So many ways I have seen you,
So many ways I have hoped to understand you,
So many ways I have longed to end your worries.
You’re holding on to many things…
So much pain, So much hurt, so little joy.
‘ your bleeding heart can mend’
But you have to let go of all that weighs you down
and be lifted up.
Being fragile in a world of no real love pre-empts decisions
That gives rise to mistakes.
So let it go and be lifted up!

Ilu-Ilu.

Hi people, its been too long, but hey I’m back ( don’t know how long for) with a bang, I hope growing, changing maturing in life’s challenges moving from black and white to understanding shades of gray or at least acknowledging there are shades.

I will be doing a series of issues that I have a passion for but have talking about on this blog, but feel its time to now. As always the purpose is to bring to the light what is in the dark, for that is the only way deliverance can first start. When you know that what ever issue you have is not new and many others have or are going through the same thing reduces the intensity of the challenge.

In this series we’ll all reason together for I don’t claim to have the answers but when we talk, share together in truth and a clear honest and open mind keeping it real all the way, we learn.

Reality 1:

After  nearly 20yrs of marriage Linda walked out, this is a lady we all looked at her marriage and family and marveled. Her beautiful children her husband who always had nothing but praise for his wife, so understandably we were shocked and sad about it.

Some said she should not have given up and that divorce was the easy option, some sad there is nothing that God could not do so why break the home, some said she was selfish and that it would miss up the kids, some said what ever it was;could she not bear it and wait till the children where older?… and many more was said to her and around her. For sometime Linda was not seen by all for a while, but come this faithful summer afternoon in walked Linda on her “ladies that lunch” meeting visibly upset with a teary eyes yet clam. As she walked in and stood before the ladies and said “when is enough, enough! I was faithful and devoted for all the years I was married, supported my husband in his dreams, counted pennies with him, did not put pressure on him was not demanding. I was not perfect but was willing to grow together in love. I stayed at home and raised our children and manage the home, all by choice, to give the very best of me, that was my contribution to the stability of our home. I cooked and cleaned for him, out of love not duty but as an expression of my love for him. What you all did not know was how I had to survive for years with a man that phonghapy was his other love, do you know how that could affect ones self esteem as a wife and have no one to talk to about it, cos of the shame and embarrassment attached to it and even a sense of protecting him and the family, not wanting to talk about our problems and keep the façade of a perfect family and always hoping that things will change and get better someday.

Do you know how many fights we had cos I asked him to stop, all he would say is” it was just pictures that is means nothing” but I knew once he started looking that thisl the next thing would be to act on it…Do know how a woman feels when she knows and have even walked in on him looking at  naked women having sex, does that not count as adultery of the mind I ask you?

That not enough, his drinking when his stressed and then the physical abuse… do you know what it feels like for the man that says he loves you one minute to be hitting on you the next do you know how demoralizing that could be? …and for this to be happening for years…When I think of it I should have left the first day he slapped me for no good reason. Remember my daughters first birthday when I had the black eye and I told you all I fell…. Well now you know it was no fall.

When is enough, enough? When his sleeping around with not one, two or more different women…is it till I am infected with HIV then I could be released for this contract? Is the contract not broken the minute he had slept with another that was not his wife?  To top this I got no support for my dreams like how I had stood by his. My dreams were nothing but “little hobbies” to keep me occupied not a career that required time and energy to concentrate and develop, he did not but expected a housewife for ever (which was for a season)

When is enough, enough? After he had fathered a child outside of our marriage(and that’s the one I got to find out, what about the ones I don’t know or would never know)… I had had enough my ladies; to you I should pray and ask God for help… I did and still do, but first I need to accept and identify what was wrong and break out of a mind of denial, shame and hopelessness, I am fighting now for my mind and sanity … I am sure we had many a good time, but now I can not remember I can not let depression step in to my life anymore for years I have battled with that, to the point when death started looking attractive, No more! My life is worth more than his wife or their mother, there is more to me and you may choose to call me selfish, maybe its time to think about myself… just maybe.

