Ashes to ashes...

Even though I'm a very humorous lass, there is a strong serious side to me. There's still a lot of emotion and pain in dealing with my mother's passing that I need to find ways of expressing. If I'm going to do any serious work it should involve her in some way. After our trip to the Aran Islands, I think I may have some ideas of how to do this.

First of all, let me say that the land and seascapes on the Island are so freaking amazingly beautiful that it almost makes me feel inadequate as an artist cause I could never create anything of such grandiose beauty. But that's silly cause of course I can't compete with nature. Seriously though, at every turn there was something amazing to see. The cliffs facing the sea made me feel like I was at the edge of the world and the sky seemed so infinite. Not to mention the light here is just magical, especially this time of year cause the sun doesn't set till around 10pm. And luckily we've been blessed with pretty nice weather so far.

But back to my mom. She would have loved the island, as she would have loved the Burren and the rest of Ireland. She was really excited for me that I was coming here for study abroad and sad that she wouldn't be able to come with me. But I told here that no matter what she would still be me. I carry her in my thoughts and heart everyday and will so until the day I die. But I also brought her physically here in the form of her ashes. As a way of returning her to the earth, places she love and would love to be I've begun to spread some of her ashes. We already buried some near my grandfather and spread some in the Chesapeake Bay. I brought her to the Aran Islands and spread some of her near the old light house on top of the hill and in a peaceful inlet (that we're just gonna say is the seal colony even though it was the next inlet over). I'm planning to spread some more of her around the Burren and maybe if I end up other places, like Fanore Beach. One of our assignments to make a conceptual map that connects us to the landscape so I'm going to map out the places I've spread her ashes. Not entirely sure what form this map will take just yet.
Branching out from this mapping idea and the 6 word sentences, I want to come up with a series of six word stories involving the feelings I have about my mom, her death, heaven, missing her, etc. Again, I'm not sure what form this will take but I kind of like the idea of glass etchings, if I can get the stuff to do etchings. I could also try continuing with the transfers. Here are a couple of the six word stories that I've thought of so far:
I see heaven in every sunset.
Tired, cranky and miss my mommy.
Always with me in my heart.
I returned you to the sea.

I feel good about these ideas. I think it will be therapeutic and give me a direction with purpose.

But now for some photos of amazingness. They still don't do it justice though.