Converged Paths

"Converged Paths" is a two woman art show I did this spring with artist Andrea Van Wyk. It was such a delight to do an art show with my own art teacher. Enjoy these photos from the exhibit.

The Joan Kuyper Farver Art Gallery presents:

Converged Paths. The Journey of Two Women.

Andrea Van Wyk and Melynda Van Zee

Joan Kuyper Farver Art Gallery, 2nd Floor, Pella Community Center,

712 Union Street, Pella, IA.

March 1st - 31st, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm M-F

Artist Reception: Friday, March 4, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

As journeys go, they ebb and flow, bend and twist - meandering places we didn’t dream possible. The journey of these two women started over twenty-five years ago, Andrea starting out in her first teaching experience and Melynda beginning high school as one of her students. As an educator, you wonder how teaching will resonate in your students and the hope is for seeds of knowledge to take root and grow. This exhibition is the result. Presenting a garden of work that has come from these two paths that were joined at the beginning and now converge once again. Both Educators and both artists, both are connected by the desire to visually create and capture the beauty of their journeys.

Coram Deo

I will be facilitating a Breakout Session called Just Imagine at "Coram Deo...Living in the Presence of God". This women's retreat will be Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, IA. There is a fabulous group of presenters and registration is available online until Feb. 20. Join us!

Just Imagine will feature ideas on using the arts as a pathway to living fully in the presence of God. We will discuss the attacks and roadblocks that get in the way of us freely expressing our God-given creativity and discover how God can use the arts to bring spiritual growth and healing in our lives.

Nature walk as my sustainable practice

It’s been cold here and when I say cold, I mean cold...as in below zero. And, when it is this cold, I can’t walk in my favorite spots, but I can dream and I can pull out my photographs and I can spend an afternoon focusing on my favorite nature photographs from the timber I walk in whenever it is not this cold! Nature walks are one of my “sustainable practices” as an artist. One of the things that keep me going, keep me fueled up, help me to shake out what is in my head and my heart. They help me to really see and notice what is around me. Some days I just head out for some physical exercise-a chance to stretch and take in the fresh air, but on days that I really need to slow down, I grab my camera. There is something about taking a walk with a camera that really gets me to take it slow and see what is around me. I am reminded again to look at the world through artist eyes, to see the beauty at my feet or above my head, to see the truth that is evident in nature every time I venture out. To remember what it is important and to remember where to focus-on the mystery that is much bigger than me.