I
often hear fellow artists complain about writers' blocks, lack of muse and
other obstacles in their path to making art. It's given, since creativity isn't
always fluent and can be episodical. Moreover, most of our art is composed in
our subconscious, and only when it surfaces – art is being created. I compare
these phases to pregnancy. Other obstacles can be lack of time, of support, of
financial ability and of opportunity. In the past few years I've encountered
another: physical disability.
About
twelve years ago, in the midst of a creative period, I developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – AKA Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Post Viral Fatigue
Syndrome (PVFS), Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and other
names. CFS is a neurological disorder characterized by exhaustion, cognitive
fog, widespread pain and other
symptoms.
In short,
painting and jewelry making became increasingly very difficult, even impossible
at times. After the initial mourning I knew I had to adjust, and gradually learned
how to glide on the wavy nature of the syndrome. Now there are "good art
days" which allow me to saw and hammer metal, and "medium art
days" which I use for more delicate and less physical work. Unfortunately
there are also "no art days", or "couch potato days".
Creativity
means not only making art, but finding solutions, and I found two.
Ever
since CFS became a fact of life, I wished there was an easy way to continue my
work with silver. It took some years, and then I found Metal Clay for my
"medium art days".
Working
with Metal Clay is fun, but I still had to do it in the studio. At the time I
began knitting wire necklaces for my Metal Clay pendants. When a "no art
day" happened in the middle of a necklace, I decided to take it to the
living room, to complete it in front of the tube. Since "no art day"s
can stretch to weeks – this decision yielded a new and colorful line of
jewelry.
Lacy Lariat Necklace and Belt
It
may sound weird, but I thank CFS for expanding my choices.
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