no room for form
This morning we received an e-mail from a Guild friend with photos and a description of the memorial service for Guild faculty member and friend, Joe Hester. A Rumi poem was shared during the service from one of Joe’s books…a poem he himself had bookmarked.
It seems a perfectly Joe-like sentiment to have been shared.
No Room For Form
On the night when you cross the street
From your shop and your house
To the cemetary
You’ll hear me hailing you from inside
The open grave, and you’ll realize
How we’ve always been together.
I am the clear consciousness-core
Of your being, the same in
Ecstasy as in self-hating fatigue.
That night, when you escape your fear of snakebite
And all irritations with the ants, you’ll hear
My familiar voice, see the candle being lit,
Smell the incense, the surprise meal fixed
By the lover inside all your other lovers.
This heart tumult is my signal
to you igniting in the tomb.
So don’t fuss with the shroud
And the graveyard dust.
Those get ripped open and washed away
In the music of our final meeting.
And don’t look for me in human shape,
I am inside your looking. No room
For form with love this strong.
Beat the drum and let the poets speak.
This is the day of purification for those who
Are already mature and initiated into what love is.
No need to wait until we die!
There’s more to want here than money
And being famous and bites of roasted meat.
Now, what shall we call this new sort of gazing house
That has opened in our town where people sit
Quietly and pour out their glancing
Like light, like answering?
just us at work
Below is a project by Deb Doering, artist and wife of Guild faculty member Glenn Doering, which she is seeking grassroots funding for. We wanted to help spread the word and invite those who are interested and able to help make the project a reality, which is called “just us at work.” Scroll to the bottom of this post to watch a short video about the project and its history.
Here is some further information:
some thoughts on the role of the arts in hard times
Yesterday I (Ron) received the quarterly publication from my alma madder. To be honest, I normally don’t spend much time reading the thing…maybe a quick scan of the articles and a glimpse into what people may be up to that I graduated with. But last night I began reading an article by the school’s Director of Theatre and Asst. Professor of English, Tamara McGinnis.
In the article she takes a look at the role of the arts in troubled times, especially considering how ‘frivolous’ they may be considered in the midst of layoffs, unemployment and economic uncertainty. Surely, in times that might be quite dire for some of us, the arts aren’t something we should be focusing so intently on…right? It was a nice reminder of the creative people we are, and specifically, I was reminded of the importance of places like the Guild that work to create the space for such an “investment in hope.” Below is an excerpt from the article:
____________________________________
“Our retirement fund is so depleted that even though I am 70, I am having to look for some sort of employment to supplement our income.”
“We are going to lose our house. We can’t make the payments.”
“My job has been eliminated. I don’t know how we are going to pay the bills, buy groceries, or pay for medical expenses.”
Comments like this have become commonplace over the past few years. In light of such pressing needs, the pursuit of the arts seems rather trivial. In my own case questions like “What play should I direct next semester?”, “How will we pay for sets and costumes?”, “What theme do I want to promote?” all seem to pale in significance next to, “How are we going to put food on the table?”
Yet I am convinced more than ever that now is the time to promote the arts. We need the perspectives they offer us. The arts remind us of what is true and valuable; the arts encourage and challenge us; the arts divert us. The arts appeal to the spirit and to the mind. The arts remind us that our lives consist of more than the abundance of the things we possess. Sometimes, we are deceived into thinking that the repossession of our car or a pay cut at work spells disaster for our lives. In reality, it spells a restructuring of our lives and a reevaluation of who we truly are.
…
I am not claiming theatre or the arts are the fairy godmother that will make your worries go away at the wave of a wand. I am not saying that the arts are the answer to all the issues of our society. I am saying that the arts of the people, and by the people, are for the people. As we prioritize the arts, we prioritize people. The arts are an investment in hope.
The role of art, its function and therefore its value have all changed radically over the last couple of centuries. The pace of change is greater than at any time in man's history and it is bringing with it huge social changes that have a considerable effect on our psychological well-being. As the aspirations for life are changing, there is a need to find something that is constant and fulfilling, and it is here that art may be able to provide an invaluable reference point to remind us that life is still an intensely magical experience. It is now that art should be trying to light the way toward a more balanced approach to life in a modern world.”
offering imagination
Some thoughts shared with us by longtime Guild community member, Jack Evert:
Recently, while attending a Quaker Meeting for Worship, I was reflecting on a recent newsletter from the Grunewald Guild (1). It reported that the worship experienced at the Guild “transcended” religion. Initially, I was dismissive of a transcending worship experience. But the thought did come to mind that a Leading (2) may emerge out of an initially critical thought. So I pushed beyond my initial resistance to ask, “Was there something which occurs during worship at the Guild which does transcends religion?” Or, “When people experience positive emotions, do they benefit from an imaginative forum which offers an opportunity for growth in an expression of gratitude? (3) Would such a ritual, as metaphor, result in a healthier person and community?” (4)
a tale of alcohol and God
Yesterday we received an e-mail from longtime Guild member and volunteer Sue Ahrens, who has spent the better part of this last year in South Africa during her time in the Peace Corps. We thought the following story was too good not to share and, when it comes down to it, just seemed so Guild-ish:
I’m pleased to say that my spirit is alive and well living in South Africa. Let me tell you a tale. A tale of alcohol and God.
