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The Obstruction Project
November 1, 2018
Patience • 12.2.18
December 2, 2018

What holds you back•Advent Begins•December 1, 2018

To begin, waiting for the light to come again.

My Advent observation begins today: my daily practice of combining papers together, mostly into collages as my Advent Calendar. I invite you to carve out daily time in these busy 25 days, whether you observe Christmas or not, to spend with yourself in making, being, honoring your heart and soul, filling it in whatever way you can. I dare you to say yes to the thing that fills you up, so you can give to others.

I will offer some words, as well as a prompt. Sometimes that prompt will be reflective. Sometimes the prompt will be materially driven. Either way it’s up to you to decide what to do with it.


My friend Holly Wren Spaulding introduced me to this poem. Every time I read it I want to move conversation beyond the small talk to the thoughts deep inside our hearts and souls where we are open and able to say things, do things, make things outright. I dare you to do the same.

What etiquette holds us back
from more intimate speech,
especially now, at the end of the world?
Can’t we begin a conversation
here in the vestibule,
then gradually move it inside?
What holds us back
from saying things outright?
We’ve killed the earth.
Yet we speak of other things.
Our words should cauterize
all wounds to the truth.
Chase Twichell, “Vestibule” from Dog Language
Source: Dog Language (Copper Canyon Press, 2005)
Today’s Prompt:
  1. What do you wish you had the courage to say or do?
  2. Try something in your art-making that scares you.

Everyday through December 25th, I’ll be making a 5×5 inch collage, writing a short entry on this blog and sharing a prompt for those who might want to participate along with me. You can follow my progress by subscribing to this blog through the sidebar on the blog homepage, or by following me on Instagram.

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1 Comment

  1. Andrea says:
    December 2, 2018 at 3:26 pm

    Wonderful way to begin your advent calendar. Thank you for the food for thought.

    Reply

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