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The Story We Are Living is a literary artwork consisting of thirteen bi-monthly folios published over twenty-six months.
To honor the featured cover artists, 5% of the net income from the sale of the folios will be donated in equal portions to Meridian University Social Artistry program, Allied Arts of Whatcom County, Whatcom Community College Community Continuing Education arts program, and Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies printmaking and visual art program.
Please support this work with your subscription.
Subscriptions include access to the audio and pdf editions, thirteen folios in three years from March 2021 through December 2023. The subscription levels allow you to decide how much you wish to contribute. Subscribers receive notifications when each new folio is published.
For discussion groups, the pdf edition can be downloaded for $15 and distributed to your group.
The Limited Print Edition
Copies of the limited print edition (8 ½” x 11,” 24 to 32 pages, beautifully printed by Lithtex Northwest Printing Solutions) can be purchased through the following locations:
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- Allied Arts of Whatcom County, 1418 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, 360-676-8548
- Village Books, 1200 11th Bellingham, 360-671-2626
Folio #1: Seven Life-Threatening Situations
Imagines that Humanity is the protagonist in a story; the story has come to the climax; Humanity is facing seven dire life-threatening situations, in addition to the coronavirus.
Helen Scholtz is a photographer passionate about the details in nature. Her photographs invite others into her way of seeing the world with time suspended and with an intense curiosity and delight in subtle wonders often overlooked. The texture of wood worn smooth, boat hulls reflected upon the water that supports them and the play of light are among the subjects that continue to inspire her for over 25 years.
www.helenscholtzphotography.com
Folio #2: The Story Field
Explains how story field theory and the story medium can be utilized in resolving the life-threatening situations facing Humanity.
Julia Kerl, artist, art educator and retired art therapist, explores life through her art, focusing on both the interconnections within the world we see and our longing for that which we sense. A recipient of a Washington State Arts Commission/sculpture, her art has shown in numerous galleries/museums and is featured in the outdoor art collection of Bellingham, WA, where she currently lives.
Folio #3: Point of View
Introduces the narrator—a Depth Psychologist—who provides perspective and a vocabulary and framework for developing a secular understanding of God’s Plan.
John D’Onofrio is a photographer, writer, publisher, and multimedia artist living in the Pacific Northwest. His photography has been exhibited throughout the United States and published in numerous books, magazines, calendars and note cards. His film, Cascadia Dreams, a collaboration with Native American Flute Master Gary Stroutsos and photographer Lance Ekhart, was released on DVD in 2018. He lives in Bellingham, WA where he serves as publisher/editor of Adventures Northwest magazine.
Folio #4: The Narrative Arc
Traces the narrative arc of the story we are living from 10,000 BCE to the present; analyzes the 1st and 2nd plot points during the Axial Age (800 – 200 BCE) and mid-19th century; clarifies the protagonist’s goal; and brings the goal in sight.
Denise Kester has been a fulltime studio artist since 1989. She is the published author of Drawing on the Dream, Finding my way by art. She studied art and education at the University of Georgia. Denise Kester specializes in monoprint and monotype viscosity printing as well as multimedia, drawing, and painting. She teaches printmaking, bookmaking, surface design, collage, and block printing.
Folio #5
Folio #5: The Role of Conflict
Without conflict, a story would have no life. Explains the vital role of conflict in a story’s development; observes the current social and political opposition in the U.S. story field; and explains how this opposition serves to increase the narrative tension and heighten the suspense in the story we are living.
Laurie Potter creates vibrant representational paintings that portray her love of the natural world. Using close observation, imagination, and a passion for the natural world, she paints a variety of subjects in a manner that reflects her attention to color and detail within striking compositions. Laurie has received many awards for her work, and displays her art at galleries throughout Washington State, as well as in solo exhibits, and juried group shows nationwide.
Folio #6
Folio #6: Antagonistic Force
Analyzes Humanity’s shadow—the antagonistic force that seeks to thwart and defeat Humanity’s efforts to achieve the protagonist’s goal—and suggests how Humanity can vanquish the antagonist by integrating the shadow.
Lance Ekhart has been on a lifelong quest to see the world from a different perspective, fostering a strong personal understanding of shifting realities and the way the mind processes imagery. His nature photography focuses on scenes of raw patterns, contrast, colors, and textures that stimulate the mind in a deeper, subconscious way viscerally connecting us to the natural world around us.
Folio #7
Folio #7: The Central Theme
The central theme of the story we are living is Humanity’s soul journey to become conscious of what it means to be human. The evangelical community believes that we (parts of humanity) are created in the image of the Creator and our goal is to become one with the Creator. The Creator is Humanity’s self-image and our common identity. Achieving the goal requires the consciousness that we truly are one with the Creator.
Paddy Bruce, PNW art educator, designer and retired art therapist, sees the veins of her work flowing through the art of living and healing. Her illustrated book Milagros: A Book of Miracles, published by Harper S.F. explores divine intervention through the tiny silver Latin American charms. The Dignity Quilt Project, a hands on work developed with people with dementia, explores creativity and end of life passages. These veins of work converge to embrace and support life’s joys and challenges through creative expression.
