In the Figure of Divine Substance

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In the Figure of Divine Substance

At 10am on Saturday, August 3, at Camphill Ghent, Laura Summer will speak about the project “In the Figure of Divine Substance - 33 Paintings in response to poetry of women poets as they describe their relationship to God.” Many of the paintings will be on exhibit in the gallery and catalogues of the project will be available.

From the introduction to the catalogue: An experience of union with God is not so easy; the relinquishing of self, the realization that you, in your day-to-day self, are not so important. As I gradually achieved moments of awareness amidst all the moments of doubt, I found I had no words to describe them but I found words in reading the poetry of Mirabai and then St. Clare. I wondered, are there more people describing this? I found so many. I concentrated on women poets, not because the experience was only open to women; Rumi, Hafiz, St. John of the Cross and so many others speak eloquently of it; but because the women are not so well-known and being a woman and an artist is a very particular challenge.

I am a painter and I only really understand through painting. So I took each poem and responded to it by painting and in this way 33 paintings appeared.

For more information contact Laura Summer at laurasummer@taconic.net or (518) 672-7302.

"Laughter Came From Every Brick"

Just these two words He spoke
changed my life,
“Enjoy Me.”

What a burden I thought I was to carry –
a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, “I know a song,
would you like to hear it?”

And laughter came from every brick in the street
and from every pore
in the sky.

After a night of prayer, He
changed my life when
He sang,

“Enjoy Me.”

St. Teresa of Avila (Spain, 1515-1582)
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky

"Up-Hill"

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
   Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
   From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
   A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
   You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
   Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
   They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
   Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
   Yea, beds for all who come.

Christina Georgina Rossetti (England, 1830-1894)

The longer I live
the stronger is my utter necessity
for the divine-
Have you seen the mountains how
with time they turn to hills
kneeling with heads bowed
in reverence to the sky?

Nadia Bedard (United States, b. 1987)

An expression of free culture | 2019 | Free Columbia

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