When the fortune from my cookie read "Traveling to the south will bring unexpected happiness," I couldn't resist arranging a solo trip to San Miguel de Allende, MX. For the past two years or more, I've been contemplating a new project. I've not known whether it was a book I would write, or some other art-related endeavor; in fact, most days I would write in my journal about the utter frustration of my not-knowing. I decided, then, to use the 3 weeks of my Mexico time to encourage the new undertaking to reveal itself. I wouldn't take my oil painting gear; I'd only take my laptop and ... my expectation of unexpected happiness.
I arrived on a Friday evening. The shuttle driver who brought me from the airport unloaded my stuff on the street outside my rental, but the property manager wasn't there as promised. Once I located the manager's name, Saul, the driver, took things in hand. It turned out he knew Luis and had his number in his cell. A confusion with missing keys, apparently, and within an hour I was inside. But I'd already tasted the kindness I find so prevalent in Mexico. How would it have been if Saul had just left me to my own devices? Was this my unexpected happiness? I wondered.
The next evening, as it was getting dark, I locked myself out of mi casa. Apparently, I'd left the key in the inside lock, making it impossible to open from the outside. I felt silly, though in my defense, I was not familiar with that sort of lock. Again, amused neighbors allowed the manager access to a rooftop terrace where he was able to do some acrobatics to gain entry. More unexpected happiness? Or, simply more kindness?
By the time Monday rolled around, I was determined to open my laptop and write something. So, unsure where to begin, I did. I started writing a narrative about how an idea for an art installation project had come to me in February of this year when I spent a week in Atlanta. The idea had been gestating for months. I knew it had something to do with my most recent large bird paintings making themselves useful to humans who were struggling with The World We Live In: A sanctuary where humans could seek relief and inspiration from the birds, those intuitive messengers of hope and healing that had flown onto my canvas after the November, 2016 election. When I thought of what to call it, "Birds Fly In: A Human Refuge" came to mind.
When I had initially described my vision to a good friend, she had suggested that my human refuge could use a soundtrack of birdsong. I loved the idea of adding sound, actual birds and, perhaps, music inspired by birds. But, not being a musician, I couldn't do it myself. I had done some collaborating with the Manitou Winds; however, with their first album on the horizon, it seemed they were on a different flight path. So, while music was a nice idea, like so much of what I'd thought about this project, it was not clear what it could be. I wrote about all of this.
For some social connection, I reached out to one of the few people I knew in San Miguel. With shared connections in San Miguel and Atlanta, it felt like Carol and I were old friends (though we've hardly spend any time together). Carol introduced me to several other Atlanta-based acquaintances, including one who, as it turns out, is friends with a couple of my Frankfort friends who live in Marietta, my old home town! Carol also took me to a wonderful yoga class in the lovely Hotel Aldea, an historic former convent. Attending class every other day, I established a routine for my days in San Miguel. Then, I'd come home to write in the afternoon and, in the evenings, go out to find some good music. As I kept to this simple schedule, I kept meeting new people and sharing with them my ideas about the project. Perhaps this was the unexpected happiness I'd been awaiting ....
As the 28th anniversary of the opening of the small church I'd pioneered in Atlanta, I realized I was now speaking about the bird project in much the same way as I had about Unity-Midtown in the days before it was formed. Back in 1990, I'd had a dream about the possibility for a new kind of church for the 21st Century. I began researching the topic and talking to folks about my ideas and, very soon, I was on course to start a church. (You can read about that 10-year creative adventure in my first book Where Two or More Are Gathered: A New Church for the 21st Century.) How odd, it seemed, that I was having this new conversation with folks from Atlanta too! And, that in the same way, a vague project idea was rapidly forming itself into an actual Project.
I'm not going to spill all the beans about the Project in this blog, but I will say I do believe the "unexpected happiness" of traveling to the south was finally revealed when I made contact with David Mendoza, the soulful musician I'd met last April in San Miguel. (See the blog post "Stalking the Muse in San Miguel de Allende.") Having heard him on this trip play violin in a couple of different situations, I woke up one morning realized it was David's music I wanted as the soundtrack for "Birds Fly In."
I sent him an email that outlined what I knew so far about the Project—that, at least in part, it had to do themes related to unlocking the migration issues at the Mexican/US border; and how birds as metaphors (and paintings) might intuitively lead everyone affected to transcend fear-based division and lead us to freedom. I had no idea if he would consider my request to collaborate. But, after he agreed to meet, I realized he was clearly on board with what he called "the beautiful idea." Having first encountered David through his music, I already knew of his capacity for the deeper soul expressions I sensed the Project soundtrack wants; then, in conversation (with the aid of Google Translate), I was more than pleased to realize we are also kindred artist-spirits, crazy to work at our art, drawn together to collaborate on many levels at once.
Now that I'm back in northern Michigan, the Project continues to unfold. David is already hard at work composing and other people keep turning up to support and encourage. Needless to say, the Project's mission—the spiritual healing of political issues the world so longs for—is HUGE. I expect exploring it will bring about a lot more unexpected happiness for me and, I hope, for others.
Please stay tuned! There's an illustrated book/catalog in the works, as well as a CD album with original compositions by David Mendoza. Then there will be the actual art installation coming, I hope, to a venue near you! Next time I blog, I'll tell you more around the installation and other aspects of the Project. And, I'll look forward to your comments and further inspiration! If you'd like to help, I'd love to know.
In gratitude for your love and support!
Ellie
P.S. There are going to be expenses to bring the Project to life. I'm funding the initial investment in creating and producing the music CD, and inviting others to supplement by offering hand-painted colorful bird paintings (6" x 8," gouache/paper, unframed, $125; or 4" x 6," $75). Check out my new website collection here and perhaps you'd consider collecting one of each color for the cause of "Birds Fly In." Or, give them as a gift! Or, just get one for that spot that needs a pop of color!
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