A Bishop's Gift changes the tides

The seven prayer mandala by Wayne Stratz

What does it take to change the tides in your life? Once pulled away it takes a shift to bring us back to a place where we were progressing. This summer as we had far less rain than normal, I spoke of the need of a weather event to knock that prevailing dryness for a loop. Apparently my blog needed the same thing and it came one day at my church, when a friend asked me to create a gift for the new Episcopal Bishop for southe east PA. 

When I pray, awe in the studio, this is it what I mean: When friends and people I have never met, trust that I will create beauty; I am awed. 

When we are awed by God's presence, a flower, a bird, a piece of music, a meal, or a story; we are called to be aware of how amazing creation is, to be awed." 

When I am trusted to create a piece of art that will be seen as beautiful, is a gift of trust that I don't want to ever forget. So I keep reminders in my studio to keep me aware that God's presence is there. 

When someone sees my art on their computer or phone, they may or may not know about the spiritual side of my studio; but my friend has listened to me lead discussions to adults and youth at our church and so he knows me in ways that others may not. He trusted me to not only to be artistic, but also spiritual. 

The tide shifted. And that is why this commission meant so much to me. And I felt a need to write a post.

Here is what I wrote to the Bishop:

"Dear Bishop Gutierrez

It was an honor to be asked to create a piece of art to celebrate your visit to Holy Trinity Lansdale. Welcome.

When you look at this you may or may not see seven circles, but at one point that is all that was on a piece of paper. The circles represent what I pray each Sunday after I receive the Holy Eucharist.

Love in my home

Awe in my studio

Beauty in my garden

Music in my church

Joy in my classroom

Grace with my friends

and

Hope in all things.

I wrote these down at a silent retreat at The Jesuit Center in Wernersville, PA in 2014. Over time they have not changed, except switching out music for jazz, however, show up on a Sunday when I am setting up coffee and you will hear some jazz.

However, I have seen them changed and how they flow from one place into another. My experiences of God in a sunflower help my eyes to see beauty everywhere. A hymn bringing tears to my eyes, only reinforces my desire to play music in my studio.

If I try to understand why I wrote down Grace with my friends, I am not sure, but maybe one day it will be clearer. A conversation at a memorial service yesterday seems to be a piece of the picture.

And maybe it is the blending of these circles in my life, that shaped the design in front of you. As I listened to Clark Terry play ballads, the circles that I wanted became blurred. It was not my plan, but luckily I let it unfold into what it became.

And a thought about the colors: The colors were chosen from memories of a trip to New Mexico in the late 90’s and the landscapes of Cezanne. I started with the green and chose a variety to flow through the mandala. That left 14 pieces. Seven for a red created by the Youghiogheny glass company here in PA and a deep amber that took me to NM and Cezanne.

Again, welcome to PA. My day job prevents my presence today, but I do hope to meet you in the near future."

...

Old Technology That Works: Clearing off the stereo so I Can Play Solo Monk on LP

from the back of the album cover: Solo Monk by Thelonious Monk. Photo by Wayne Stratz

I stopped for some fresh coffee and a bit of conversation with a new friend on my way to the Lansdale Farmers Market. At one point we talked about old technology. I did not mention the 8-Tracks I had of Zappa Live and Pink Floyd's The Wall, but I did speak of Bruce Cockburn and Dar William cassettes; and a floppy disk that has my life list of birds. Things go out of favor, grow old, and new devices look at them with curiosity.

My new iMac is too thin to have a CD slot. Really?

But before any of these things there were LP's, a recorded moment in time. One source tells me that in February of 1965, Thelonious Monk sat alone with a piano. Twenty years later I bought the LP.  Thirty years later, I removed the stacks of CDs on top of my stereo in the studio and gently plopped the needle down on Dinah...

Cleaning and Doodling in the studio with French drummer Manu Katche

1 Jazz doodling to Manu Katche by Wayne Stratz

Coming back from a weekend of selling our art in Wilmington, I was faced with a studio that had not be stratightened up/cleaned in .... months. Ughhhhhhh

It is far better shape now. Two days in a row I listened to Manu Katche's Neighbourhood. Splitting the time between jazz doodling and cleaning was a fine idea. A new habit?

And then when I research this drummer, I realize I was listening to him in the 80's and 90's when he played on LP's by Peter Gabriel, Tracy Chapman, Loreena McKennitt...

As I cleaned up, I separated paper of designs I wanted to keep, and paper to be recycled. It reminded me of our recent business meeting when we planned out a week in our studios. Maybe more of my favored designs will be revisited if we continue these meetings. We will see. A special meeting to get through projects could lead to a bit more focus from me.

Beginnings: Here is the opening track to Neighbourhood, it pulled me in and I am a fan.

I decided to capture the center of these doodles, where they began.

2 Jazz doodling to Manu Katche by Wayne Stratz

3 Jazz doodling to Manu Katche by Wayne Stratz

4 Jazz doodling to Manu Katche by Wayne Stratz

Miles Smiles in my studio

Tonight I was working on a mosaic house number and a new turtle design. This 1966 project was the second Miles Davis CD of the evening. Listen to the whole CD here.

 

The Sunflower Commission is about to unfold

A few weeks ago I put out a cry for help. I was packing for a time at the Jesuit Center. It wasn't the choice of clothes or mug (that is for Michelle) that was causing me angst. It was the intensity of the commissions, which I was hoping to design.

The client, who hoped to bring peace to grieving parents, came by for the mandala he commissioned. The blue behind the symbol of the lost child caught his eye. May it truly bring peace.

Margaret has grouted the Celtic Tree wedding present. I think we did something amazing together and may it be a blessing to the two lives that will unfold together.

And now the sunflower. I first tried to hand the commission to Margaret, who has made mandalas inspired by the colors of various sunflowers. But as you can see the client wrote, "made by your hand," and then went on to share her connections. I took that note with me and read it prior to designing the suncather with the hope that I could capture what clearly is her totem plant.

The post card was sent to the Jesuit Center by Michelle. It came late, but it showed up here in Lansdale. Jesuits are kind that way (I owe the man a thank you). Michelle's card is in my studio as a reminder of all those who prayed for me.

My client also digs Jesuits and she believes our lives unfold like a sunflower. This is no typical sunflower. It is like us. Beautiful, but only emerging into our full splendor.

Three commissions that awed me. That took me to the hope that I could create them in the midst of prayer.

 

The A to Z of one word messages ~ C is for Call my name

My Name
MyStudio

Mosaic Woman tried a variety of art forms on her way to mosaics and this sign came to be when she made ceramic art tiles. 

Wayne. What captures our attention more than hearing the one word message of our name? In high school there was only one other Wayne. In 26 years of teaching there has only been one student named Wayne.  99% of the times I hear it, I am being called.

More recently we were asked to celebrate the birth of a child named Parker. Here is a video showing the mosaic coming into being.

Twice I have been asked to honor the life of a loved one in glass.

Designed and created by
Wayne Stratz

Designed and created by
Wayne Stratz

Wayne means, "one who makes wagons."  I have not lived up to that yet.  Anyone need a stained glass wagon?

Wordlessly adding a border to the squares

became...