Observing ourselves and others

The creative journal team of Merci Dulawan Javier, Baboo Mondoñedo, myself and hopefully Jenny Cariño, too, is preparing for our second workshop, when it will be, the winds will tell us. Fore sure it will be a sisterhood (all-women) venture/adventure. It comes after the productive first leg, "Journey to Self: A Creative Journal Workshop," conducted with some help from the Baguio Writers Group, in November last year.

I'm re-posting some photos taken by our secretariat head Sacha Weygan who documented a workshop that combined explorations in art and writing. The activities were geared towards a greater understanding of the self, issues in life, work and personal relationships.

I can't wait for the next workshop to happen. Meanwhile, patience and study. Thank you, newly wed Sacha, for these memories.

I had to post these after reading a paragraph from the book An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris by Stephanie LaCava (Harper Perennial Edition, 2013).

She wrote in this collection of illustrated essays: "...challenge sadness with words and a belief that what you experience isn't what is simply handed to you. Maturity means allowing for change and ephemeral feelings. It took a study of objects for me to see that if we are patient and gentle in observing ourselves and others, we will find connection. This has been the greatest comfort of all."

Baboo shares how her writing and art journey has healed her and altered her view of the world.

Merci narrates how painting eventually got incorporated in her life of writing, teaching and translation work while junior facilitator Jenny listens.

Full circle for blogger: from doodles and cray pas drawings in grade and high school to lingering in journalism and the world of words, then onward to a second BA in fine arts

Jenny on growing up in the Aguilar-Cariño household where art, music and writing were everyday activities

Grandmother Roxanne dela Cuesta and grand-daughter Natalya Tantuico work on their respective watercolors.

Journalist Avie Olarte in deep concentration

Baguio's Tita Auring (Bautista) at work and looking like she's having fun.

Al Vicente, retired ambassador, realizes that yes, he can!

Ichay Bulaong turns her scarf or paper round and round as she creates texture with oil pastel, a dry media technique known as frottage.

Ka Willie Villarama creates whirls.

Miyen Versoza moves to her second or third painting.

Watercolors laid out to dry