That is Awesome! Indian Rock Eucalyptus Tree Shrine

Stream of consciousness..

Today is my Birthday and of course I had to take a mental health day off from work! Lately I have been really inspired to create tree shrines again. This one was a marker or a rite of passage for my birthday/rebirth, as well as an offering to this sacred place called Indian Rock in Berkeley.

Over the last couple months I have been walking to the Rock at least three times a week to meditate and heal. Today I thought I would pay homage to this amazing place with some ART.

When I arrived to the rock there was three people on it. I was feeling a little timid as I do not like to create my tree shrines in the public view. I love people to discover them, but I hate being watched while I create them.So I decided to walk around the rock and try find a place to create a shrine in solitude. As I was looking around I was fascinated by the little caves that exist at the bottom of the rock. It gave the sense of being at the Temple of the Moon in Peru, which was so mystical and amazing!! I have been to Peru twice and I love it!!
The little caves is were I decided to create my internal shrine. At first it was just going to be a rock shrine and then when I was walking around I discovered this Eucalyptus tree seed that was blooming like a mandala. It was fantastic. I placed the seed in the center of my eco-art and it was activated into a tree shrine. As I spent time with there, documenting the shrine I felt very connected to the internal mother Earth. Much like how I felt while I sat within the Temple of the Moon cave at the base of Huayna Picchu.

After photo documenting my Eco-Art I decided to take the seed with me and to ascend up the rock, where I began to create another shrine.







As I was photography my work, I was startled by this young rock climber. He glided by me and he seemed to just appeared from no where. He sat a short distance away from me in meditation for awhile. The rock is really a destination for a lot of folks. At all times of the day you can find people just hanging out. In groups or many times alone.



Then two young girls climbed up the rock. They were really being silly and taking goofy pictures of themselves on the rock. I decided to leave.



As I was descending the rock the girls discovered my shrine. And they exclaimed wow this is awesome! wow that is awesome!
AWESOME!! and they started taking photo's of it. I smiled within! That is what I want this art to do.

To evoke reverence for nature!

#5 Collecting Random Interactions with the other Series

"happiness is not all, people have a responsibility."
幸福不是一切，人還有責任 translation, A comment left on my Blog from someone in China.




"Can you please take our picture with us and Gwen, the old Dog." two old men having coffee with an old dog in the lake merrit area. It is always such a surprise when folks ask me something on the street.
they thanked me and I had to run....


Time Pics of Pollen Tree Shrine,five days after with my cat Paulo.

So Be It! We all Should Really Love Pollen.

3/26/10
Stream of consciousness...
Today on my walking meditation to the "rock" and the "rose garden" I had an amazing revelation. Over the past couple months, this walk is were I have been gathering my quotes from strangers in my collecting random interactions series. Today was a little different. As I climbed to the top of the rock, the trees that surround this area really grabbed my attention. It seemed like they were whispering to me. It was a transcendent experience.

This is what came into my thoughts-- As I am really focusing on my personal healing of my negative habits, thought patterns, anxiety, fear, and unrealised trauma....

Through my personal journey of self acceptance--of procuring my inner value--
I will be able to maximize my potential as a human being. Through my own self acceptance/inner value I will be able to SERVE the world more and to reach higher realms of consciousness. This will give me the energy and radiance to change this physical realm--to help heal and save Mama Earth and the animals. And to stop Abuse of all kinds. In this I will reach my potential--opening up unlimited reservoirs of abundance and well being. To myself and the universe. This journey will be told through my cat character Kitty Bliss*
Today I know that Self acceptance/ Inner value is the ultimate form of ART!


What a productive day! Also, today as I walked out my door I was so inspired by the light and the abundance of the beautiful green/yellow tree pollen on the ground. Which most people hate because it causes allergies. What is tree pollen? It is the male cell of a plant needed for fertilization of the female cell and production of new trees. This cell is encapsulated by a very tough membrane to help insure that it will reach its target in tact. It is generally 2 to 100 microns in size making it quite a bit smaller than the head of a pin. Produced in staggering amounts a spoonful can include hundreds if not thousands of grains. Pollen is like the paint,which the artist uses to create a new canvas! It is the elemental in the continuation of life on this planet!
I with a sense of fever created this tree shrine in my garden. Crazy I am---reverence to the trees and pollen.

I love it! This the documentation makes me really reflect.It almost feels like the tree shrine was a marker of my experience. Which I think all of my art is.

This is what I learned Today I know that Self acceptance/ Inner value is the ultimate form of ART! I might forget this tomorrow,but today I knew it!

Entry #4: collecting random interactions

"You lead a charmed life."

As I backed up clumsily in CVS pharmacy into a display of wind chimes.
Old Hippie, CVS Pharmacy, Berkeley, CA

Entry 3# Random Relationships!

Part of my collecting series.



"When you get old you cannot become a sissy."

