My work is involved with the spirituality of art. In the similarities between the creative experience and the meditative experience and the affects it has on my work. Striving to be in the NOW. Working with methods that diminish my authority during the creative act, relegating my influence, relinquishing my control.

I am a multi-talented artist with professional work in the Visual Arts, Music, Dance and Theater. At an early age I realized that the common thread in all of the arts, along with the fundamentals of design, is the creative experience. And the key to the creative experience is the dissolution of self-consciousness. Creating art is more about the act than it is making the product.

My Process: "Pre-Decide not to Pre-Decide"
I developed my personal approach to "art-making" while working on my Master's Thesis in the '70's. Through the years, I still maintain the validity of my original thesis, but arrived at certain realization along the way. I have become aware of some rationalizations I made in terms of how much control one could actually relinquish. I have come to realize that, although I can strive to minimize any efforts to control the final outcome, making design decisions is unavoidable. By striving to be present, acting within the process with little to no mental dialogue/conscious decision-making, relying on a well of knowledge and experiences deep within me, the decisions that are made are made despite me.  That, of course, is an ideal situation to aspire to.

​Edward DeMahy

We just spent 2.5 weeks packing up and then moving our son and his family to Wyoming. Thought we were leaving the hot temperatures behind, but of course, they were having a heat wave! And, since it’s usually cool, no A/C. This week we’ll be packing and moving my 96 year old mom to Lafayette. At least there will be A/C! And speaking of no time for being bored, Simone found this interesting article about the benefits of boredom!

CREATIVITY Research Suggests We're All Getting Less Creative and Scientists Think They Know Why BY JESSICA STILLMAN

"A researcher at the University of William and Mary analyzed 300,000 Torrance Test scores since the '50s. She found that creativity scores began to nosedive in 1990. She concluded that we're now facing a 'creativity crisis,'" reported author Michael Easter on Medium recently. That sounds alarming, but the good news is that, unlike the decline in IQ scores, scientists have a pretty good guess what's causing our collective creativity to tank. Scientists blame "our hurried, over-scheduled lives" and "ever increasing amounts of (time) interacting with electronic entertainment devices," Easter explains. In short, we're too busy and entertained for creativity to blossom.

Gone are the days where childhood was largely spent in unsupervised rambles and imaginary play. And we're generally just as overscheduled and overstimulated as adults. Many folks in the middle of midlife pandemonium struggle to find time to keep up with their email and brush their teeth, more or less putter and ponder. Which is just what creativity demands. Science shows that boredom actually increases creativity, as do activities like long walks (and showers) that demand just enough attention to allow our minds to wander. Einstein understood this. That's why he spent hours floating on his sailboat letting his mind gestate the brilliant ideas that revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos.

​The good news is that just as scientists are clear about the cause of our "creativity crisis," they are clear on what individuals can do to reclaim their natural inventiveness. Actively scheduling time to think, reflect, and experiment into your days, putting reasonable boundaries on your use of passive tech), varying your routine and your company, and getting out for more long walks can all help ensure you’re bucking the trend and nurturing your personal creativity.

“I’m a big believer in boredom. Boredom allows one to indulge in curiosity, and out of curiosity comes everything.” Steve Jobs

“Being bored is a precious thing, a state of mind we should pursue. Once boredom sets in, our minds begin to wander, looking for something exciting, something interesting to land on. And that’s where creativity arises.” Peter Bregman

“Boredom is your window… Once this window opens, don’t try to shut it; on the contrary, throw it wide open.” Joseph Brodsky

“Creativity is the residue of time wasted.” Albert Einstein

The trouble is we live in an age in which we never give ourselves the chance to be bored. All the entertainment we can dream of is at our fingertips. It’s time for us all to recognize boredom as a delicacy.

Pamper yourself this summer with a little boredom...your creative side will thank you.

Terry L Palmer LAA President

Wow!
Writing this message from the president sure comes around way to soon - but, I do have some important information for you.

I can never say enough about the great work our officers, board and volunteers have done and are doing. All are working hard to make your Lafayette Art Association a success. And it’s working. Sales from the gallery, gift shop and studios have all risen over the last year, despite COVID. Keep up the good work! And, I can never say this enough also - I love being associated with this organization and all of the people who are a part of it and keep the arts going for our community!

So, now I’m reaching out to our members. Get your art on! We soon have a new exhibit coming: The Eye Of The Beholder. This is an open 2-D and 3-D competition. This means you can invite your non-member artist friends to enter as well. There is a small entry fee for both members and nom members, but you’ll be competing for monetary prizes as well as ribbons. The Eye Of The Beholder is only our second monetary award show since we started this procedure. The first was a success and we’re hoping this will be even a bigger success. Besides incentive for the artists, it raises operational funds for the LAA. I’m happy to say, we have a couple of outstanding judges this year whose names I’m not allowed to divulge.

