Motivation for artists: keep going

I knew I wanted to see “yəhaw̓: Together we lift the sky”; I just didn’t realize I needed to see it as well. Parts of my life have been pretty rough during the last month. So I was looking forward to a little distraction. Found it!

HollyAnna DeCoteau Littlebull made “Lifts the Sky” out of 15,190 pieces of upcycled plastic and about 150 cubic feet of Styrofoam. Stunning — but here’s the kicker. HollyAnna says she’s completely colorblind.

HollyAnna DeCoteau Littlebull (in red jacket) with an admirer of her work at “Together we lift the sky”

To her, the statue appears to be various shades of brown and gray.

Her friends helped make the Bigfoot statue possible by separating the plastics by color for her. Pretty cool metaphor: we can do Big Things Together. In fact, the metaphor’s right there in the exhibit name. The project’s website translates yəhaw̓ as “to proceed, to go forward, to do it.” I needed a reminder to keep going, and that my friends will come with me.

The exhibit at King Street Station features work from 200 Indigenous artists living in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and British Columbia. That’s a lot of art to take in during one trip, which is why I’d suggest you visit at least two or three times to absorb everything. Good thing the exhibit will be open until mid-August 2019. That’ll give me time for more inspiration, and time to make more work of my own.

Work-in-progress: building up large collages

If you have a phone book sitting around that's not getting any use, can I have it? Especially the white pages.

This is your chance to help create a new piece of art! I need the pages for visual texture in four larger collages.

Glue down, then rip up and off.  Repeat as necessary. ©Lisa Myers Bulmash

Each collage will be 3 feet tall, 4 feet wide. So yeah, I really do want your phone book, if you're not using it as a booster seat for a toddler.

I bet right now you're saying, "a phone book?! Do those even exist anymore now that you can search online for a number?" Or maybe you're thinking "ha! Are you serious?" The correct answers to both questions is "yes."  Message me if you're nearby...