"There is an ancient American Indian saying that something lives only as long as the last person who remembers it. My people have come to trust memory over history. Memory, like fire, is radiant and immutable while history serves only those who seek to control it, those who douse the flame of memory in order to put out the dangerous fire of truth. Beware these men for they are dangerous themselves and unwise. Their false history is written in the blood of those who might remember and of those who seek the truth." -Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, Lakota Sioux b. 1936-d.12/13/2007 (he will be missed)
I am a traveller and a Ceramics sculptor. I am part Basque, (Gascogne means "Basque Person") Cherokee and other things, but above all, a HUMAN being. I am proud of my Cherokee and Basque Ancestry, those who fought, are/have been persecuted. I believe and have since I was a child, that the spirit can run in the blood, no matter how small the quantity, and can tell truths and stay alive if the the body (shell) heart and mind allows it. I recently traveled to south Georgia to do genealogy research on my father's side of the family. He died when I was 18. I guess I never lost that avid curiosity about him and my past.
I have been to India and this has had a great impact on my life and work, since before and after I went there-the cultures, the history, the religions, the philosophies. More recently, I have been very interested and captivated by Sikhism.
I am also a teacher. I have been to many places. I have lived on a 47' sailboat for 3 years and crossed the Atlantic Ocean on it. I have lived in Venezuela, been to India, Europe, and all over the US and parts of Eastern Canada. I get a lot of influence from traveling for the sculptures I do. The rest is about my own personal inward journey.Making work is a great part of my life. I hope my passion for what i do and love is a contagious inspiration to my students. I love my students. One of my older ones said once to me "Stay around young people, they will keep you young." How true. What great advice.
I am a mom. I have one son. He is the love of my life and a great inspiration to my life. He is also a great influence on my work.
I enjoy studying the history of people. I myself come from a varied background. My father, whom I never knew, was part Cherokee. I came into this world loving and empathizing with the Native Americans and their loss. Perhaps it was my own grandmother's blood speaking through me, who knows. I cry about all the loss and genocide around the world. I hate this idiocy of the Iraq war and the Bush administration. Rather than spend my time angry, I try to get it out constructively my "doing little things" to make the world a better place. I am very very sensitive. I throw that energy into the work I make and listen to lots and lots of music.
I like good food. I am smaller framed--but that does not stop me from eating really good food. I like a lot of various ethnic food. I support a Palestinian eatery down the street because I eat there so often. I regularly eat Indian, Thai, Mex/tex and Middle eastern type food. I am grateful my young son loves the spicey palette. We'd be in real trouble if he didn't like it!;-)
I like good cheap French wine but don't drink too much these days since I don't have the money. I drink a Lot of good fresh coffee and chai tea.
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