Folio #8
Folio #8: The Protagonist’s Goal
Metaphors of music and artistic mastery offer insight into the process of becoming one with the Creator, reframing Christian concepts; including, connecting to Source (calling, the feeling of being moved), experiencing the union of heaven and earth when a work comes together, trusting the process (faith), and artistic creation in the timeless flow state (experiencing the End of Time, entering the State of Grace).
Douglas Banner—Under the tutelage of my grandfather, I learned the names of every tree, bird, and animal in the forested hills behind our farm in Eastern Tennessee. My New England fisherman uncles gave me an entirely new understanding of the natural world on the vast North Atlantic. Moving into the magnificence of the Pacific Northwest impacted the influence nature has on every fiber of my creative spirit. I spend as many hours as I can, observing all elements in the wild. I try to capture the spirit of nature in my art. The natural world possesses some illusive knowledge that, if I look long enough, if I am still long enough, it will share with me how to enter the flow state as one.
Folio #9
Folio #9: A Major Obstacle
Introduces the notion of a cultural complex—the Apocalypse Complex consists of a set of beliefs, ideas, images, and expectations that pre-condition the evangelical Christian response to the current world situation. To become one with the Creator and master the art of world creation, Humanity must let go of pre-conceived ideas, beliefs, and expectations that get in the way and preclude the union.
Julia Mira—I was born in Hollywood a long time ago. I remember jacaranda trees and wild parrots; the thick smell of eucalyptus and jasmine; torrential rains and choking smog; palms and carob trees crammed with songbirds. The Pacific Northwest has different constellations, a different smell and texture. Almost thirty years off the grid placed me squarely in the dirt and water, with the patterns and relationships to be found here. My art arises from that messy, fecund interleaving.
Folio #10
Distance
In the story field, distance refers to the teller’s ability to step back from a situation. Today, we (parts of humanity) are caught up in the drama of the story we are living. Instead of being responsive, we are reactive. To resolve the critical challenges facing Humanity, we need to step back from the situation. The story we are living provides a context for thinking about Humanity as a whole.
Tommy Gibson retired as Photography Department Chair at West Valley College. His background includes thirteen years as an industrial photographer. After returning to his Northwest roots, he has earned several national awards and his work has been on display in venues throughout Whatcom County. Tommy believes there is a photograph waiting to be taken in everything we encounter.
https://photoartbytommy.myportfolio.com
Folio #11
Thematic Context
The story we are living provides a thematic context for addressing and resolving the challenges of today’s world. From a Depth Psychology point of view, Humanity is going through a process known as the lifting of original repression or spiritual emergence. In dire cases of spiritual emergency, the best thing a therapist can offer is a context for understanding and trusting the process.
Trish Harding is best known for her seascapes inspired by her wild teen years living on Lummi Island, Washington. Her formal art training includes WWU & Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Trish owns & teaches at Trish Harding School of Art at Studio UFO in Bellingham. She also has been teaching Art over 20 years at Whatcom Community College, Creative Arts Community Portland Oregon for 14years, and countless workshops around the Pacific Northwest & the world.
Folio #12
The Reveal
The reveal is the surprise or twist near the end of a story which changes the meaning. The reveal in the story we are living is set to occur in two stages—1st is the conscious realization that we are one with the Creator. The Creator is our common identity. 2nd is really registering that we (not a distant deity) are responsible for life on earth and the state of the world. To become one with the Creator we must master the art of world creation; we must create a world that allows life to flourish.
Chris Moench’s work designing and sculpting “Axis of Hope” prayer wheels arises from an understanding that all life is inextricably linked and interdependent. The prayer wheels are moving ceramic sculptures which explore themes of hope and renewal, creating a sanctuary for peaceful reflection wherever they are installed. The vessels are made through traditional pottery techniques and illustrated with narrative imagery inspired by nature, cycles of life and personal stories. His vessels can be filled with the written thoughts of those engaging with the sculpture. Through this action the sculptures become personally meaningful to their viewers and serve as a potent symbol for the collective essence of creating community Chris has made more than 1,800 prayer wheels for individuals, hospitals healthcare providers, non profit organizations, universities, schools, businesses and religious organizations.
Folio #13
Creating a Strong Ending
Weak endings feel contrived and superficial. Strong endings deliver the message, or moral, of the story. Strong endings resolve all themes, wrap up the plot, and leave no loose ends. The climax is the build-up to the end of a story. Currently, the story we are living is approaching the end. As the authors of Humanity’s fate, our actions will decide whether Humanity suffers a tragic fate or triumphs over the life-threatening situations. To create a strong ending, we must remember why it is important to triumph.
Richard Brummett was, without consultation, born in New York City in 1947. On his third escape attempt he found refuge on an obscure island off the west coast of his country. In this life, he has been a postulant in a monastery, a tank driver, a taxicab driver, a photojournalist in a war zone, a corporate photographer, and a (very) small town postmaster. Happiness was achieved when he met and married Skye Burn.