Thursday, July 30, 2015
diana d darden: setting the table
diana d darden: setting the table: when steve and i merged our lives and bought a home together, we knew we would be entertaining.we both enjoy it. steve is great in the kitch...
setting the table
when steve and i merged our lives and bought a home together, we knew we would be entertaining.we both enjoy it. steve is great in the kitchen and the grill, and i love getting the table ready (believe me, nothing like i learned at "charm" school when i was young...i can set a table with 27 pieces of silverware).
last week, steves' family come to town for a family reunion. we had his siblings, their families and chosen family here for dinner...18 people.
steve started a couple of days before the get together, marinating, chopping and getting the smoker ready...
this is what i do... stare at the dishes, the linens, check out my flower garden and look around the house for things to use as a centerpiece. I LOVE SETTING A TABLE!
steve often teases me when i am leaving the house and asks if i am going out to buy more dishes or linens. haha steve.
i set the table the same way i work on a piece in the studio, layers, mixes of colors and textures.
our table only seats six, so i often set it for buffet style. we are informal anyway, so this works well for us.
more than once when we are entertaining... the question i get asked is... don't you have paper plates, plastic cups and utensils....NO!!!! what would be the point of having stuff if you are not going to use it??? i think that you should use the things you have, and more importantly, surround yourself with people you love.
and...after the food is consumed, dishes washed, family gone... we get in the car and go someplace quiet for a few days....where we often use paper plates!!
last week, steves' family come to town for a family reunion. we had his siblings, their families and chosen family here for dinner...18 people.
steve started a couple of days before the get together, marinating, chopping and getting the smoker ready...
this is what i do... stare at the dishes, the linens, check out my flower garden and look around the house for things to use as a centerpiece. I LOVE SETTING A TABLE!
steve often teases me when i am leaving the house and asks if i am going out to buy more dishes or linens. haha steve.
i set the table the same way i work on a piece in the studio, layers, mixes of colors and textures.
our table only seats six, so i often set it for buffet style. we are informal anyway, so this works well for us.
more than once when we are entertaining... the question i get asked is... don't you have paper plates, plastic cups and utensils....NO!!!! what would be the point of having stuff if you are not going to use it??? i think that you should use the things you have, and more importantly, surround yourself with people you love.
and...after the food is consumed, dishes washed, family gone... we get in the car and go someplace quiet for a few days....where we often use paper plates!!
Monday, July 20, 2015
diana d darden: the ugliest "c" word
diana d darden: the ugliest "c" word: i remember what i was wearing, ( an orange sundress), the day the doctor told me i had cancer (bladder cancer). that was 3 years ago, ...
the ugliest "c" word
i remember what i was wearing, ( an orange sundress), the day the doctor told me i had cancer (bladder cancer).
that was 3 years ago, i am cancer free, but still have to go thru treatments. it does not matter what i wore, what matters is what i decided to do...
once i got thru the intitial shock, making surgery arrangements, a mini melt down, telling my family and other loved ones, i had a million thoughts...
one of the first things i thought was about my son beau. he has grown up to be a strong young man, and knew that he would probably take on the challenge of dealing with my studio if things did not go well. that is enough to scare the strongest person. so i made the decision to deal with my own studio....
this is how i deal with it... MAKE ART!!
every morning, i get up before steve and flora, get my coffee and head down to the studio. i take care of the biz part of the biz, then meander to my work table. there are days that i am so tired that i just sit there, i have even fallen asleep there, only to wake up with scraps of papers and who knows what on me. it is there that i am surrounded by my papers, sparkly things, and all of the beautiful messes.
my decision to show up everyday in my gross studio garb, and to continue to work, has shown me that creating for me is stronger than my fear of cancer. so, when i am in my closet, and i see that orange sundress, i just remember that hearing the ugliest word is just a reminder to get up, get busy, create beauty (and humor) around you.
once i got thru the intitial shock, making surgery arrangements, a mini melt down, telling my family and other loved ones, i had a million thoughts...
one of the first things i thought was about my son beau. he has grown up to be a strong young man, and knew that he would probably take on the challenge of dealing with my studio if things did not go well. that is enough to scare the strongest person. so i made the decision to deal with my own studio....
this is how i deal with it... MAKE ART!!
every morning, i get up before steve and flora, get my coffee and head down to the studio. i take care of the biz part of the biz, then meander to my work table. there are days that i am so tired that i just sit there, i have even fallen asleep there, only to wake up with scraps of papers and who knows what on me. it is there that i am surrounded by my papers, sparkly things, and all of the beautiful messes.
my decision to show up everyday in my gross studio garb, and to continue to work, has shown me that creating for me is stronger than my fear of cancer. so, when i am in my closet, and i see that orange sundress, i just remember that hearing the ugliest word is just a reminder to get up, get busy, create beauty (and humor) around you.
