Mind Your Mind Project

Lane County, Oregon, where I reside, has declared the month of May as "Mind Your Mind Month." The Mind Your Mind Project aims to raise awareness about the connection between mental health and the quality of life, and suggests a number of ways in which we can participate during the month, including spreading their message on social media. The activity that got my attention was a call to artists for the Mind Your Mind Art Contest and Exhibit to be held at The New Zone Artist's Collective. In addition to submitting a piece of art that expresses "What Mental Wellness Means To Me", artists were also asked to write a short statement, which will be displayed with the exhibited works.

Here's what I wrote for my submission:

"For me, the act of creating art lies somewhere in the gap between an ideal of perfection I think I should achieve and the imperfection of taking action and getting the work out into the world. Expressing ideas in visual form, even when imperfectly perfect, relieves me of the mental anguish I may have about my own abilities, and in fact helps me to see the depths of my capacities."

The framed photograph is an iPhone image I took for my Instagram feed, where I enjoy creating and sharing floral flat lay compositions. I've titled it Rite Of Spring, With Tea. In this particular arrangement, I attempt to symbolize the transient nature of life, or sakura as it is referred to in Japan: an homage to one's state of mind when struggling with coming to terms with our collective impermanence.     

Shortly after the submission deadline, I received an email letting me know that my photograph was selected for the show. This is the first juried show that I've submitted artwork to, and considering the level of artistic talent in my town, I feel honored to have been chosen.

The Mind Your Mind art exhibit will open this Friday, May 6th at 5:30 p.m. at The New Zone Artist's Collective, and is part of the city of Eugene's First Friday Art Walk. Besides viewing the works on display in the gallery, there will be music and refreshments to enjoy.

Ume Hanami, First Day Of Spring, Under A Plum Blossom Tree

    Hello, and welcome back to Under The Plum Blossom Tree!  I've been away for awhile taking care of family matters, and now, happily, those life events are settled.  With the coming of a new season, my love of photography is reinvigorated, and I am preparing new posts about nature, art, gardening, pocket scrapbooking, and family, as well as a few recipes here and there, plus my adventures to places wild and scenic.

And now I would like to introduce you to my 'Editor', James Aōyama, of the blog Origami Night Lamp.  James has graciously offered to help jump start my reintroduction of this blog; first with his redesign of my title banner, and second, with a symbolic guest post where he shares some photos he captured on the first day of spring.  Here's James:

"Went for a walk on the first day of spring."

"It was kind of poetic since, for the first time this year, it really did feel like spring - a light warm breeze, lots of flowers popping up, honeybees making their rounds among them, and the sky was an uncharacteristic deep shade of blue, unusual in this part of Oregon.

Came upon a plum tree, in blossom, and spent some time under it, breathing in the soft aroma of the blooms.  Watched falling petals floating gently towards the ground.  Took a few photos.

None of these pictures is meant to be artistic, it's just a record of a mood impression, a glimpse into a fleeting moment in time.

Ume Hanami, first day of spring, under a plum blossom tree."

Look close, you will see - A honey bee, flying slow - Between plum blossoms

All photos taken with a Lumix ZS-30.  Click or tap on any picture above to access larger, higher definition images.

Flower Viewing

At this time of year in Japan, many people are excited for Hanami, or flower viewing, of the many cherry blossom trees throughout their country. We are fortunate here in the 'Emerald City' to have many blossoming ornamental cherry trees to view as well. Recently, Jimmy asked me to go on a little neighborhood jaunt for some flower viewing of our own, because he wanted me to see this one particular tree - an ornamental plum blossom tree.  So, I put on my old  Keds, and we went for a walk...

Here's just one image - my favorite kind; a close up of the blooms:

Did you find the bee?