Sweet elder
Walkshop Berkeley, 3/20/10





The pictures are of Dusty Dog. My landlords elderly dog (I think she was over 14 years old when I met her) she hung out with me every day and night until she passed on. We were definitely mates. Our relationship latest from 2003-2009. Miss her! I have always had such strong relationships with non humans. Above the quote is from a lady, who has frequented the Walkshop were I shelp shoes. She is so sweet and for me her energy has brought up the nostalgia of my relationship with Dusty. Tears have become to flow as I reflect on Dusty. The troubling part was as Dusty aged she was becoming paralyzed and I would find her in this decayed state in the garden and many times I would craddle her and bring her up to my landlords place. Decay is sad thing....







Growing old is not for sissy's! It really takes a great deal of courage and acceptance.

Trying to Make this Happen

This post is stream consciousness:
Today I took my art out of Color Graphics. About ten paintings had been at this lovely corporation for two years and the employees loved them, but nothing was selling. On an energetic level this relationship was really one sided. I do love that I improved the aesthetics in the office, but honestly I have gained nothing from it, except another line on my resume. So today I decided to retrieve and cut the ties. As my car needs repair, the window on the passenger side has been shattered for a year and most recently the engine light is on cannot fix it. I can hardly afford my bills on weekly basis. My monetary life seems to be oppressing my creative one. This is what I need to amend.

Also, as a human one of failings is to be walked upon or to promote others but never myself. I need to be equal to what I do for others. I remember as a tennis super star saying sorry for acing my opponent?? This is what I need to shift. I am Ok your Ok stuff...
Hence the Facebook fanpage, which feels weird. Right know it is not helping my psychological agenda because I only eight fans. Pretty dire,but kudos for me doing it.

I also thought I had a art rep but that is not really panning out. So I feeling I need to make things happen. Today I put my work on an Internet gallery site "click here" to check out. We shall see what happens. I have turned up the heat! I will search for more opportunities to share my work and to sell my work. I really need to clear my old work out so I can began a new. I really want to sell this work, but eventually I might have to give it away. I do not want to burn it like so many overly dramatic artists have.

All I really know is my Art will always be with me and it is the only thing I can ever take with me. It is the gift I can share and that is what I teach. Also at a core level I feel ART is how I will reach my greatest potential as a human being.
I am trying to make this happen--- art is life and life is art and I want to radiate my brilliance 2010 is the year!!

"1000 Hearts and Hands" Project

I began this project to create a homage to creativity and to reveal how art has the ability to transcend all boundaries.When I arrived at Lincoln in 2006 the art room was totally vacant and through my vision I pioneered a very successful transformative art program at Lincoln Child Center in Oakland. We have had exhibitions around the Bay Area were our students sell their Art work which is extremely therapeutic.

In 2009 the Hearts and Hands project manifested as an awareness community art reach tool for the high risk children that I teach.Many folks do not realize these marginilized children exist.Also, this project was a fundraiser for art supplies, which we desperately always need.

This art project was very simple, each 6"x9" card would either have an image of a heart or a hand or both. Using any type of medium. I first started with the children and the front line staff at LCC. Then the word got out and creativity spread around campus and everyone was making hearts and hands. The administrators were loving it. This truly was transformative art process and project. Also, 1000 Hearts and Hands is beautiful demonstration of the essence of collaboration.

Folks loved this exhibition and I wanted to share with you a witness's story. Read below--Thank you Melissa for expressing your subjective experience.
Lisa Rasmussen M.F.A.


Lincoln’s Hearts and Hands

Walking into Lamyx Tea Bar, I was struck with the calm and soothing atmosphere it provides. My eyes can’t help but be drawn to the array of wonderful colors alongside me as I continue to the counter. This great display of Lincoln Child Center’s Hearts and Hands exhibit. Glancing at each unique piece of artwork covering the wall in what seems to be 1,000 hearts and hands. Each one conveying the individualism of its creator- each piece, each person, each story. It is quite a whimsical presentation, flowing along with all of its vibrancy and expressiveness. Thoughts of happiness, love, loss, and hope consume me into the stories behind each and every one. Among flowers, brightness, darkness, brokenness, and mystery, I see an overall connectedness. It is as if these are all driven by the same passion to convey this masterwork’s message as a whole, reaching out to its viewers.

As I drink my green tea while listening to the play list consisting of worldly allure, I can see all of these hearts and hands come together with all of their diversity and almost suggesting to me that all it takes is anyone’s loving hearts and hands to make a difference in a child’s life. Each one of the hearts that are up remind me of the soul and emotion that went into this presentation, while each hand I see reminds me of the very real people who created it. Each with their own views, hopes, and dreams. In essence, Lincoln Child Center is lending not only its hands but also its hearts to reach out and embrace those other hearts and hands within the community.
The barren spaces on the wall reflect those who have taken notice of the love and common theme of peace. Contributing themselves to the cause taking a piece of art into their home and into their hearts and hands, offering endurance for a brighter day. The artwork provides a very strong declaration, as the children and staff of Lincoln Child Center imply in this masterpiece. They are the kids you do not see or hear, but they refuse to remain in the shadows. The cause is very real and every vulnerable child is worthy of basking in the same light as others. Lincoln Child Center is offering its hearts and hands to you, in hopes for you to do the same.

Melissa Domann
May 27, 2009