Instead of trying to "be yourself," just "be," it is far easier. Marcelle
Very few people imagine themselves in only one capacity. Just as friends and family have pet names for us born from personality, (mine is "Marty" by the way, how do you do?; a nickname given by my brothers in the throws of sibling teasing that stuck with endearment like my tomboy ways), so too do we grant ourselves different lives in the fertility of our imaginations. I'm a dancer, a photo journalist, a storm chaser, a zoo keeper, a first responder, a socialite ... I could go on. Yet throughout our careers most of us climb inside one box afraid to climb out with each passing year due to ... comfort, familiarity, fear, stability? I read somewhere "life does not promise stability, it promises a laboratory." So, like brave souls before me, at 50 years old I decided not so much to climb out of the box as to expand the living quarters, move into the laboratory, and give real life and breath to my creativity.
Welcome to Rescued Elements, thanks for joining the journey. I guess I've been "rescuing" my whole life. As a prosecutor and civil rights attorney I have fought on behalf of voiceless individuals for 24+ years. My soul food, for as long as I can remember, has been rescuing nature and animals - primarily dogs, but it is not beyond me to rescue a bat or a plant. The symmetry is not obscure. Here I rescue things as well ... a well turned church pew, buttery leather scraps from an upholsterer, the earth from too many things piled into a hole in the ground. I give the time & attention each item needs - often working on several simultaneously - to create a unique piece or room that hopefully provides something extra for whomever buys it, be it meaning, appreciation, or simply a cool back story.
If you've been following along, by now it is clear that I am deeply moved by nature. In proper turn, Earth's Elements often intersect in my creations much as they do out there in the world ... like a feather found on a path through the woods, or the glimmer of metal running through a stone ... I like to mix textures and moods. The warmth of copper is a favorite elemental addition of mine. Not surprisingly, copper has appeared in almost every culture throughout history and is considered a healing metal that teaches about living a fulfilling life. My studio is my laboratory and I love to learn. If I see an interesting technique or material use, I will learn (often through trial & error) how to effectuate it. If I enjoy it and it looks beautiful or interesting, I'll tinker & do it again. If not, I don't. On to the next idea. Whether it is the furniture I finish, a room I help a client re-imagine, or a piece of jewelry made from the unexpected, each has some sort of refreshing combination. I'm Marcelle, my family calls me Marty, I'll respond to either. I'm pleased to meet you, now let's go explore.