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Featured
Artist: Nicolai Fechin (1881-1955)
“I
have a face, but a face is
not what I am.” I tell
myself there's grace in aging
naturally, yet day-by-day,
it gets harder to look in
the mirror. Smooth, supple
contours of youth give way
to wrinkled brows. Gravity
pulls at my chin. My eyelids
droop. I fight to keep vanity
away. It's painful, but I
choose to accept reality.
Slowly, an image comes to
mind. I envision an expressionist
portrait – a wise-woman whose
face tells a story that goes
far beyond words.
Portraits capture the essence
of human story with pen,
charcoal, or paint. It's
a prolific artist that sees
beyond a face to imagine
the depth of a soul. There
are few portraitists more
prolific at capturing this
essence than Nicolai Fechin,
a Russian who immigrated
to New York in 1923 and relocated
to Taos in 1927.
I discovered Fechin's work
while researching hotels
for a women's retreat in
New Mexico. The Fechin Inn
grabbed my attention. It
sits on property once owned
by this master. Adobe architecture,
painstaking crafted art,
storytelling, and a warm
fireplace. I was seduced
by the imagery of this place.
The inn has taken on the
feeling of the original Fechin
House, a handcrafted masterpiece
of Feschin's, now the Taos
Art Museum, located a few
hundred feet away.
Fechin fell in love with
this land, as he did with
its people. The faces of
Native Americans, Anglo ranchers,
and Spanish migrants commanded
his attention, as well as
the stroke of his brush.
His images, as real as life
itself, tell amazing stories
of Mother & Child, The
Corn Dancer, and Joe with
Drum, to name just a few.
No matter the subject, no
matter their age, radiant
beings emerge from his canvases.
This radiance is paramount
in the faces of wise elder
women and noble warriors.
The depth of their stories,
immediately command respect.
Our stories are no less
valuable than great works
by great masters. We've layered
our story lines for decades
over the smooth canvas of
youth. Line-by-line, the
portraits in our mirrors
continually transform. Beneath
our fading colors and softening
skin, we see the radiant
wisdom of our years finally
emerge.
It's a bit easier to return
to the mirror now. In it, I
see a portrait of a confident
woman filled with aging grace.
She tells me how hard she's
worked to earn her lifelines.
I nod. She smiles back at me.
I assure her, that no matter
what vanity might dictate,
I promise to never wipe the
wisdom from her face.
 Throughout
the ages, self-portraits have
enabled men and women to capture
the perception of “self” through
the use of diverse media: paint
and paper, pen and ink, canvas
and clay. This “in-turned” art
form, dating back to Old Kingdom
Egypt, doesn't require a master
in fine arts. A few magazines
or old photos, and your willing
imagination, will do just fine.
A few years ago I created
a workshop titled, Self-Portrait
Collage: A Voyage of Self-Discovery
Through Self-Expression .
I had a blast working with
a fine artist and a few adventuresome
souls. I still run this class
as house parties, but the
following guidelines can
help you craft a collage
on your own.
First, set an intention
over the course of a week
to gather items that reflect
your style, mood, energy,
interests, or desires. You
might want to sort through
old magazines or photographs,
clean out a drawer filled
with memorabilia, visit an
art supply or fabric store,
or take a hike in the woods
to discover what nature has
to share. Allow your intuition
to guide you in collecting
your materials. You'll also
need a piece of poster board
or canvas, scissors, crayons,
pastels, paint, and / or
glue (Tacky Glue works well
for everything), possibly
needle and thread or a stapler.
Set aside a few hours to
work, choosing a private,
quiet space where you won't
be disturbed. Soothing music,
candlelight, or aromatherapy
will enhance your creativity.
Let go of trying to “make” art
and just allow the imagery
to emerge.
Once finished, place you collage
in clear view. Take time to
be with it and listen to what
it has to tell you. Dawna Markova,
author of No Enemies Within ,
suggests viewing each object
in your collage as yourself.
Name the object and describe
its characteristics, writing “I
am____.” For example, I am
a jagged leaf, rough around
the edges. I am the image of
my mother, a sad, yet soft
reflection of aging. Journal
your thoughts. Invite a special
person to share your work,
your words, and the feelings
that arise from the experience.
 Visit www.bpib.com/illustrat/fechin.htm to
read a brief bio of Nicolai
Fechin, and
view several masterpieces of
one of the most talented portraitists
of all times.
The Fechin Institute , www.fechin.com ,
offers residential art workshops
by well-known artists at
Donner Ranch. And while in
Taos, plan to visit the exquisitely
handcrafted former home of
Fechin, now the Taos
Art Museum . www.taosmuseums.org/fechin.php
Join Phyllis for a 5-day trip to Taos / Santa Fe, New Mexico – Pioneering Women Travel the Southwest – which begins at the enchanting Fechin
Inn. Read a great review www.roadandtravel.com/hotelsresorts/fechininntaos.htm .
See “events” below for
details.
To discover the wonders
of Taos ,
visit www.taosvacationguide.com .
If you'd like to branch out
and explore the beauty and
culture of all of New
Mexico , visit www.newmexico.org .
Women's World Journeys: Pioneering
Women Travel the Southwest,
Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico , March
16 – 20, 2005. Starting at
$749.
Craft a “journey of your
choosing” in the Land of
Enchantment with inspirational
guide Phyllis Carrera and
an intimate group of like-minded
women from around the world.
Your customized travel itinerary
blends distinctive special
events with optional activities,
so you never feel locked
into a tour group. Our theme, Pioneering
Women, invites you
to explore the “her-story” of
a beautiful land enriched
with Native American culture,
Spanish Colonial influence,
and some of the best boutique
hotels, southwestern cuisine,
art galleries and shopping
in the world. Click
here for details.
Womens International
Networking Conference ,
Oct 7-9, Geneva, Switzerland.
Phyllis presents Integrating
Power: A Woman's Journey
of Choice. Visit www.winconference.net to learn more about this major event.
Living Dreams:
A Journey of My Choosing ~ The
Knowledge Shop ,
Marietta, GA, Oct 13, 20, 27,
7:45 – 9:45 pm. An economical
way to experience group coaching.
Visit www.knowledgeshopatlanta.com/class.cfm?classID=515 to
sign up at $54 for members
/ $59 for non-members.
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Click here to explore “A
Journey…”
I have
a face, but a face is not
what I am.
Julian Bell
I've
never seen a smiling
face that was not
beautiful.
Author Unknown
God
has given you one
face, and you make
yourself another.
William Shakespeare
Laughter
is the sun that drives
winter from the human
face.
Victor Hugo
Nature
gives you the face
you have at 20; it
is up to you to merit
the face you have
at 50.
Coco Chanel
Knowledge
in youth is wisdom
in age.
Anonymous
In
youth and beauty,
wisdom is but rare.
Homer
The
face is the mirror
of the mind, and
eyes without speaking
confess the secrets
of the heart.
St. Jerome
The
face is the soul
of the body.
Ludwig Wittgenstein |
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