Recently, Mark Sublett of the Mark Sublett/Medicine Man Gallery invited me to be  interviewed by him about my life. He does this often and exceptionally well via ART DEALER DIARIES on UTube. While this is, of course a snapshot, after we concluded the interview Mark commented that “You had a life of great struggle”. I was taken aback by his comment and thought about it (actually for several days) as I listened to the video recording.  I could see how he, and his listeners,  might easily come away with that impression.

I posted the video here (in a separate blog), and am adding, what I feel is a really important footnote, which is that while I did indeed work hard for many, many years and faced many different challenges in my life, as do we all; I was also richly blessed with an overflowing fountain of JOY and LAUGHTER and LOVE in my life in both childhood and adulthood. While an hour long interview cannot ever capture the full picture of a life, this one does share many interesting facets of mine. As a child, living on that small farm, my siblings and I shared many daily joys and had experiences most kids are not fortunate to have. We felt lucky in many ways, and we were. In so many ways we had a childhood many would envy – and many did. We also never worked on Sundays (or Christmas), save feeding the animals and gathering eggs – instead we went to church, in the morning and again in the evening; joining with most of our friends there. The community we grew up in included attending church morning and night on Sundays with our friends, and that was a lovely part of our weekly rhythm without question. The church community, our family and extended family made up our life and punctuated it often with a wealth of joy and fun. We learned well how to play while we worked which, in retrospect, was an enormous blessing. And while we worked hard, we learned how to laugh, share and love hard too. Each of these childhood and adult experiences – both pleasant and challenging – ripe with both tears and laughter – were/are interconnected with all the beings and environments present . All these collective experiences, however, grew into one enormous, and I would say profound, well of gratitude. Each one was its own vital and beautiful seed for both my life and all our lives.

After the interview, I also realized  that I did not mention that for several years I taught science, art, and life skills at an alternative high school in Tucson. I did this for several years, both full and part-time, while I was starting Alleman Studios, in order to support myself while building up the business (which was quite expensive). Within a couple of years, however, I realized I was straddling a fence and a critical one at that. I could no longer continue to do either well, if I tried to do both. I knew I had to choose one path or the other.  I chose to take the risk, and fully commit to my artwork. I also knew that if it was not profitable within three years, I had to reconsider and thankfully I never had to reconsider.

My work is really all about my personal, spiritual journey – as expressed in my writing and visual art. I was, and still am, teaching, through my artwork rather than in a classroom. All along my journey, I realized there really is no new story – each one points the very same way through a highly diverse palette. My story is your story and yours is mine and how we remember the details really does not matter – it’s the journey alone that matters. Every story, with all its vibrant colors, is one tiny thread in the Great Tapestry. When I can remember this, it helps me not to take things too seriously (which I still often do); and I am always reminded that laughter lightens a load. It really does.

So, thank you again, to each of my valued collectors for your ongoing support of the work – each and every foundry and gallery associate and the many other hands, behind the scenes always offering immense support. Among these are my beloved family members, and friends. who have been extremely supportive, in so many ways, of the art work I do and how I do it, all through my journey. I am truly grateful to each of you – each one a lovely thread in our tapestry.

Especially as we celebrate Memorial Day in America; I serve my country AND my world today by wearing a mask. No “weapons” required…just love, and a simple mask.