... and as far as cancer goes, arm yourself with lots of permission to be tired, and surround yourself with people who love you.....thank you for taking the time to read this. feedback is always welcome.
diana
Friday, July 17, 2015
you never forget your first....
minneapolis is a great city to be an artist, and to see art.
the best place to venture into is a gallery called GALLERY 360. it is located in south minneapolis on 50th and xerxes.
the owner, Merry Beck, and her knowledgable and charming crew have made this a gem in the city for the past 15 years. Gallery 360 carries fine art, jewelry, wearable art and pieces of art that everyone can afford. it is displayed so well that everything looks like a masterpiece.
my very first gallery show was at gallery 360, i have been given 2 more since then. my most recent show was last novemeber. i collaged on large canvas. merry, more than anyone has challenged me with my work. she understands art, artists, and her clients.
when people come to visit us, there is no mention of going to the mall of america..we go to gallery 360, which is more of a treat! flora adora loves to go to the gallery ...especially since she discovered that she can shop for herself there as well.
GALLERY 360
3011 west 50th st
minneapolis, mn 55410
phone 612-925-2400
www.gallery360mpls.com
thank you for taking the time to read this, i am always open to comments and feedback.
minneapolis is a great city to be an artist, and to see art.
the best place to venture into is a gallery called GALLERY 360. it is located in south minneapolis on 50th and xerxes.
the owner, Merry Beck, and her knowledgable and charming crew have made this a gem in the city for the past 15 years. Gallery 360 carries fine art, jewelry, wearable art and pieces of art that everyone can afford. it is displayed so well that everything looks like a masterpiece.
my very first gallery show was at gallery 360, i have been given 2 more since then. my most recent show was last novemeber. i collaged on large canvas. merry, more than anyone has challenged me with my work. she understands art, artists, and her clients.
when any one asks me when i knew i was an artist, i always reflect on my first show...it solidified that i am doing what i should be doing.
GALLERY 360
3011 west 50th st
minneapolis, mn 55410
phone 612-925-2400
www.gallery360mpls.com
thank you for taking the time to read this, i am always open to comments and feedback.
Monday, July 13, 2015
diana d darden: the 13 year ache... tomorrow will be the 13th yea...
diana d darden: the 13 year ache...
tomorrow will be the 13th yea...: the 13 year ache... tomorrow will be the 13th year of the anniversary of the death of my dad. i carry this ache, that has now part of me, ...
tomorrow will be the 13th yea...: the 13 year ache... tomorrow will be the 13th year of the anniversary of the death of my dad. i carry this ache, that has now part of me, ...
the 13 year ache...
tomorrow will be the 13th year of the anniversary of the death of my dad. i carry this ache, that has now part of me, every day. it is not a physical pain, but a feeling that a piece of my heart is missing...
my dad had many titles...colonel to some, daddy to his 6 children and papa to all of his grandchildren.
often people think that when you are raised in a military family, that your dad is some tough guy. i didn't know that side of him, other than the respect that others gave to him when we were out in public. the side i knew and adored, was a very gentle man, smart, playful, and a great sense of humor. (you knew you had crossed a "line" with him, when his two eyebrows became one..no words needed to be said).
i got to spend the last 6 weeks of his life with him. he was dying, and i was lucky to share that time with him. one morning, when we were talking, he said... "have fun everyday..i did"..
at first that statement shook me up a little..this from a man who had been to war twice, had some sad things happen in his personal life, and had lived with so many respondsibilities. but, then i start remembering...his love of family, music, books, art, and life.
he was a man who had seen many ugly things, but would tell me about the beautiful things he had seen in his life. the only war stories i heard, were very colorful and humorous ones. he was old school, where men did not talk about war or swear around woman.
my dad celebrated his children and their choices. he loved my work and never tried to discourage me from doing any thing other than what i loved and wanted to do. he told all of us that he just wanted us to be happy and to do what makes us happy. this is one of the reasons, that every day, i get up and go into my studio. he taught me about work ethics, and would be giddy today if he could hang out in the studio with me!
my ache and i will be in the studio...making art and knowing that my dad is some place celebrating that i am doing what his influences taught me...to have fun everyday...
tomorrow will be the 13th year of the anniversary of the death of my dad. i carry this ache, that has now part of me, every day. it is not a physical pain, but a feeling that a piece of my heart is missing...
my dad had many titles...colonel to some, daddy to his 6 children and papa to all of his grandchildren.
often people think that when you are raised in a military family, that your dad is some tough guy. i didn't know that side of him, other than the respect that others gave to him when we were out in public. the side i knew and adored, was a very gentle man, smart, playful, and a great sense of humor. (you knew you had crossed a "line" with him, when his two eyebrows became one..no words needed to be said).
i got to spend the last 6 weeks of his life with him. he was dying, and i was lucky to share that time with him. one morning, when we were talking, he said... "have fun everyday..i did"..
at first that statement shook me up a little..this from a man who had been to war twice, had some sad things happen in his personal life, and had lived with so many respondsibilities. but, then i start remembering...his love of family, music, books, art, and life.
he was a man who had seen many ugly things, but would tell me about the beautiful things he had seen in his life. the only war stories i heard, were very colorful and humorous ones. he was old school, where men did not talk about war or swear around woman.
my dad celebrated his children and their choices. he loved my work and never tried to discourage me from doing any thing other than what i loved and wanted to do. he told all of us that he just wanted us to be happy and to do what makes us happy. this is one of the reasons, that every day, i get up and go into my studio. he taught me about work ethics, and would be giddy today if he could hang out in the studio with me!
my ache and i will be in the studio...making art and knowing that my dad is some place celebrating that i am doing what his influences taught me...to have fun everyday...
