Subtle Signs of Life
Creative Energy by Heather Ferguson
In March we opened the first show of 2020 with Subtle Signs of Life by Heather Ferguson. A collection of artworks she has created throughout the years, based in intuitive art. Splashes of color and movement all representing the energetics of life. A combination of mixed media on paper, delicately presented in floating frames, displayed amongst the various sizes of canvases, each one with a life of their own. Subtle Signs of Life has an abstract take on the intuitive side of ourselves, a very contemporary collection with some pieces deeply influenced by one of her favorite artists, Kandinsky. Opening to your subtle senses and interpretation, how does it make you feel, what do you see?
Heather Ferguson
Heather, originally having grown up in Arizona (Phoenix, Sedona and Tucson), has been living in Italy for some years. I got to ask her a few questions about her artwork before she made the trip back to the states from Rome.
What has your relationship been like with art throughout your life?
My study of art and creating works, came, primarily in college. I had a work-study job that involved drawing archeological artifacts and thought, at the time, that drawing for “work” was an amazing, almost surreal, job! I went on to receive a BA in art history, in which studio art classes were required. Many years later I took two art workshops that opened my mind and transformed my view of how art could be created. Each workshop used a very different approach to the creative process, outside of what I was taught in school. One, was a painting workshop focused more on body movements and less about what the mind wanted to produce. The second, was a photography workshop, very much like a walking meditation (slow paced movement with focused attention), allowing an object to emerge or “jump” to your awareness and then to photograph it. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I began painting more frequently. My objective, at first, was to develop my inner sight. I wanted to become better acquainted with what I was seeing with my mind’s eye and I thought that art would help me meet that goal. I was curious to see what would happen if I paused and waited for an image or a line to appear, and then only drew what emerged first in my inner sight. Translating what I saw in my mind’s eye and capturing it onto the canvas or paper is the process that brought about the works for the show, Subtle Sings of Life.
Has the idea of healing always been something present in your life?
The healing arts have interested me for a long time. I’ve always been curious about the way the world works, the mysteries of our existence and what is the true power of love. I’m still curious about these things!
Opening by Heather Ferguson
What does intuitive art mean to you?
I believe all art is intuitive. By which I mean, there seems to be information all around us and parts of our experiences that exist beyond our conscious knowing – that is, however, until we open up to more subtle realms using our senses. For example, all of creation; every object, space or person is made up of energy. We are able to detect this subtle energy if we slow down, let our nervous systems settle and focus on sensing the flow of energy as opposed to being wrapped up in our thoughts, which often involves labeling objects and people, thereby dismissing them. Many artists will say they just don’t know “where that idea/image came from”, as if, the idea/image came from outside of themselves. However, when we sit down to create works of art there is an almost meditative quality to the experience and that is due, in part, to our focus no longer being solely concerned with our thinking. Art creation as an alternative focus to our thoughts, allows the nervous system to settle down and our awareness to open up to more than what we sense on a daily basis as we run from meeting to meeting, worried about being on time, in other words, fast paced, in our thoughts and often distracted. Intuition, to me, is about opening up to more of what is always available to us, but we tend to block with: overthinking, expectations, naming, labeling and having to be right. Practicing curiosity, mindfulness and non-judgement helps to minimize these blocks, opening us up. For every sense we have, there is a subtle, more refined version available. As we slow down and open up, we receive more insights, patterns, connections, memories, feelings, etc. all of which come to the forefront during the process of creating art.
When you sit down to create, what does this process look, feel like to you. From your physical creative space to the process of getting to a meditative head space?
Rise by Heather Ferguson
Throughout my adult life, I have changed houses and moved quite frequently and learned over the years to create studio space wherever there is a table and chair available. Currently, I paint in our dining room. I prioritize so my creative life is easily accommodated for and not restricted by whether I have designated space or not. I just roll out a plastic table cloth and get started. When I sit down to create I begin with a long, slow, deep breath, a moment of silence and quietly state my intention that the work be healing or in some way, a blessing. Since studying the healing arts, I’ve been curious if an artwork could heal or carry healing properties. Any healing that might take place can show up in all manner of forms; perhaps as an inspiration, a feeling, a reminder, etc. Since love would be the healing force, I wait to create when I’m most energized and looking forward to painting because I want to bring to the process the most loving, positive energy possible. And during the creation of a piece, I have found it is important to pay attention to my body because I have noticed that if I start to criticize the work, my body begins to tighten and get heavy. It’s my body that help me recognize the criticizing thoughts and alerts me to open back up with curiosity.
You live in Rome now, what inspires you creatively living in such a rich and old city of culture and art?
Yes, Rome is no doubt, one of the most art-filled and inspiring places I have experienced. Around every corner there is a surprise. As you walk through the city admiring the beautiful architecture, suddenly, there in front of you is the most audacious sculpted fountain the size of two car lengths extending halfway up the side of a building! Who thought to do that?! I love how there is art everywhere and how it makes me feel on two counts. First, when I walk through the city I feel cared for. As an artist and someone who appreciates design, I marvel at how artists and government decided it was important for the experience of daily life to be set within a background of beauty and art. The Italians have such a rich history for emphasizing art and design as important elements in their lives. And I know from experience that beautiful spaces transform us. I would love for everyone to be able to experience the transformational power of living in beauty. Second, I also feel that being in Rome helps me live more holistically. As humans, we tend to have a negativity bias, looking for what we don’t want, what we don’t like or what we would change. However, the artistic delight that Rome is, exercises my curious mind and brings me back to the “glass half-full” aspect of life. And since I can see in my art depictions of wholeness or emerging wholeness I appreciate how Rome keeps me centered and balanced.
To find out more about Heather and her work: www.LightPathwaysCoaching.com
Subtle Signs of Life is on display at The HeArt Box until the end of April, due to the current situation with the global pandemic the gallery is physically closed but all pieces a part of this collection are available to view on the web site, here. For any questions please contact Jill Sans at theheartboxart@gmail.com.
