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Folks out on a warm weekend day...lots and lots of folks. Walking, bike or motorbike riding, photo session for a 5 year old's birthday...even some were even sitting by the river in their folding chairs, one of them playing in the water. It was a busy day at the bridge.

The Arachne Project: Robin Wall Kimmerer

LINK 7:59 minutes

You can learn more about and watch more videos at this site Arachne Project.

Prompt #7

Reverse yesterday's prompt.  Find a collage piece that expresses the essential you perfectly.

Use it in a way that speaks to an important part of yourself that has rarely/never been included in the way you've used this type of image in the past.

I pulled out the collage papers for the next prompt. A couple of things occurred to me...I only have so many papers to express myself, so the directions I end up going with my process will be impacted by that. I wondered how I felt about that. This prompt spoke to the 'essential' me. In one way or another, that is most of the materials I've saved. I have gone back and looked not only at Acey's posts for each prompt, but I went and looked at Liz and Dee's too. I may dig around the house to see if I have more choices to add to the tub. I also considered that I may run out of materials before I get to prompt #30, but we'll see. The last bit that was interesting to consider is, that since I do not know what the upcoming prompts are...I can't possibly "save" images I am really charmed with or any that have a 'favorite' feel to them or express strongly a particular idea/feeling. So, I'm just using them as I go with no attachment to what may come, nor to how long I have had some of these bits and pieces. 

The hills around here are super-covered with this plant (above), leading to grand spaces of yellow. It looks beautiful.

He said it would be a big lizard day, due to the heat...and he was right! We started counting them as we began our walk, but quickly lost count, since there were so many. I really like their 'toes' so much. The riverbed seems so full right now. Not of water, but of plant/tree life. It is just so green and thick...lush. The second pic above looked like such a lovely spot for a romantic picnic. 

As I reflected on the completed two-page spread, I landed on the idea that I may not have responded to this prompt as it was written. I think almost ever image here, most would be able to read as me, but indeed not all of them have been reflected in my collage work or any work in the past. Do I even have a body of collage work? Nah.

Left side of spread

While rummaging through the collage tub, looking for authentic me...I put images aside that called to me,  for years. In the end, this prompt ended up being about women, me...children, home - inside and outside...connection, community and culture. I'm sure if you asked me to talk about those things, I would include a whole lot more than I did here. I found this an interesting unseen layer, while working with what was at hand. 

I used the big grassy hills to make the page more sturdy and to represent my love and connection to outdoors - from sliding down grassy hills on old cardboard as a child to walking the paths or trails as a adult. The photo of little me is from my 1st day of Kindergarten. My grin shows my love of learning. I left the screen door in the photo to express my playful side of running in and out of the house, endlessly...and letting the door slam behind me (my sassy side!). The altered driftwood teepee stands for creativity and open-mindedness...things I value. I altered this photo in 2005, turning it into a 'drawing' and asking "What color is your house?"

I again made the page thicker by adding base papers. They are now hard to see, but from left to right there is: rounded rocks (nature), hand made paper with threads loosely added in (me as a maker) and a muted green-brown speckle (the asphalt of my travels). I wanted these pages to have less white space showing (as I mentioned last time) and this was a way to do that too. On top I placed the 'original' photo of the driftwood house. This photo was taken on the beach near La Conchita, during the same season as the mudslide. There was SO MUCH wood there and so many structures created. The house (bottom left) is an old pic of a home in San Francisco, also from years ago. It is very hard to tell, but I remember how the entrance gate in the center (between the garages) had a solid bottom and branches for the top half of the gate. It was super original and cool. The 'women' in the driveway represent 'community' and the value of women's friendships, relationships and good neighbors. The woman to the right is a "storyteller" doll. I have always been attracted to both those dolls and to storytelling. The top right painting by artist SADIE PATTERSON (and the one on the opposing page) are two from a small collection cut out of a magazine eons ago. her work is so gorgeous and speaks to the importance of women and culture, community and intertwined support. I added this typed phrase, found in the tub, because it spoke to me about ones ability, my own ability to speak up, accept attention given to me or 'demand' it when I have something to say, especially when it is something I am passionate and educated about. I liked that the phrase included 'please' - that rang true to me as well. Last, but not least...there is a bird of prey taken at Pow Wow back in my early days of going there.

This bird of prey flew up the path, right at us and low down! Zoom! I am not sure what it's plan was, but this has never happened before. How would you feel? I felt a bit like possible prey myself! ha.

What is a truly authentic expression of your inner self?

May you use your precious materials

May you use art to stretch your thinking

May you also work within particular boundaries

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2025 

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