Marina

... thinking of Marina Abramovic in her film, The Artist Is Present. in the beginning, she said something like, "people have called me crazy, have wanted me hospitalized ... and 40 years later, they're finally taking me seriously." 

soapbox x me: i will never stop making and archiving my work ~ it's my gem collection, my reason for navigating life. i think of how many empaths, highly sensitive individuals, compassionate rebels, and artists are so easily (without a second thought) referred to as crazy ~ it's so much easier for people to label vs. really trying to understand what lies deeper ~ often too, there are stories of trauma that are not allowed space for full healing in our modern day "societies." i def believe that part of a greater shift coming forth for the world pays much more respect to folks who create, bring healing, and lead w/ their wild heartz.

11/11

~ in honor of 11/11~
 

empathy

foto: Mirra Kohlmoos

"Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate. It is not the empath who is broken, it is society that has become dysfunctional and emotionally disabled. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are at times described as being a 'hot mess' or having 'too many issues' are the very fabric of what keeps the dream alive for a more caring, humane world. Never be ashamed to let your tears shine a light in this world."

~ Anthon St. Maarten ~

Alaska

 

photo by: Mirra Kohlmoos

photo by: Mirra Kohlmoos

photo by: Mirra Kohlmoos

photo by: Mirra Kohlmoos

 photo by: Mirra Kohlmoos

interiority (self-care) as sacred

" ... as though somehow looking within was a selfish/narcissitic thing to do ... but there is a version of interiority/inquiry that to me is a precursor to transcending the ego ... the ego needs to be developed in a self-knowledge way ... the more we know ourselves ... and art is an incredible way to get to know ourselves and to define what we care about, what we value, what we hate, what we enjoy, what we move away from, what we notice ... you know, artists are the sensitives of the culture, we're the priests and priestesses, the shamans ... so, the self-definition process ... to see it as a sacred process ... and the precursor to the eventual transcension of the self ...  it's really a sacred act to define yourself publicly." ~ Alanis Morissette

and from yoga goddess, Elena Brower: "When you are in the space of caring for yourself, fear and blame cannot thrive there. You are sacred, and caring for yourself is sacred action. And it’s the action that will teach the world how to treat you, and will remind you of your presence, and will help you stay close to the ground when it’s time to pray and when it’s time to forgive."

new/mind/ritualz statement

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new/mind/ritualz is a 56-movement performance art piece released one movement at a time until complete. some movements are open to the public, while others are documented in a more private setting by a single collaborator or altogether solo. as is true of performance art, the artist herself is the primary medium.

the project's title alludes to a new mind space coming forth for the artist, a rebirth (rebirthing) of sorts. before the wholeness of this rebirth is embodied again & again & again & again & again & again, a little storytelling (from/of the past) weaves thru sometimes. 

new/mind/ritualz ultimately explores memories, demonstrates moments of growth in the present, and invokes rituals of healing + action for now n in the future.

each movement varies in length/content, and is documented thru video, still images, and self-portraiture. 

ritual items include, but are not limited to: strawberries, easter decor, roses, glitter, colorful water, 111 golden hummingbirds, 1,111 small open-faced boxes, corn kernels, children's barrettes, pony beads, etc.

this project was conceived of by kelly shaw willman.

project & writing above © kelly shaw willman 2014-forever.