Last Friday I had gone to a workshop with representatives from both my schools. It was a planning workshop to try to figure out schedules for the coming year. Just exactly what was I going to be doing. Now it was an emotional day for me because I had to tell one of my schools that if things didn’t change, I wasn’t going to be coming as often. I had to explain my frustrations. Confrontation is never fun. It actually went fairly well, but by the end of the day I was tired. After the workshop I did some desperately needed grocery shopping while the other two members of my party did something; not exactly sure what. I finished my shopping and stood waiting for my Shupu counterpart to come back and pick me up while fending off the unwanted help of a man. You see, at the grocery store are men who will help you with your groceries for R5 or so. They can be very persistent. Finally my ride appeared. But of course we were not done in Vryburg.
Now, you have to realize that going anywhere with South Africans is like herding cats. We took my Seitsang counterpart home (several educators work in Tlakgameng, live there for the week, and go home to somewhere else for the weekend). Then we stopped at another grocery store where we picked up three women headed back to Phapasone, which is a village next to Tlakgameng. Then we headed back to the first grocery store for another stop. So it basically took us about 3 hours to get out of Vryburg. So now I am really tired and hungry. It is about 7:30pm. No dinner. No snack. And I am given two energy drinks for the ride back.
Alcoholic energy drinks.
Yep. Alcohol and caffeine.
On an empty stomach.
There’s the background. We finally head back to Tlakgameng over dirt “roads” that give new meaning to…nope, can’t think of the right word. You will not find anything like these roads in America. Think of the worst road you’ve ever been on, imagine it ten times worse, and you’ve got the main roads of South Africa. Anyway, we’re tooling along, music playing at eardrum breaking decibels, and the three ladies in the back singing along at the top of their lungs.
Tired, wired, fried.
Oh, please, I just wanted to get home. It’s now dark. The lightning is striking every so often in the distance. Headache looming. Then I found myself thinking that Lent had already started (I thought I had another week.) and I was already behind on the schedule for reading the Bible as my Bishop suggested for Lent. I was feeling pretty piss-poor, when all of a sudden it struck me: how awesome was it?! There I was barreling down the road in South Africa of all places with people singing great songs, lightning in the distance, and every once in a while the sliver of a moon would peak out at me. Could it get any better? I think not. I just started dancing in my seat which made the South Africans laugh. Truly awesome. In no time I was home, laughing all the way.
Was it God or alcohol? Does it really matter? I recently told a friend that my faith has taken a beating since coming here because I haven’t been to church. So the question is: does my faith lie in observing the rituals I’ve grown up with or in living with a heart open to the awesomeness of wherever I am?
Tsamaya sentle
Sue Ahrens
Final Days
This flurry of this past week began and ended with encounters with our longtime faculty member and friend, Joseph van Hester. If you are not yet aware, Joe is dying from a brain tumor, and is moving to spend his final days with his brother Randy in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the meantime, the past several weeks since his diagnosis has provided an opportunity for Joe, and those who love him, to tie up loose ends and say goodbye.
Joe hosted an Art Show at his studio in Artwood, an artist community in Lake City, WA on February 3rd & 4th. Lois and I arrived a bit late, coming in the back entrance, unsure we had actually found the right place, receiving only the validation of another lost soul who was looking for the same event. We opened the door at the end of a dark and empty courtyard to a explosion of talk, hugs, laughter and color. Joe had coated the studio with drawings he had done over the years, from designs to musings. People had brought food to share, and were pouring over the artwork, asking Joe to sign and pose before taking their treasures home. It was Joe’s show, in every imaginable way, and he was in full form, making sure to remind everyone to love the one they’re with and embrace every magical moment.
The treasure that I brought home was entitled Den of Muses and it reminds me of Joe’s ever-present witness to the Tree of Life.
At the end of the week, Joe came to the Guild to sort through his materials at the Glass Studio, and was visited by a large group of Guild friends from days gone by. Having a previously scheduled a set of meetings in Tacoma, I was only able to join Joe on Sunday, when he shared with the congregation at Faith Lutheran Church in Leavenworth. He kept it brief (Joe is not known for such a tendency, but it is hard now for him to keep a train of thought, and he tires easily). He said three things:
He shared about his memories of participating in the painting of the church mural. He looked through the congregation for a special someone, but gave up when he couldn’t recall her name.
He encouraged people to love and cherish the moment.
At the coffee hour, Joe exchanged hugs and poetry with folks, and gave away more of his drawings. As we walked outside toward our prospective rides, Joe stopped and turned to me.
Joe: “Will I see you at the Guild?”
Me: “I hope so.”
I didn’t. My errands in Wenatchee kept me away for several hours. And Joe left.
But I do. I see Joe at the Guild all the time, in so many ways.
I always will.
-Dan
Words from a Volunteer
I have been a volunteer at the Guild for a little over a week and will stay for a little more than a week more. I have traveled west from Minnesota and arrived to a most unimaginably wonderful time here thus far.
Imagination is important to me. I like to write poetry, plan not-so-commonly themed parties, and play imagination games (like imagining life in the past and future). Alas, in the last few months I had felt overwhelmed and rather lost in the midst of working, filling out applications, and trying to give quality time to family and friends. I did not do the grandest job balancing these things and, by going to the Guild, I hoped to rediscover some of the creativity I was very much missing.
“The role of art, its function and therefore its value have all changed radically over the last couple of centuries. The pace of change is greater than at any time in man's history and it is bringing with it huge social changes that have a considerable effect on our psychological well-being. As the aspirations for life are changing, there is a need to find something that is constant and fulfilling, and it is here that art may be able to provide an invaluable reference point to remind us that life is still an intensely magical experience. It is now that art should be trying to light the way toward a more balanced approach to life in a modern world.”
