Blog

The flutter of moving into my studio for the fall residency at The Banff Centre has mostly settled. I’m still stiff and tired from hauling gear, paints, and a pile of large canvasses up three flights of stairs. I’m thankful to all of my family who carried a load or two. (Kevin mostly! What a trooper.)

I love my studio at home. It’s comfortable – but perhaps it’s been too comfortable for the work I’m about to do, and this is why I’m here – time, space, away from the regular and back to the irregular. Shake it up and also unclutter so I can start fresh.

It has been a weird few days. While moving in, many old friends and colleagues were also on campus to attend a large symposium – one that I’d been involved in helping to set up a few years ago when I served as Program Manager for Aboriginal Leadership at The Banff Centre. Almost two years after retiring, it was wonderful and yet strange to see so many folks that I’d worked with over the years – and here I am, in a totally different mind and body space, back to work as an artist. In many ways, still continuing to do the work that I did here, but from an artist’s perspective – specifically…mine.

What a blessing to see folks that have been participants and co-workers in both arts and administrative capacities, from all corners of the world. It was a flurry of activity, and also quite strange – almost like being transported back into a space that I’d long ago left.

Waiting To Exhale

I feel that today is my day to sing “Shoo shoo shoo shoo …be dooo”

Everyone falls
in love sometime
Sometimes it’s wrong
Sometimes it’s right.

For every win
Someone must fail
But there comes a point
When we exhale

Sometimes you’ll laugh
Sometimes you’ll cry
Life never tells us
The when’s or why’s

When you’ve got friends to wish you well
You’ll find a point when
You will exhale

Hearts are often broken
When there are words unspoken
In your soul there’s
Answers to your prayers
If you’re searching for
A place you know
A familiar face
Somewhere to go
You should look inside yourself
You’re halfway there.

 I’ve been so blessed to have these friends and family nearby, in my home or my new studio space this week. That is really something special, and I thank you all for wishing me so well in my new work. 

I feel I’m “home” again….whenever you are there with me. I admire you all so much and am so grateful for your special support, love and care of me in the work we all do together – no matter what corner of the world we are in or how many years it is between visits.

May you all find that point in your lives to exhale.

• My Family – Elder Tom Cranebear, Kevin Nuxoll, Jacob Posacki, Ben Posacki and Grace Tanton-Nuxoll
• France Trepanier
• Margaret Froh
• Dr. Laura Brearley & Terry Melvin
• (Soon-to-be Dr.) Michelle Evans
• Dr. Bob Hathaway (Rattlesnake Bob!)
• Dr. Nancy J. Adler
• Kerry Stauffer