yesterday, today, and tomorrow
(before I lost the ability to do that walk)
last winter and spring I was making a piece about the importance for me of my daily walk on our country road
every day that I did that walk, I placed a square of white cloth into a basket
it grows along the beach and we consider it a weed
it smells so beautiful
it is as tall as me
the smell increases as the plant dries
it connects high-low, human-earth
it connects what we understand and what we don't
for ourselves and for others
it gave me time and solitude
I didn't go anywhere for two months except to hospital or dr. appointment
I stayed on one level
I started going up and down (just 5) stairs on July 20, seven weeks after I broke that left leg
I stepped backwards into more space and less worry
it is to acknowledge that presence of death in life.
not a binary opposite but
enfolded at its very centre. penina barnett
they close us down
art opens us up again
we need art as much as we need food and shelter
about loss
about my body
about healing
bundled, wrapped, bandaged
step step step