Here’s some information for Eye Of The Beholder that I can share with you: Chair person: Susan Chiquelin. For questions, email Susan: susan.chiquelin@lusfiber.net Submission dates: July 14-7/17 and July 21-July 24 (As another reminder, these are also the pick up dates for any work you may have had in the Spring and Summer Members Exhibit) Show dates: July 28 to September 18 Awards Reception: August 8th from 4-6pm

Prior to entry, please read our revised General Competition Submission Rules and Information. The rules and an Eye of the Beholder 2021 Submission Form can be found at www.lafayetteart.org/submissionrules.html where you can download a pdf to read or read online (go to www.lafayetteart.org, click on About LAA, scroll down to Rules/Competitions and click on Submission Rules).

I really hope to see a lot of you entering. I know there’s a lot of creative work out there! Have a great, artistic month.

​Terry L Palmer LAA President

Bond Memory Fulfilled Papa’s Love
  
Time has covered you but not my memory of you.
You grew up in a palmetto shack, common, illiterate, with French as a first language. Abuse away of life.
   Time has covered  abuse with love. Your love, Papa. Your love of mama and us changed all for you and us. Your love got the house on land and the big boat. All you had was a pirogue and a “fish cart.” and you grew it big. 
   Time has covered all that you built but not what you taught us. Respect for all no mater the color of their skin. “Until you walk in their moccasins, you don’t know.” You always said.
   Time has covered it all but not your gene-pool. Your grandchildren stands on your shoulders papa… I ran from the killing; not from you .I ran from the wet piercing cold; the blood smell, not from you. I ran to fulfill the Dream-pool, not from you. Death its’ self has not and never will break our bond.
 
In loving memory of Julian Justin Sons Sr.
 
Barry Sons
 

Bond To A Memory 

Time has covered you but not my memory of you. 
I ran from the killing; not from you.
I ran from the wet piercing cold; the blood smell, not from you. 
Death its’ self has not and never will break our bond.

​Barry Sons  2017  

Papa’s Church
 
He seldom attended church.
Oh! how terrible you say,
But as a child there was no Church for him to go to pray.
But he found the Lord.
How you say?
I think I know his secret way.
 
He seldom attended church
How terrible you say.
But I’ve seen the church where He found his way.
 
The floor is of water, slick as glass.
The walls were covered in tall Pea grass.
The back of the church was Umbrellaed in oaks.
A church more fitting for common Folk.
His God, my God dwelt with him there,
His voice in the breeze of the fresh north air.
I shared this joy with him once,
My Papa the sinner; loved God a bunch.
 
Barry Sons
Sept.18, 1978

I am (also) a painter, writer, and poet. I became aware of the situation in Louisiana after seeing my basin, having been gone for 37 years. What I saw east of the Atchafalaya was desecration--oak trees standing dead in the water, where once was dry land. Gashes of canals cut across once beautiful winding bayous. Hackberry bayou should have been a river by now, but because of the rerouting of the water it is silting up. What a mess we have made! I felt desperate to help.  Who knew what a catastrophe a levee could cause.

I had to do something. I had to paint this wonderful gift of nature before it becomes beach-front property.  After finding out that for my basin there was hope, I knew I could not sit still on this issue.
    
I used to read a story to my children called 'The Giving Tree' by Shel Silverstein. I don’t know if you are familiar with the story, but the tree gives up everything until there is nothing left but the stump. I fear my Louisiana, my dream state, is that giving tree.
 
So what could I do? How could I make a difference? I could only paint what was left of Eden. And as I would paint, the voice in the deepest part of me said, “Write.” And the poems as simple as they are came. The stories as simple as they are came. I poured my passion onto the canvas. I did not intend to make an issue. I only knew I had to do
something.
 
For twelve years I have worked to bring this work to fruition and here it is (www.barrysonsart.com) - a drop in the Gulf, but it’s my drop. One drop does not make a river flow the way it should, but one drop by many people possibly could. If enough of us stay conscious, holding together like the roots of the marsh to do what we can, perhaps the Mississippi silt will work for us again.

​My hope is that some day, my grandchildren can stand with their grand children (toes shoved into the blue-green clay of the riverbank) and show them the wonder-filled South-Louisiana that was my back yard.

