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	<title>Mardi Artist - Blog</title>
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	<description>Original Paintings from Mardi Abstract Artist</description>
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		<title>Roberts Creek Arts Festival May 19-20 2012</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/roberts-creek-arts-festival-may-19-20-2012</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/roberts-creek-arts-festival-may-19-20-2012#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 17:11:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Works]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/?p=304</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Come visit my gallery, the ArtBarn and check out the Studio I&#8217;ll be launching my new self-titled Art Book and new Architectural Art Glass line as well as showing off original works. Here&#8217;s the link http://www.robertscreekartsfestival.com Come say Hello]]></description>
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<a href='http://mardi.ca/blog/roberts-creek-arts-festival-may-19-20-2012/screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10-02-28-am' title='Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10.02.28-AM-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="2012 Roberts Creek Arts Festival" title="Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM" /></a>
<a href='http://mardi.ca/blog/roberts-creek-arts-festival-may-19-20-2012/screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10-02-28-am-2' title='Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10.02.28-AM1-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM" title="Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM" /></a>
<a href='http://mardi.ca/blog/roberts-creek-arts-festival-may-19-20-2012/screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10-02-28-am-3' title='Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM'><img width="150" height="150" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-14-at-10.02.28-AM2-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM" title="Screen shot 2012-05-14 at 10.02.28 AM" /></a>
[gallery]<br />
Come visit my gallery, the ArtBarn and check out the Studio</p>
<p>I&#8217;ll be launching my new self-titled Art Book and new Architectural Art Glass line as well as showing off original works.  Here&#8217;s the link http://www.robertscreekartsfestival.com  Come say Hello  <img src='http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My new Self-titled Art Book &#8211; Mardi</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/294</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/294#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:50:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In the Studio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inspirations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Musings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Process]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Works]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[catalog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[glass]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[horses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mardi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paintings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/?p=294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Or you can download the PDF file here   http://mardi.ca/mardi-catalog.pdf]]></description>
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<div style="width: 420px; text-align: left;">Or you can download the PDF file here <img src='http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />    <a rel="nofollow nofollow" href="http://mardi.ca/mardi-catalog.pdf" target="_blank">http://mardi.ca/mardi-catalog.pdf</a></div>
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		<title>EQUUS AUXILIUM</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/equus-auxilium</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/equus-auxilium#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:33:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Works]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/?p=274</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  For three days and three nights my studio was blasted by the music of Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic playing this magnificent piece, &#8216;Smooth Criminal&#8217;.  Without preconception &#8211; EQUUS AUXILIUM was birthed.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">For three days and three nights my studio was blasted by the music of Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic playing this magnificent piece, &#8216;Smooth Criminal&#8217;.  Without preconception &#8211; EQUUS AUXILIUM was birthed.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/30057454?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="398" height="224" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
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		<title>SPHYNX</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/sphynx</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/sphynx#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:25:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Musings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/?p=167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I remember, I was in school  learning how to write words for the first time and thinking to myself , &#8220;Finally. I can write poetry again!&#8221;  I don&#8217;t remember what I wrote , but I do remember playing with a tub of sand when the Principal and some grown ups came into the classroom to ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;">I remember, I was in school  learning how to write words for the first time and thinking to myself , &#8220;Finally. I can write poetry again!&#8221;  I don&#8217;t remember what I wrote , but I do remember playing with a tub of sand when the Principal and some grown ups came into the classroom to talk to my teacher.  They  whispered about me and pointed &#8211;  &#8221;That&#8217;s the little girl who wrote the poetry I showed you&#8230;&#8221; I remember wondering why they thought that was special . Surely they could write poetry themselves? &#8230;lol  Later on in years, I admit , I used poetry to basically be a lazy student.  I knew that all I had to do was fire one at an English teacher and boom &#8211; an&#8221;A&#8221; .  It only backfired on me once when I wrote my book report on a Midsummer&#8217;s Night&#8217;s Dream in grade 9  (16 years old). The teacher gave me an F for plagiarizing and there was no convincing her otherwise.  I took it as a compliment &#8211; but I still never took writing poetry seriously.  I &#8216;d never met another poet.  I somehow got the impression that all poets were dead.  I live in a place where it is just not part of mainstream culture (no &#8211; rap just is not quite the same thing). But now that I have become an Artist &#8211; it&#8217;s as if something in me woke up.  I  spend the day manipulating paint on canvas or working on a huge steel sculpture and find that my body  runs out of energy far sooner than my inspired imagination.  So those times when I&#8217;m exhausted  (like now) &#8211; I can still create. I can take ideas and energy and sculpt them in the mind of the listener and play emotions like a musician plays an instrument. I often choose sensual music to listen too and I find that much of my poetry borders on the erotic.  Not erotic in that lustful, disgusting pornographic way that North Americans seem to love so much &#8211; I mean erotic in the sense that  life is an erotic experience &#8211; sunshine warmed  skin &#8211; breathing &#8211; observing light &#8211; the intoxicating scent of my husband &#8211; titillating taste buds with delicious tid bits &#8211; snuggles and hugs with children and pets &#8211; belly laughs &#8211; looking deep  into another&#8217;s eyes  for an eternity,  kind of erotica. I suppose as an Artist I have become a seeker of Beauty.  