Spirited Woman 'Share Fest'

Dear Spirited Women,

For the last 11 days on Spirited Woman tm FaceBook's site (thank you and congratulations, Nancy Mills), it has been uplifting, inspiring, and thoughtful to view your souls' beautiful offerings. I felt that a community had become more visible and inclusive. I know that in America, this hour, tonight will be midnight and becomes 12-12-11, when the "12 day Share Fest" finishes at 12 pm with a celebratory internet party.


As an Artist of Life, participating has been fun for me. I have loved offering my own Herstory recent art creations in different mediums. I submitted my expansive, intricate, passionate, holiday, fun, visionary and also subversive graffiti art, along with a couple quotes. I have posted some of my 70 sites filled with illustrated explanations. I have posted my support, and compassion for other Spirited Women.

My last submission included here, is on the other very serious side of life which addresses challenges, trials, strength, courage, hope, transition, transformation and healing. Below are 3 photos. One is of a life-size heavy sculpture made of ceramic, weaving, rope and bronze that I purchased in a Sedona gallery a couple decades ago. She is a BOUND WOMAN. She represents what I honestly felt I was at the time, experienced; and that felt bad. You may see that I decorated and embellished her over the years with accessories; goddess pendants, hearts, amethyst, art museum buttons, and powerful meaningful amulets: personal spiritual enriching symbols of my Jewish faith.  Consciously, slowly I have turned BOUND WOMAN into beautiful supported woman. I also made her my hat rack as I finally didn't need to see the Bound Woman pained facial expression. Being Bound, she has no visible arms or hands to give or receive.

In my foyer, adjacent to BOUND WOMAN is a whimsical colorful JOYOUS CREATURE; a taller than life-size metal sculpture that I purchased at the Beverly Hills Affaire in the Garden art show, also around the same era. She holds my MBA '94 graduate cap, ethnic bells, hamsas, Tibetan decor, etc., and is my 'grab a sun shirt' rack, and is also ready for me on rainy days to give me weather essentials. (I have not yet opened the hanging umbrellas.) 


For two decades, here in the kitchen where I work, practice drumming for gigs, create and write, flies Bali WINGED WOMAN. She is a light-weight wood painted sculpture I purchased in Bali when I had bravely escaped temporarily from being bound. (I breathe deeply recalling the past.) WINGED WOMAN was my secular strength, symbol of my potential, my HOPE. She is beautiful and looks out at me all the time as she swings freely in the breeze, reminding me of the FREEDOM that I needed, and the FREED WOMAN THAT I AM, a bat chorin. If you look closely behind WINGED WOMAN, you'll see delightful gold and purple ANGEL, holding out to me, her star. My daughter sent purple ANGEL to me, knowing I would like her, even though I say, "no physical gifts".

Friends, I bless you to always reach for the freedom to be, all that is rightfully yours to express in Four Worlds: spirit, mind, heart and body. Thank you, Spirited Woman for this festival of freedom that I have so greatly enjoyed. 


As my old and worn t-shirt from Atlanta says, "Do What U Love, Love What U Do, and the Whole World Will Come to U."   That's another story...
Love, 
Joy

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embellishment on purchased sculptures,
 and photos by Joy Krauthammer ©

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