As she carefully wiped her eyes, picked up her bag and calmly walked out of the restaurant with a stride I had never seen her in before, some would call it a swagger.

…so when is enough, enough?

Keeping it real, let the conversation begin.

Rustic Freshness [Artist Statement]

Toyin Omolowo]

 Is a contemporary life style art exhibition that does not represent a subject external to itself. It isn’t a picture of something. It is rather, an expression of elements of design; colour, balance, rhythm, harmony, texture, composition etc. suitable for modern day interior.
 
The technical materials displayed would have served the viewers in another purpose, but the aesthetics value should be considered as a form of visual expression that has the potential of holding the beacon for artistic vibrancy. The works should be seen as a subconscious experience demonstrated in exemplary experiments which are to be interpreted, not only as art, but as an invariable within human existence.
 
I wish you a happy, exciting and fulfilling viewing.
 
 
toyinOMOLOWO 
  
 

 

 Alimi Adewale
 
Rustic Freshness [Artist Statement] 
 

Minimalist art is characterized by its simplicity in both form and content, where personal expression is removed in order to achieve this. The intention of minimalist artists is to allow the audience to view a composition more intensely because the distractions of theme etc. have been removed. Aesthetically, Minimal art offers a highly purified form of beauty. It can also be seen as representing such qualities as truth (because it does not pretend to be anything other than what it is), order, simplicity, harmony. 
 

Rustic Freshness a group exhibition was the first in a series of body of work conceptually based on the metaphysical aspects of “Less is More”. I attempted to explore different associations with the elements pertaining to impact of sublime colours on the mind and space. After years of painting and experimenting with various style I have recently stepped into that nether world, where visual reality starts to recede and some “other” inner reality begins to make itself known. For me, at this threshold level, I have realized the strength and ambience of minimal colours in its purest form. 
 

It is a great pleasure to be featured in Artistic License an innovative art gallery that is ahead of the curve and championing the works of contemporary artists in Nigeria. Artistic License explores and records the fluid transformations of artistic practices as they are shaped by social forces. This Contemporary Art Gallery fosters conversation, connection and new understandings of collective meanings and values.  

Please do enjoy these works and I know they will leave a lasting impression on your mind. 

Kind regards

Alimi Adewale

“We fall down, but we get up, for a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up!”-Donnie Mcclurkin.

Getting up, may sound so easy….Moving forward even harder. Baggage’s of past( and sometimes present) pains and hurts hard to of load, unforgiveness, bitterness, self condemnation can be more debilitating than drug abuse or any sought addictions. You are a walking dead, smiling, moving, oh! So busy performing tasks even delivering them very well too…but dead! Without feelings, void of empathy, compassion and totally consumed with self. But you have a CHOICE!

All is required we do is know God loves us more than you could ever imagine or anyone could tell you. Make our confession to HIM is all He asks of us, for He is the only Restorer of souls, Healer, Comforter and the only One that forgives without condemnation.

Make a choice to LIVE, move on, move forward and join the land of the living…

JESUS is sure alive!!!

What you call me, that I am not!

for I know who I am, whose I am and what HE says I am… Beautifully and wonderfully made, crafted and fashioned!

My heart is pure and so are my intentions( can that be said of yours) …yes, I don’t always do the right things, but renewed I am and in Him stand, void of condemnation.

Everyone well dressed and perfectly made up with plastic smiles looking like it’s all under control,

but within hurting, doubting, insecure and in turmoil…Why ?!

‘cos some have chosen to live a lie and not be real to themselves first.

Life is for living…and as one said “Life is what happens when your making plans”

So live the life…

Know yourself…

Be true to yourself…

Love others the way you would be loved and

LIVE!

“Icons @ Artistic Licence AL 

Watch out for…

1.     The Blamer: This is a person who consistently blames you/or everyone else for their problems. The world and the people in it always seem to create havoc for this person. And instead of taking responsibility for their life, would rather blame others.