Friday, July 10, 2015
colorful world = colorful life
i was raised as an army brat. i loved the life that came with it. we lived in several states, panama, and i graduated from high school at the tehran american school. my parents loved to travel, so the world was ours to see, experience and touch.
what i remember most are the colors....
the oceans and seas all have their own blues, greens and murky colors.
the trees are every color imaginable.
the people, the food, terrain..all different colors.
when i am working, all of these colors start popping out of my memories. i don't really know the given names to many colors, i just tell myself things like, i want to use the blue i saw on a tile in istanbul, or that ishy green from an alligator in florida, the velvet brown on the back of the magnolia leaf, the pink on a wall in paris....
this is how i file things in my brain. works nicely for artwork, lousy for bookkeeping.
i settled in minneapolis... and when i am in my studio, and see this out of the window,
i just start traveling through the files in my brain...
today, i think that the only traveling that i will do, is with flora adora...to starbucks. then back to work in the studio!!
happy weekend ahead....
diana
i was raised as an army brat. i loved the life that came with it. we lived in several states, panama, and i graduated from high school at the tehran american school. my parents loved to travel, so the world was ours to see, experience and touch.
what i remember most are the colors....
the oceans and seas all have their own blues, greens and murky colors.
the trees are every color imaginable.
the people, the food, terrain..all different colors.
when i am working, all of these colors start popping out of my memories. i don't really know the given names to many colors, i just tell myself things like, i want to use the blue i saw on a tile in istanbul, or that ishy green from an alligator in florida, the velvet brown on the back of the magnolia leaf, the pink on a wall in paris....
this is how i file things in my brain. works nicely for artwork, lousy for bookkeeping.
i settled in minneapolis... and when i am in my studio, and see this out of the window,
i just start traveling through the files in my brain...
today, i think that the only traveling that i will do, is with flora adora...to starbucks. then back to work in the studio!!
happy weekend ahead....
diana
Monday, July 6, 2015
the answer to one of the questions i most often get asked....
1st..the question..."why do you use images of the virgin mary so often in your work?"
i feel that the images of the virgin mary are so beautiful! yes, i was raised in the catholic church ( however, many people i know, did not grow up in the catholic church and they collect shrines of mary) and growing up when i did, mary was the most comforting and least scary!
i have always found her images to be peaceful...she is the mom of all moms, gentle and loving, the mom i would love to have, and the mom i would like to be. reality is that,we can't always be that way. crazy life things happen.
1st..the question..."why do you use images of the virgin mary so often in your work?"
i feel that the images of the virgin mary are so beautiful! yes, i was raised in the catholic church ( however, many people i know, did not grow up in the catholic church and they collect shrines of mary) and growing up when i did, mary was the most comforting and least scary!
i have always found her images to be peaceful...she is the mom of all moms, gentle and loving, the mom i would love to have, and the mom i would like to be. reality is that,we can't always be that way. crazy life things happen.
i found that i cannot control the crazy life things, so i surround myself with pieces of comfort.
these feelings were amplified in my mind, when 3 years ago, i was diagnosed with bladder cancer (am cancer free, but still go through treatments). i was reminded that i had spent most of my adult life taking care of others, and now i had to give in to letting others help take care of things for me. i spent the first year of treatment doing a journal with only images of the virgin mary.
the first time i held flora adora, i put one of my mary bracelets on her. she still wears it.
i think the answer is just this...i feel that it is important to surround yourself with what you feel is beautiful, what will comfort you and what nutures your being.
thank you for taking the time to read this...
always open to your thoughts and feedback
diana
Thursday, July 2, 2015
trying ....again
hello, it is me!!
i am trying to figure out so many things at once. blogging is one of them.
i think i will start by sharing a bit of myself... (brief, will share more details as i figure out all of this). please know that i am aware that my typing has gotten lazy, my thoughts are always in a hurry, and found that i get frustrated trying to keep my fingers on the keyboard keeping up with the thoughts etc.
i am a collage/mixed media artist, and have started making jewelry as well!
i feel fortunate to be an artist. it is my job, and i take it seriously as my business. i spend 6-8 hours a day in the studio.
i did not know that i would grow up to be an artist, but i should have known since i feel like everything in my world a collage, from growing up as an army brat, to settling in minneapolis.
my work is in a few galleries, and i have an etsy store. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DianaDDarden
patron saint bracelet
my studio is in our home. i now share it (studio) with flora adora, our puppy. she really does not help, but she is full of personality! oh... i share our home with my perma date, steve.
i will try to commit to update this blog, once or twice a week.
primarily, i will be sharing artwork , and hopefully, feature other artists, and, no doubt, there will be updates on flora adora, since she thinks she is my muse.
i will look forward to this new challenge of blogging.
am always open to thoughts and feedback.
diana
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