Thursday, October 10, 2013

BLOGTOBERFEST13 (Day 10) Emerging from the "Egg Cave," a parable

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER WOMAN.  Collaborations can be fun, especially if you are collaborating with Jen Hilburn, who likes to tell entertaining stories that make you laugh and learn. I felt obliged to return the favor and create an image of Jen as the American oystercatcher woman. The form of this woman was inspired by a painting I saw exhibited online many years ago of women's work in India. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
Hallelujah for collaboration! Hallelujah for the story telling talents of one Jen Hilburn, ornithologist on St. Catherines Island, Georgia! 

Today, Thursday, was our day to meet up with one another, exchange "hello's," and relate to one another what we were thinking and feeling about our journey into telling the story of the American oystercatcher's life-cycle in words and images. Remember, I am in Atlanta, and she is on an island on the Georgia coast. So we either skype or phone one another.

The fall weather today was awesome--blue skies and the sun was toasty warm, so I took my phone outside and wandered the terrain of my condo complex while Jen engaged me in a story of what I have named "The Parable of the Egg Cave." 

Now, I know you would like to hear Jen's story, but that is hers to tell and, perhaps, the world may never hear it because it just happens to be the way Jen and I are communicating--through stories!
EMERGING FROM THE EGG CAVE. Here, I imagine Jen emerging from the Egg Cave. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
In the course of our collaboration, I will ask a question, and Jen will pause to think about how best to explain it to me in a way that is fun, imaginative, and in narrative form. In the particular case of Jen's creation of  "The Parable of the Egg Cave," she was answering my query about what it's like for a newly hatched chick.

Well for characters in this parable, she used herself, Jen, and me, Hallelujah. That's all I am going to reveal. The art I want to show you for this tenth day of October are imagined images of Jen as an oystercatcher woman. I'm working on other images that aren't ready to be blogged about, but I promise you will see them another day.

On the agenda, for the upcoming days is the hatching and the fledging of the American oystercatcher, so stay tuned for these ongoing images! 

WHAT'S IT LIKE? How do you think you would feel if you had been inside the EGG CAVE for a long time? Maybe you had been drinking some elixir, and you certainly had been cramped and your muscles are stiff and wobbly. What would you want to do when you first left the cave? (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
That's Coffee With Hallelujah! Soul Blog with me and tell me what you think of these images. Better yet, tell me what you think of when you hear the title, "The Parable of the Egg Cave." I'm sure your imaginations can take you in a dozen different directions!

4 comments:

  1. I like this image of Jen as an oystercatcher woman living in an egg cave. CAn't wait to read the continuing saga of the Oystercatcher.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Darlene! I think what I find fascinating about working with Jen is that our conversations surrounding the American oystercatcher are so dynamic and surprising. We never know where we are going when we begin our discussions. I have questions and Jen has a way weaving in stories....where do they come from?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I too am enjoying this Oystercatcher ride as you unfold Jen's story in pictures and words.

    ReplyDelete
  4. LOVE your artwork as usual! I think it's delightful how the story is unfolding!

    ReplyDelete