janice cartier | Words For Hire

: Image by U.S. Coast Guard via Flickr

Activism is not always carried out with a loud voice or picket sign but can occur when we are touched deeply within our souls and we feel deeply enough to share those feelings with others. Janice Cartier presented the oil spill crisis in a way that no other could. From the depth of her own grief about a region she loves she allowed that emotion to pour out in her brush and pen. She represented activism at its core – unattached from grandstanding and political agendas – simply one person seeing a problem and giving voice to it so that others will hear.

Through Janice’s words and paintings my heart responded to the authenticity of her unspoken plea – I care, will you care too? There was no concert or campaign but one person whose soul wailed in pain and allowed it to rise up and spill out like the black oil that lurched into the sea. It was a dignified gnashing of teeth and renting of garments that in its raw reality struck a chord inviting others to mourn at the Wailing Wall.

Through the eyes of a an artist I saw the oil spill and I no longer cared who was at fault, what titles they held and whether or not they failed. It did not matter what was said, and what political agenda it bolstered or diminished, I cared about the wetlands, and the gulf coast region. I cared about the toxicity and the air we breathe. I cared about those who had been exiled by the assaults on the environment and those that remained because it was home. I cared about the sea and its place in the cycle of life.

My heart cried out in pain and my song of sorrow joined Janice for she made me see, feel and care. Oh yes, I see it too and I am moved with compassion. From my belly rises an overwhelming sadness that spurs me beyond seeing and feeling but action. I no longer ask what have they done, but what can I do, and so begins a chain started by one artist with her brush and pen.

There are those who will do the other work that needs to be done – the clean up, accountability and hopefully prevention. The law changers, marchers and way makers whose names we may or may not know. They will be the feet and hands of this body of action. However, others will stir them with their simple pleas to look, to care and to act. Janice Cartier is an activist and today I salute her.

Janice’s Posts

Have you ever had an idea that was brilliant in your head but completely worthless once it left that comfy incubator between your ears? I heard something that inspired me and my brain cells began to fire as I mentally formulated a brilliant post. I was excited and could barely wait to sit down and write.

Twenty minutes later, I sat at my keyboard tapping out my idea. I wrote two paragraphs and read in horror a jumbled, confusing mush of ideas that made me want to weep with embarrassment. I tried in earnest to fix it, and several mixed metaphors and half formed ideas later, I decided to close the document and walk away.

I had a bowl of spinach, which cured my brain fog and mood. An hour later, I returned to the post and declared it a horrible, depressing mess.

I learned two things:

Spinach is magical (for me at least)
Sometimes what you write really does stink, admit it and move on.

What have you learned this week?

For some decidely non-stinky writing, check out these posts by writers who clearly eat their spinach:

Trees of Gestures – Amy Palko sees beauty in what some describe urban blight.
The Sound of Rain – Janice Cartier’s writing always sings. Somehow she even makes melancholy magical.
Love Conkers All – A beautiful post by published author Stephen Fry.
Stories to Pave the Path to Dreams – Emma Newman is a writer to watch, this post captures that restless feeling we all experience on the road to change.

Brush Stokes of a Crisis Through the Artist’s Eyes

Bad Writing, Spinach and Mid Week Musings