here’s the one I made today

This is an international love letter called “Par Avion”
Paper collage.
8.5” x 9.5”

Includes (from top)
Argentina
Syrie
Polska
Portugal
Československo
Frederick Douglas (USA)
Pakistan Norge

Goodnight from new York ~ Kanchan

Flood Relief In Binghamton New York

I plan to post the following at Barnes and Noble’s 

In The Garden of Creation 

My name is Kanchan Mahon. I am an area physician. My practice is in Endwell and I live in Vestal. I also make art, and have some of my work is on display here at Barnes and Noble's. I have about 50 additional pieces of art. I would like to donate the proceeds from their sale to the flood relief funds.

It would honor my art to be useful in such a way.


Check my website at http://KanchanMahon.com for pieces. Or contact me at kmahon@stnt.rr.com

Flood Zone Evacuation

Today is a time to think of staying in the moment and loving what you’re doing with each and every day. You don’t know when you are about to lose almost everything. 


Our city is flooded. We live in a bowl shaped valley in the confluence of two rivers. Roiling water surged over the flood walls built decades ago to tame the Susquehanna River. 

Though my family is safe and sound, our neighbors are losing their homes.  Since last night, people began getting phone calls with recorded instructions from the government telling them to evacuate.  
Around 7 o’clock 20,000 people were simply told to leave their homes, taking their pets and medications with them. Those people are living in Red Cross shelters now. How must it be to watch the news expecting to see a glimpse of your home or what is left of it?  

The government has banned all passage though the city of Binghamton. Only emergency vehicles have access to much of the city and surroundings. You can hear siren’s calling in the distance.  

Houses hold several feet of water. Parking lots are filled with cars mired under water. Lourdes Hospital is flooded, the river is more than high.

Why am I telling you this now? 


Because it reminds me to live my everyday life in the moment. To appreciate it in it’s fullness. We never know what tomorrow may bring, so I practice  mindfulness.
For me that happens to mean creating something beautiful with ordinary paper. 

Flooding All Around

The internet has survived my wrath as has the wonderful i-Mac I am typing on. Nice computer, good computer, sit , sit, … no, don’t play dead!

Well, we had a weird day today! Half of my patients didn’t come in because of the torrential rains we’ve had since yesterday. Roads are closed. Could be in for Another Big Flood like the huge one in 2006, and the not-so-big flood that followed.  The river is high … very high … just the tops of those huge old trees poking up out of the swollen muddy water.

I’m a New York City gal, so it's thrilling in the same way that a large snowfall is when you get to stay home from school. Today, though, just rain pelting your head from car to building and back again.

I know I promised you more of the story of my broken leg …

So I just left a very secure job to start my own private practice.  Then I fell down the stairs and fell hard with all my weight on my right ankle, it gave, and ended up broken in two places.  I found out I don’t scream when I’m in a helluva lot of pain … I just, well I just … sorta howl … like an animal, in fact. Next thing you know, I’m in a wheelchair,  but my office can only be reached only a steep staircase.

But how did I start collaging like this?

Well, I  think I wrote too much tonight, I think & I have to go help with the chicken (by help I mean eat of course) and hope to collage some tonight, so I’ll keep you posted  …

So goodnight from New York ~ Kanchan

Looking Inwards

I am so happy I don’t have to kill my computer. I still may kill the internet …

My name is Kanchan and I want to figure out how I got to where I’m standing right now. Barnes and Noble’s is showing my artwork this month and I’m about to explode.  I am a collage artist.  I take images from books and magazines and recycle them by gluing them together until I feel I have something of beauty in my hands. I love pattern, texture and vivid colors. Bright colors are like loud music on the beach in summer to me  …it’s all about just feeling in the groove.  I love warm colors the way I love the sun and warmth.  Here is one of my favorites, it’s called Celestial ...

When I try to figure out how I came to this place in my life, I always think it was a good thing  that I broke my leg that summer … if I hadn’t fell, I’d have no pictures to share with you. I wouldn’t even know what you can really do with a blog. So I’m tired, it’s late. Perhaps I’ll let the internet live and just go to sleep … goodnight from New York. ~ Kanchan