A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT   Foremost, I am aware of  how little “I know” – how little any of us truly “know”. Given that preface, I send  the following words to each of you, hoping it feels supportive and encouraging to you.   During these days of utter change with the coronavirus continuing its hungry spry it is easy to witness FEAR arising within ourselves – especially as we walk through the grocery stores only to discover mostly vacant shelves. We, especially in America, are completely unaccustomed to the unique challenges facing us today. The vacant shelves scream of fear and panic, making it ever more challenging to not become seduced by fear and panic ourselves; while still doing the daily things we need to do. Slow down, if you can, and remember fear is always an unworthy navigator. We can choose to be cautious without the fear. And, WE can be a source of calm and peacefulness, while doing all we need to do to be cautious, and contribute  encouraging energy into our world. This can be as simple as a warm smile to another – a calm, while responsible, constant response.     We have no way of knowing, with any certainty, the ultimate outcome of this epidemic but we can CHOOSE to trust that all not only will be, but already IS “ok”. Are you “OK” in this very moment? And now, in this next moment? Breathe….   The answer to the outcome is unknown, yet, our Center is quite known – all that is Real can never change – will never change. The circumstances of form may shift dramatically around us, yet our Center will never, can never, affect our Core.   In a few short weeks I suspect many will give in to a lessening of the “acceptance gap” theory. I first learned of this theory from my ex-husband (a seasoned traffic engineer). “When waiting to pull out into oncoming traffic, the longer the wait, the shorter the acceptance gap”.  For now we are all staying home as much as possible and keeping a safe distance. However, over the coming weeks; being a society of “doing/going every second” we will likely become more greatly agitated and feel that urge to take on greater risk hoping to put that restlessness at ease. I share this just for sake of awareness that, in the coming weeks, you might consider if your decisions are prompted by necessity or rather by an uncomfortable response to a lengthening duration of something very new – something most uncomfortable. Perhaps a walk outdoors would ease that restlessness – or some quiet gardening? A household project you have neglected? An old fashioned board or card game? Some quiet reading? Some cooking or baking to share? Anything other than a continuous viewing of our usual “screen lives” might prove supportive – and offer a sense of peacefulness amidst this crisis. Regardless of the length of this coronavirus outbreak, we DO have a profound opportunity to LEARN a great deal about ourselves if we are able to “listen and observe” with a willingness to learn and grow from even this experience (remember that poppy that blooms once the soil is adequately disturbed).   A dear friend of mine shared some lovely Buddhist wisdom: he suggests there is a huge distinction between loneliness and solitude…..and that maybe we could remind one another of that, help one another see the blessing in solitude instead of the fear in loneliness..I find this a very sweet and wise reminder.   Many of our businesses may well suffer greatly – mine included- yet that is yet another invitation to observe our response and learn something new about ourselves. Being able to notice the fear  when as it arises and then “let it go” (not unlike the ginkgo tree – read more here – Ginkgo: Seed of Hope speaks to this).   My very warmest gratitude extends to all of you in medical and other supportive roles for your kind and loving service to the larger populations. Love surrounds you and if we all send out similar rays of love and support to those needing to extend themselves so severely, in the interest of all, I believe it WILL have a huge impact. So, instead of panic and fear – perhaps you might shift gears and turn that around to a moment of quiet gratitude for all the support of so many we may not be “seeing with our eyes” (those invisible helpers I write about with Trillium, Quiet Radiance,and Love Blooms).   And, to those of you currently enduring illness, my warmest, loving thoughts extend to you.  May your heart find a deepened hope and peacefulness to support you through a full recovery.     TEMPORARY DISCOUNTING OF ALL CAST PIECES   The galleries representing my work, and the studio itself will be offering a temporary 10% discount on any pieces retailing at, or under, $2000; and a 15% discount on any pieces on orders retailing over $2000. This does not include complimentary shipping costs and it does not include pieces not currently cast (the foundry is closed for an indefinite period of time). This is the first time we have ever offered any discounting of the work. We realize we are each seeking encouragement, peace and solace and for many, this comes in the form of having fine art surrounding us. We would also ask you to be patient on the shipping – we would ship as early as safely possible.   I would also encourage you to take some time to READ the companion inspiration writings for pieces that appeal to you – this in itself, without spending any money, might bring you a few minutes of inner peace and hopefulness. One such example is Voice of Wisdom reminding us of our connectedness, while inspiring a sense of generosity, and incessant stretching for the heavens, as it celebrates our beloved aspen trees. Read as many as you like with your extra quiet time – I hope it brings a sense of reassurance and peace to you.

