Susie Kelly Flatau Artworks ... Now on Facebook

"Meeting of Heaven and Earth" 

acrylic on gallery canvas

24" x 24"

**now available as a Fine Art giclee print:

Queen City Prints

There is this place of the soul where Earth meets Heaven...

where our spirits are free 

to create

to celebrate

to give thanks.

As I sit here contemplating that thought,

I invite you to visit my

"art-log" and "new-works" journal

that I now turn to on a fairly regular basis on Facebook-- 

Susie Kelly Flatau Artworks

Throughout my life I have recorded snippets of life 

in my hard-cover journals and on my computer.

Now, it is precious to me that I have this avenue, 

this outlet,

where I can share my words and my art...

my thoughts and ideas...

my joy. 

**also available as a Fine Art giclee print

through 

Queen City Prints

"Woman Tree"

acrylic on gallery canvas

18" x 24"

yowZa

the Sardana...Barcelona, Spain...1990

My mama died in 1990.  

She died and left me the eldest daughter.

It wasn't an easy going, her passing to the other side.  

Our relationship was not at its peak...no, it was actually in a valley.

But...

that fact didn't alter fate.

Mama died. 

And there was nothing I could do to ease her pain.

Nothing I could do for her, but by the hands of the universe,

the angels whispered into my ear in the dark of night,

"Go to Spain.

Heal thyself...go to Spain."

And so I did, I went to Spain to seek understanding. 

I went to Spain with my best friend at the time. 

With my husband's blessing, I packed my bags,

and flew, a wounded bird, with my friend across the Atlantic Ocean.

 

My dear friend and I were wanderers...

sojourners on separate pilgrimages.

His journey was to capture life in photographs; 

My journey was to capture life in words.

Our journey, in the oddest of ways, was for both of us to heal.

And it was during this passage

that I witnessed the Sardana...

the Catalan folk dance.

We were in Tarragona where we participated in what

was the equivalent to our "4th of July" celebration in the USA--

it was their celebration of "las bombas"--

we watched in jubilation and curiosity 

as Tarragona citizens walked toward the sea...

happy, with purpose, with pride.

We walked alongside them and stood stock still 

as the musicians began to play, 

as the citizens began to dance the Sardana.

I became part of the beauty of their circle of life...

and without as much as a whisper,

as their circle dance moved inward and outward, 

as they raised locked hands first upward and downward... 

a lifetime of love passed from my mother's hand to mine.

From that memory of the dance, 

from that moment when the citizens of Tarragona joined hands 

and danced in circles to celebrate their connectedness,

I give you:  "La Sardana de Tarragona"

Candle in the Wind...Painting on the Wall

"Seven Sisters"

acrylic on canvas

2012

 Candles.

They hold sway over my soul. 

Candles.

They soothe my heart.

Candles.

They soften my spirit.

Candles.

They dance upon my new painting, "Seven Sisters"...

inviting me to pause, to give thanks, to offer up my gratitude

for life's many blessings.

Candles.

Peace & Love

Love Street...

It is amazing how many "Snap Shots" we have stored away in our 

hearts and souls and minds...

so many "Snap Shots" that lie tucked away in our memory vault. 

Yes, there they are, clearly catalogued, carefully filed away...

and then...WHAM...

without even as much as a rap-a-tap-tap on our noggin', 

they come for a visit upon our mind's eye.  

It was during one of these surprise "Snap Shot" visits 

that visions of Love Street--a groovy, hip nightclub in Houston, Texas--danced into my thoughts.  

In a blink, I was back in high school,

riding the wave of 

the end-of-the-60's-rolling-into-the-70s.  

There I was, 

sneaking off to Love Street on a clandestine date. 

How vivid it is remembering the moment I walked into 

the darkened yet psychedelically-color-charged space. 

The music was loud, intoxicating...

and soon I was grooving to the beat. 

It was as if my memory "Snap Shots" of Love Street 

ran into my psyche, 

pulled up a chair, 

and played a reel of "Snap Shots" upon my eyelids.  

Oh, I love it when that happens, 

when those memories are awakened and begin to whisper their stories into our souls...  

It was from such whisperings 

that I was inspired to begin a new series of paintings...

my "Love Street" series.  

I began painting on canvas 

and then moved to painter's drop cloth, 

creating what I imagine will become wall hangings. 

 

Here is a glimpse into my memories 

inspired by Love Street from 1970, 

memories I now honor and bring to life on canvas....

Life IS good.

Cherish every second of every hour.

Love One Another.

Because as we all know,

(thanks to the Fab Four)

in the end, "the love we take

IS equal to the love we make."

East Aurora Art Walk & My Art Opening/Reception...yowza

I'm over-bubbling with joy.  

Earlier today, I delivered 

a collection of paintings 

to Ashwood Artisans (www.ashwoodartisansgallery.com)

in preparation for my upcoming

art opening & reception set for May 4th.

As Diane Lehmann (the gallery owner) and I 

looked through the paintings, 

we discussed the various vignettes 

for hanging the works, 

and my joy began to bubble.

Then, I picked up a copy of the local East Aurora newspaper. 

Right there, on the monthly Arts Page

was the article about my art show.  

My joy bubbled and bubbled. 

But, it was as I was leaving Ashwood Artisans 

that Diane handed me the postcard 

for the East Aurora Art Walk... 

and right there... 

top row...

second image from the left... 

was my painting, "Cardinal in Flight"

My joy bubbled up and bubbled over and bubbled out!

I drove home 

feeling deeply humbled by Gratitude.

awash in Excitement. 

imbued with Joy...

I'm thinking a bubble bath 

might just be the most bubble-iscious

way to top off this day!

(more of my new paintings are now posted on 

the Gallery Walk on my website:

www.wordsbysusie.com

and if you're ever on facebook...

check out my ongoing ArtCyberJournal at

Susie Kelly Flatau Artworks

Yowza!