​Barry Sons
 
barrylsons@gmail.com
www.barrysonsart.com

Barry Sons
barrylsons@gmail.com
www.barrysonsart.com

Whether it be a person or a place, a moment or a day, a dream or an awakening, I strive to translate the experience into something for others to see. I use paper as well as metal for support medium and apply bold use of color and confident strokes that are quick and unguarded. 

I began making art at the age of seven. As a child I was the day-dreaming doodler. I then received formal art education at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

I have enjoyed teaching for over 25 years in both classroom and private settings. I’ve facilitated large public art projects for children and written the grants to fund those projects.

​email: margomirebaker@gmail.com

​My first experience with the power of color; in this case the power of Red, with its innate, potent, passionate, foxy ways was through my Mother telling me, "If you feel blue wear red."  And I still do.
 
Red the mood changer, in a class by its alizarin self, fits into the category of sui generis.

Red is in a class by its flaming, ruby, cardinal, courageous self.

Its vermillion vivacity may be challenged by cherry red, by blood red,  all the Reds abundant confidence.
 
We know the way a slight or sturdy blush yields so much information yet not a word spoken. The flame the sizzle the desire in Reds weave  shamelessly through many of my paintings. Erotic, intense, emotional, not unlike the way a fire engine grabs our imagination and brings to wonder.

​We rivet to Red with its natural ease radiating that vibrant pulse of scarlet curiosity.

As you may or may not know I also work at the Sans Souci Gallery. There are times when a customer will purchase an item that I find unattractive, to be nice about it. But, it’s not my purchase and it’s not my “eye.” No one should be told what they should like or dislike. I have a very good friend I’ve known for years, I even stood in one of his weddings. He doesn’t like my mixed media work. Does it bother me? No, not in the least. I don’t do it for him. Believe in yourself. Believe in what you do but also learn from constructive criticism. It will make you stronger and a better artist.

There is another message I need to impart. Due to Covid and the necessary separation, we’ve not had a general meeting of members. That’s coming to an end, and soon. The meeting will be June 27th so please plan to attend. As artists, we need to rub elbows… if that’s all we can do. It’s time to get back together.

​Your President of your LAA, Terry Palmer tpalmer@cox-internet.com

I enjoy reading science fiction novels.

​That is, well written, creative science fiction that requires a bit of thought, reflection and some understanding of space dynamics. And, yes, of course there must be use of a proton blaster, that they’ve conquered cool fusion and have hyper space drive (you gotta get from A to Z in a hurry). I recently found an author that I love with one hell of an imagination and was pleasantly surprised when this passage was the intro to a chapter in the novel I’m reading at present:

“After the Quiet War, when art was no longer supported by state funds or by those more interested in iconoclasm, the grotesqueries of the previous centuries died a deserved death. People were no longer satisfied or impressed by political messages in an age when politicians and ideologues had become objects of ridicule. Higher general intelligence and broader knowledge of the world, of the solar system, also enabled them to at last see through the obfuscations and justifications of lazy but glib pretenders to art. Something of a renaissance occurred when art returned at last to its natural state of being beautiful objects or elegant design that people are prepared to pay for. Thousands of artists, who previously would not have considered producing objects of beauty, now started producing. Legions of art critics whose greatest skill was analysis of non-existent meaning discovered an urgent need to retrain. And the time had returned at last when a gorgeous painting taking weeks of skill to produce might garner more praise than a frozen pig’s penis in a glass of vodka.”

How can I end this but to ask you to forget about politics, forget about ideologies and just go make some beautiful art. Then enter it in the upcoming Members Only Spring Show Exhibit.
​
Your President of your LAA, Terry Palmer, tpalmer@cox-internet.com

I was born in Troy, NY, and grew up in Peru, Illinois.  During a long college career at McNeese, Southern Illinois University and Western Illinois University I studied music and photography.  In 1988 I moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, and opened Nouveau Photeau soon after.
 
In 2007, I earned the degree of Certified Professional Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America.  Less than 2% of all professional photographers have earned this degree.  I teach several photography classes through the Potpourri Division at UL.
 
I have long been a huge fan of Ansel Adams as well as the portrait work of Kenny Rogers. (Yeah, the country singer) I have been influenced by Ansel Adam’s work, but also by a gentleman  named Bob Kahn, and Louisiana natives Kirk Voclain and Tim Babin.
 
My business is a portrait studio, but my personal art comes mostly from my relaxation time away from the studio. As an example, when COVID and the shutdowns hit, I took the opportunity to pursue more personal pursuits which led to an exhibit. It was first displayed at the gallery of the Louisiana Secretary of State’s building, and several other venues since.
 
