Seeking Collaboration - Grief Stories
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Hello Beautiful Lights!
The photo below was taking last year before COVID hit. I was facilitating my first International Retreat in Guatemala. I was in awe of the magic that unfolded for myself as a facilitator and for the beautiful women who joined me!
I returned home full of excitement and empowerment – I started planning my creative offerings for the year and pouring my soul into my vision for my next International retreat.
The WorLD, however, had a different plan for me.
It was like the last 15 years of my life was this game of Snakes & Ladders. It had been a journey of ups and downs with lots of hard work, putting one step in front of the other.
I was at the top of my game plan. Courage and Curiosity was abundant and I was excited about the direction my Art Career was heading.
2020 was going to be my Year!
I arrived home to find out the World was shutting down and I was no longer in control of how I operated my Art Business.
It was like I had landed on #98 of the Snakes & Ladders game and slid all the way back down to #13 – The Beginning.
My spirit was crushed. I felt paralyzed with the unknown and the wind in my sail left me. I was alone starring at the bottom once again.
Last year was the most challenging year I have ever experienced financially & emotionally as an artist/entrepreneur.
Someone flipped a switch on my plans and I had no control over these decisions. Grief was showing up on many levels.
I was grieving the loss of the year I thought I was going to have. I was grieving for the person that I was becoming and the person that was denied the experience of reaping the benefits of my years of hard work.
I was grieving the loss for our WorLD and our Community.
So much grief. So so much.
Susan Seitz 2021 Collection
Up Close & Personal | A healing journey through grief
This year, I am opening up to exploring a personal healing journey through the arts.
As strange as this might sound, I am so over the moon about what this journey will mean to me and to my community, exploring this subject in a very intimate personal creative way.
Grief can be a heavy subject. And I also believe it can be this time in space where we can feel deeply and honour those parts. And if it is meant to be – find peace & beautiful healing gems within that space.
I have been gathering reference photos of nature and I am being moved by this subject. I am feeling excited and can’t wait to see what I discover along the way.
I will begin painting very soon!
I also have been encouraged by my creative process, to invite my community to share, if they will, a little piece of their grief story / journey.
I NEED YOUR HELP!
♡
SEEKING COLLABORATION
Here is how it will work. You write your story – it can be a poem, a short story, a collection of words or a journal page. It could be what ever it is you want to share with me in private. It can be a little something you are compelled to share. It doesn’t have to have details, but it can. Just close your eyes – reach inside … and ask yourself what would you like to share about this grief journey you are on. What losses have impacted your life? Have you found a glimmer of hope along the way? Ask yourself these questions, and then write. There is no right way or wrong way to do this. Just share in private, a piece of your story to me.
Letters of Your Grief Journey
Due Date: March 10th 2021
Private Email: artist.susanseitz@gmail.com
Subject: My Grief Story
When I have received all the letters. I will print them off – they will be kept private and dear to my heart. I will read each and every one of them. I will sit with your words and witness your breath sharing intimately what it is you would want me to witness. I will then create a ceremony and burn the pages and give gratitude to their voices.
And then … I will paint … I will invite these voices to come together in what ever way I feel moved to share on the canvas. No expectation – Just love.
I haven’t decided how I will document this experience, but I will let you know as I process this idea.
This Collaborative Piece (using the energy from your Stories transformed into an original piece of Art), will be in my Solo Art Show for sale, May 2021.
As well, there may be a few stories that I would like to honour and gift that story its very own canvas. The grief story will inform what appears on the canvas. These individual paintings will also be included in my Solo Art Show for sale. I will ask permission ahead of time, if you are comfortable with me painting a healing journey onto canvas – an intuitive painting to reflect me witnessing your grief story.
I will share privately with you my process and it will be revealed to you before it goes to the Art Show. You will be given first offering to purchase the original painting – you are, however, under no obligation to purchase. The paintings will be inspiring – reflecting hope & peace for all those grieving.
I invite all grief stories – loss of a parent, child, sibling – loss of a pet – environmental grief, loss of identity, divorce & break ups – loss of an unlived life – gender dysphoria – disability – loss of a job, loss of your home, to name a few.
THE DEADLINE IN RECEIVING YOUR GRIEF STORY IS MARCH 10TH
If this speaks to you in any way or have other questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Having someone witness my journey is healing for me. I hope you might find some small way to experience the same.
Thank you for your courage, your rawness and your vulnerability.
I see you.
You have my whole heart,
Susan ♡
Send me a love note! Would love to hear from you xo
A poem I wrote inspired by my 2020 Collection | December Painting – “Believe” Enjoy!
Get to know me a little more … an interview about my process. Enjoy!