2.     The Complainer: This person likes to hear his/her own voice. They consistently complain about what isn’t working in their life and yet get energy from complaining and dumping their frustrations on you.

3.     The Drainer (just run…lol): This is the needy person who calls to ask for your advice, guidance, support, information, advice or what ever they to feel better in that moment (which is not a real problem)…but because of their neediness, the conversation often, if not always revolves around them and you can almost feel the life being sucked out of you during their conversations.

4.     The Shamer (run several miles…lol ):This person can be hazardous to your health. The shamer may cut you off, put you down, reprimand you, or make fun of you or your ideas in front  of others, often ignores your boundaries and may try and convince you that their criticism is for your own good. The shamer is the kind of person who makes you question your own sanity before them. (Did I say runnnnnnn!!)

5.     The Discounter: This is the person who discounts or challenges everything you say. Often has a strong need to be right and can not find fault with any position they may be standing at that point in time. It can be exhausting to have a conversation with the discounter, so eventually you end up giving in and deciding to just listen.

6.     The Gossip (don’t just give this one the time of day): This person avoids intimacy by talking about others behind their backs. The gossip gets energy from relaying stories, opinions and latest “scoop” by gossiping about others. They create a lack of safety in there relationships, whether they realize it or not. After all if the gossip talks about someone else they will talk about you!

Source: Cheryl Richardson, Author “Take time for your life”

*Sharon’s contribution – The Fire Extinguisher – these ones just keep raining on all your dreams and passions till you’re as washed out as they are.

Feel free to add to this list, would be encouraging to see what we all come up with.

                     Birds of the same feather flock together…

That was one of the sayings my mum loved to quote to warn us as children about bad friendships, another is from the Bible telling us not to be unequally yoked (bridled together) this is mostly used to warn Believers about associating or marrying an unbelievers (one who did not accpect  Jesus as Lord and saviour) 

 I think it can be used among believers too,simply saying be careful who you hang with believer or unbeliever…anyway I digress

We grow not just physically, intellectually and mentally, but hopefully with wisdom and discernment too. I say discernment cos the older we get, the margin for error are reduced and so careless mistakes should be avoided at all cost, for the damage could be one that may never be replaced or fixed.

Moving from one level to another in life in what ever area, be it in family relationship, work, education or career would be determined by our association…Who you mix with, Who you are listening to and spending time with, whether you like it or believe it will effect how well or bad you grow…What you think, How you think and What you do.

There is a time for everything, I personally feel I’m in my time for doing …stepping out and actualizing all the learning and preparation, so my associations are very important and am very protective of what am hearing, seeing and doing. I must be with people I can learn from, stable (mentally and emotionally), mature, positive and goal driven.

I guess I would like to live the rest of my life full, fun and purposeful with as little drama as possible…not much to ask now is it?

Identify the birds you flock with … How inspiring are they? What is their added value in your life?  Are you the one always pouring out and never receiving?

AL, fresh thinking and creative, AL has a way of getting you to question and examine issues that shape our thought process…logic, lifestyle, culture and society.

AL is inspirational, alternative, clean or as some would say…ultra minimal (I like that one J ) 

To get to know more about AL you would have to be ready to “take the road less travelled” …and come step into the white box.

AL: ARTISTIC LICENSE   

Contemporary Art Gallery

@230, Muri Okunola st,

Victoria Island, Lagos,

 Nigeria.

Exhibition On at the moment…

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED.

Artist: Alex Nwokolo

Date   : Sunday 27^th April- 18^th May 2008

BELIEVE.

To Believe! To be Brave!

Take Courage! Take the Chance!

Make the Leap! Make it Happen!

Don’t Give Up! Don’t Give up on You!

Keep the dream alive! Keep the Faith!

Dream! Dream!! Dream Big!!!

Never Give Up!