I send warmest rays of Love to each of you and wish for each of you strong health and a peaceful journey – even, perhaps BECAUSE OF this event. You are strong and you are just one slice of the Oneness we each inherently share. The fact of how critical it is for each of us to work together right now – AS ONE – to protect us all, speaks to our Oneness. No one is exempt…and no ray of Love is a small or solitary ray.   My Very Warmest Blessings to each of you, Carol                                                       www.allemanstudios.com   520.622.6377   info@allemanstudios.com

Last year I created a new bronze vessel titled “Awakening Bliss” – a vessel inspired by the growth habits of the red poppy plant.

Awakened Bliss was inspired by the common red corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas). The botanical name means sleep bearing. According to J.C. Cooper in An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Traditional Symbols, the poppy is symbolic of ignorance, sleep, indifference; and the blood red color depicts the passion of Christ. In the image of Christ on the cross, we find both death and life. In Persian literature, the red corn poppy is denoted as a flower of love – the “eternal lover” – symbolic of people who died for love. I wonder if this truly means dying to the smaller “I” rather than death of the physical form alone; allowing us to recognize the Eternal Lover? I do not know the intentions of that literature; yet I interpret it in this way.

The common poppy is also very well known for its notable ability to form a long-living seed bank that germinates whenever the soil is eventually disturbed. This was the case in the fields of Europe after WWI and the source of inspiration for the subsequent, famous writing of the Canadian physician, John McCraes’ In Flanders Fields. I wonder, in these days of the continuing massive outbreak of the coronavirus, if in fact THIS event will “disturb our soil” in a way that ultimately promotes profound growth in us.

The poppy buds distinctly nod downward before maturing into a bloom, as if in deep swollen slumber. They seem to be PAUSING before growing upright and reaching for the heavens as they finally blooms their ultimate beauty. Are we perhaps in our PAUSE mode as we isolate – stay in our homes with great lengths of time in solitude – preparing to finally grow straight toward the heavens?

When we lift our heads from utter slumber we readily recognize we are ALL much more alike than different – for we ARE all One within the infinite web of life. We are simply here in the form of human – while so very much more than form alone could ever be.

And once the bloom is spent (our human lives here on earth in this season end), it is then the poppy (and we) remain erect; pointing toward the heavens as our seeds scatter into our world – nourishing new growth and blooming all around it – the Wind (symbolic of Spirit) sprinkling the seeds for miles upon miles. We ARE each indeed a vital part of this infinite web of Life.

The poppy is sometimes known as a weed, since it flourishes as a weed in grain fields; and it has many characteristics of a hardy weed. I love it is referred to as a weed – because most weeds simply refuse to stop growing. How lovely if we were able to follow that tenacious lead? That “eternal lover” the Persian poets refer to is ever patient – always, patiently in wait, for our awakening to our true Essence.

The delicate poppy stems remind me of the flexibility we benefit from always remembering to hold in our lives. Being flexible also means being tolerant – yet another gift this season asks us to bestow upon all our brothers and sisters. We need to be tolerant of the slower response times of services – we need to be tolerant of periods of expressed fear from others. We need to be tolerant.

Three honeybees are sculpted onto the vessel. The honeybee hive communities are a lovely blueprint for living in utter community and immense generosity. These extraordinarily intelligent insects are enormous blessings to the balance of our ecosystem. Some have written the beehive as symbolic of the church and the honeybee as the messenger between heaven and earth. Their beautiful modeling of living within a generous “community” is certainly and inspiration in these times.

Awakening Bliss is hoped to remind us of that state in which we quite naturally are pointedly and sensitively aware of our entire universe and where the life of even one single honeybee or person both matters and affects the entire web of life – it is honored – it is warmly and tenderly cherished. Those many thousands of service workers in the medical and service fields, who are currently working tirelessly on behalf of ALL of us points to this generous awareness.

We humans are not intended to remain nodding in bud forever – we are intended to awaken to the utter knowing that there is no “world out there” – we ARE each one vital slice of the world. Each of us, in all our wildly diverse forms of life, are one tiny, while vital, slice of the entire universe. We are intended – as we live on this earth as humans – to awaken to our true Essence and bloom in glorious, word defying, Awakening Bliss. Perhaps in spite of – even because of – this historical experience we each might be nudged to simply GROW toward the heavens at last.