Murals and other Musings

Listening, Reading and Creative Inspiration

6/2/20244 min read

Horse art
Horse art

Listening

“Everything good comes from the heart.” Stacy Peralta

I’ve attended two webinars over the past year with Stacy Peralta and was inspired by his ability to pivot, while at the same time building on his experience. Peralta is a skateborder, film director and entrepreneur. His early life and career were focused on a passion for skateboarding, and he played an instrumental role in developing the sport. I love that Peralta is open to reinvention and being a beginner again. He moved from skateboarding to an entrepreneurial venture and then to filmmaking. “Be open to being a beginner (he also refers to it as being a kook). Be open to being humble, to being uncertain. This can break old patterns and open new ones. Letting go of trying to control your environment is magical.” You can listen to one of his conversations here.

I came across a charming interview with poet Harry Owen filmed in 2023. From the show notes, "When out in nature, we often feel so small, dwarfed by the grand sweep of the stars, the oceans, and the mountains. And yet we are still part of it all - connected to the miracle of the first flower to emerge from the soil, awed by the iridescent flash of wings in mid-flight, the feeling of a raindrop rolling down the face, or the spiraling song of a bird up above. Nature can be a wonderful friend, a source of true healing and inspiration. It is full of enduring beauty, wonder, and mystery — a place that nourishes us physically and spiritually every single day. In nature, we can know that, as small and short-lived as we are, we still belong to the universe. We are part of the everlasting grandeur and mystery. And our lives are inseparable from the world’s many different natural spectacles, breathtaking occurrences, and unforgettable magic moments.”

“Magic, magic, magic - I am part of magic. What more could I ask for?” - Harry Owen

You can listen to the interview here.

Quotes

A few favourite quotes I've come across recently.

"Think before you speak. Read before you think.” Fran Lebovitz.

“A life of commitment means saying a thousand noes for the sake of a few precious yeses.” David Brooks

"Therefore, at any time of life, follow your own questions; don’t mistake other people’s questions for your own." David Whyte

If you enjoy poetry, and even if you don't, its worth checking out some of David Whyte's writing here.

Creative Finds

I discovered the work of Dimitri Papatheodorou on a country studio tour. His studio and home sit on a stunning property in Northumberland County (Ontario). Papatheodorou is a visual artist, musician, and architect. His studio is housed in a beautiful renovated stone outbuilding which he also uses as an exhibition space. Interesting how many architects venture into other artistic mediums, and Papatheodorou is no exception. Many of his paintings are monochromatic with a lovely sensitivity to the subtleties of light and architectural forms. You can learn more about his work here.

Mural on Garage in Riverdale
Mural on Garage in Riverdale
Bird house
Bird house

Some Eclectic Murals and Garden Art found on my Walks

Inspiration

In my May post, I talked about the Little Free Library and how I was finding these gems on my city walks. Now I’m seeing interesting murals and garden art on my walks through city neighbourhoods - when you look, they’re there. I’m beginning to appreciate that these discoveries are just as much about paying attention, a theme that comes up regularly in my Buddhist readings and in podcasts I've been listening to. A walk can be meditative in many ways, and when we pay attention, we often come across creative inspiration, find a spark for new ideas, or solutions to situations we may be trying to navigate. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Creative Work

Some recent projects - journal sewn with a French stitch, covered with a decorative paper. The cover has a small book embellishment, held closed by a bead with a tie, when opened there are two quotes inside. And a small book made with paste papers and a bead closure.

Journal with small book detail
Journal with small book detail
Journal with small book detail
Journal with small book detail
Journal with small book detail
Journal with small book detail
Small elongated book with paste paper and bead detail
Small elongated book with paste paper and bead detail
Small elongated book with paste paper and bead detail
Small elongated book with paste paper and bead detail
Mural on brick wall - Danforth and Woodbine
Mural on brick wall - Danforth and Woodbine
Mural on fence Riverdale area
Mural on fence Riverdale area
Mural on garage Danforth and Woodbine
Mural on garage Danforth and Woodbine