I was once told that a creativity is the act of taking something ordinary and make something extraordinary. That is precisely what I attempt to do. I try to see something considered ordinary by others and do something with it in the camera that makes it look less ordinary. (EXTRAordinary)
 
Even in my portrait work, I try to visually show something about my subject that everyone knows, but now they SEE it visually.
 
I love to show the ordinary in an extra-ordinary fashion. I hope you enjoy my work.

The 9" x 12" encaustic piece (at right) was created at a recent LAA workshop led by Bonnie Camos. Although it is a recent work, its origin of inspiration began three years earlier while taking a Drawing class at UL.

In our class assignment, we were given a list of famous artist of the “Suprematism” movement which is focused on basic geometric forms, such as circles, squares, lines, and rectangles, painted in a limited range of colors based upon "the supremacy of pure artistic feeling" rather than on visual depiction of objects. 
 
I chose a simple piece by Ivan Kliun (1873-1943): a Russian Avant-Garde painter, sculptor and art theorist because of its intrigue and simplicity. ​We were to model the design with household items and then do a “still life” charcoal rendering. 

​The encaustic interpretation was painted directly on a hot plate without considering the mono print would be a reverse image representation. The three dots and thin lines were applied afterwards with India ink. 

Visual art is first encountered by the reflection of light on our eyes. Our mental capacities then interpret. Between the art object and mind takes place a dialogue. The dialogue is intrinsically between viewer and artist where words are not exchanged but communication happens regardless. This is good because it allows the viewer to arrive at their own understanding on what the visual elements communicate.

On the other end, some pieces of art are enhanced when the artist elaborates the work with words. The vice versa is also true. Words can be enhanced with image. This can be seen in books which offer illustration along with the text.

 Regardless, the visual artist and literary artist tap from the same imagination and creative wellspring. 

From a practical point of view, LAA always strives for new members and more visitors to the gallery. Tapping into the literary arts community of Acadiana is a pool of folks that may have never thought of LAA. LAA even has space available to handle a few writing workshops, as it does with visual arts. I've attended a writing workshop at the Hilliard Museum and even found the art on exhibit and excellent muse for writing. I know of a few LAA members who practice literary arts along with visual art and find it an enrichening experience. It certainly does not have to be complicated. Give it a try.

 Consider a piece of your art that evokes your emotions or thought and try this simple exercise: What does the piece of visual art say to you? What does it say to the world?  It could be a single word, or a few sentences. Conjoining your visual and literary art will express something about you much more deeply than what either medium can do on its own. I will share a few examples: ​

“I do what I do because I love it and it is fun!”

My artistic passion is as a visual artist, curator, and arts educator. I am native to Lafayette and have been professionally exhibiting art and actively participating in the cultural community for the past 30 years.  I have served on the boards of Acadiana Arts Council and the Louisiana Crafts Guild and currently on the board of the Lafayette Art Association. I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and was artist-in-residence at Louisiana Artworks in New Orleans in March 2007. 

​In 2010 and in collaboration with Craig “Whoojoo” McCullen, we created the official art piece and poster for Festival Internationale de Louisiane.  And in 2012, created the official posters for the Miles Perret Cancer Services and the Grand Coteau’s “Sweet Dough Pie Festival”.  I teach classes at the Lafayette Art Association in addition to conducting summer arts programs for the Acadian Suzuke Strings  Institute.

The LAA Website would like to include an artist profile/statement for each of its members. It would be a short explanation of your work, creative process, including your motivations, inspirations, mission, and methods.

​It would be written in your own words and be an opportunity for others in LAA to know you.

How to submit your artist profile to the LAA Website
1. Develop your own narrative using the basic five questions/tips below. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point.
2. Include an image of yourself, preferably in an artistic pose or setting
3. Email to: laachallenge@yahoo.com

Following are five basic questions to consider in your artist profile (500 words max): 

1. What is your background?
Use this question as an opportunity to highlight those aspects of your background that make you and your work unique, with bonus points if you can tie your life experiences to your artwork. Did your upbringing prompt a specific reference point within your work? Is your work informed by certain concepts or themes from your childhood, background, socio-economic status, where you lived or were raised? How does this impact how you see the world and create art?

2. What is the intent and purpose of your art?
Why do you make art? 

3. Who are your biggest influences?
Is there a particular artist that inspired you to pursue art? Whose techniques do you study or admire? What genre does your work fall into? Make sure you address why you’re influenced by these artists or artistic movements. 

3. What Inspires You?
What connection do you have to your art? What motivates you? Enthusiastically express why you create what you do. How would you express your creativity at work?

5. What Does Your Art Mean to You?
How do you interpret the meaning of your work?  Focus solely on your own understanding here because everyone views art differently.