ARTIST with a YOWZA SPIRIT

Art is Long; Life is Short...
and so, in the true Yowza Spirit of this blog, I will invite
the people I meet, the places I go, the adventures I experience,
and the AHA! moments life brings to be my siren for my
ART and my WRITING.
Here's to the ride.

www.susiekellyflatau.com

Monday, October 1, 2012

Autumn Leaves

Today was one of those glorious autumn days in Western New York.  
The cerulean sky was softened by the slow-dancing of lamb's-wool clouds, 
the crisp air was scented by the bold aromas of the earth, 
and the trees in the surrounding landscape blazed on fire 
with yellows and golds and oranges and reds.  
Yes, today was one of those autumn days 
when I was reminded that there truly are 
"a thousand reasons to kneel and touch the ground."  
In my figurative kneeling with gratitude and happiness today, 
my heart soared knowing that one of my first paintings--
"Autumn Leaves"-- 
hangs in a Texas home, 
bringing the beauty and glory of this WNY autumn splendor 
to a dear friend.  
"Autumn Leaves"
acrylic on canvas

In-Joy.



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

New Mexico Memories: Angel in Flight, Spirit of the Wind, Heart Wide Open

It has been well over a decade 
since I last walked the desert in New Mexico.  
Over a decade--and yet, time falls away 
when I close my eyes and remember.  
It is in the remembering that I have, as of late, 
come to the canvas with the spirit 
of the Land of Enchantment singing in my head.  
And out of this singing,  
she arrived--this beautiful angel 
in a flowing turquoise gown,
rising high into 
the deep red hues of this crimson sky 
over the land of dreams and magic...


"Angel in Flight"
acrylic on canvas
11" x 14"
 
Before the paint could dry on this new painting, 
the singing in my head took on a new dimension--
a dimension of touch filled with a soft breeze 
that softly brushed against my skin. 
I breathed in this soft breeze as it whispered into my ear, 
"Do you hear me?  Listen closely," she said.
"For I am the Wind.  
The Wind that blows across the desert.
The Wind that carries the souls of the universe.  
The Wind that is the keeper of all tales from your ancestors."
And out of this whispering,
the Wind stopped for a second
to pose before the deep red sky...

"Spirit of the Wind"
acrylic on canvas
11" x 14"
So there I stood
in the center of my studio, 
sated and flushed by this rush of creative energy,
when my Self began to fill with love. 
I saw my Self
lifted by the flight of this Angel 
and I felt my Self 
soothed by the spirit of this Wind.
And then a quiet little voice inside my heart intoned, 
"This is grace."
And in this moment of grace -- 
I tasted the freedom of a Heart Wide Open.

"Heart Wide Open"
acrylic on canvas
11" x 14" 

Grace. Love.




    

Sunday, July 15, 2012

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"



Saturday, July 14, 2012

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



Friday, July 13, 2012

Art Show at Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery

As the day dawns in all its glory and
the sun begins to rise,
(along with the mercury on the thermometer...yowza) 
our souls and spirits smile
as we are reminded of nature's beauty.

Indeed, this day's beauty is setting the stage for tonight's 
Art Reception/Opening at 
Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery

Gallery owners, Paulette and Dan Krakowski,
know how to give a party...I cannot wait!

I'm happy to share with you two of my paintings 
that will be on display,along with works by fellow WSAS members,
 in the gallery through August.

Inspired by the fireflies and flowers that grace our hilltop space --
I painted my mind's eye of 
"Fireflies in the Meadow" 
and radiant, luscious flowers in all their "Glory".  

"Fireflies in the Meadow"
acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"

"Glory"
acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

This group show represents works by members of the West Seneca Art Society 
who will be celebrating the installation of their works.

Members of the West Seneca Art Society represented in this exhibit include:
Lucette Banas, Brittany Bauer, Sharon Schasel-Brown, Grace Church, Tom Dalbo, Eve Fadeley, Susie Kelly Flatau, Norm Hornung, Paulette Krakowski, Diane Menchetti, Michael Mrozik, Urbano Pacini, Joan Peck, Joe Reimers, Rich Reimers, Nancy Richert, Mary Claire Rivera, Bernice Smith, Janis Stanek, Sandra Winiasz, Diane Wright & Heidi Zanelli.

Art Rocks!




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Mindweb Artist Page...yahooo

Just sharing my newest art-life adventure
--affiliation with and representation by
 464 Gallery, Buffalo NY
http://www.464gallery.com/

If you have time, check out my artist page ... 
and I would love it if you
wish to share the link with your friends--
I need all the help I can get to launch this new journey!

More to come as I fine-tune my efforts. 

Peace, Love, and Bobby Sherman! xoxox

Sunday, July 8, 2012

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."