It is everywhere and I&#8217;m in bliss.  This is the state of mind in which I can create my works, whether that be poetry or art.  I hope you enjoy my travail, my journey&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">BTW: please forgive the grammar &#8211; we poets just don&#8217;t give a damn</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Poem : Sphynx, by Mardi</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Painting :  (a favourite artist ) Michael Parkes</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Sphynx.jpg" rel="lightbox[167]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-180" title="Sphynx" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Sphynx.jpg" alt="" width="379" height="500" /></a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">..</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Miss</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">tress</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Tigress</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">sitting here</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">upon my breast</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">muscles coiled</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">and   tail</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">switching</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">barely perceptual</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">whisker twitching</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">rising and falling</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">under your</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">great</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">weight</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">my</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">breathing</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">powers against</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">the Queen of Fate</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Your focused gaze</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">upon me rests</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">as the earth</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">beneath</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">my back</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">is blessed</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">from your</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">rumbling</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">purring</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">sandstone</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">chest</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">blink</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">eyes widen</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">as open maw</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Y A W N S</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">as an extended paw</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">s   t   r   e   t   c   h   e   s</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">out one single claw</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">to gently</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">prick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">my</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">L</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">i</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">p</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">A</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">scarlet</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">drop of</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">life&#8217;s</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">dew</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">extruded</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">from my</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">puckered</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">pout</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">reminder</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">of  what</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">price is</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">due</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">tear</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">cry</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">muffled</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">shout</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">for a</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">child</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">that has been slew</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">spinning on</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">the round-about</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">whilst</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">trembled</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">meek and mewed</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">jesses loosened &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">head unveiled &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">horizons calling  setting sail &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">singing boldly  telling tales &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">pearl and truth  encrusted trails &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">painted portals &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">of imagined lands &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">wild winds caress &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">like imagined hands &gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">fevered kisses &gt;&gt;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">blissed-out</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">sleeps</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">in</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">kundalini</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">wrinkled</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">sheets</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&#8230;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">..</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.           .            .</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.           .           .</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.            .</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">.</p>
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		<title>Shades of the Creek</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/shades-of-the-creek</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/shades-of-the-creek#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:23:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Musings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/?p=99</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[*** For a richer experience, be sure to open the links, seen as high-lighted words, in the  blog *** I have the great privilege of living in one of the most spectacular places on earth.  The snow capped Coastal mountains are at my back, my toes dip into the shimmering blue palette of the Pacific ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>*** For a richer experience, be sure to open the links, seen as high-lighted words, in the  blog ***</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p>I have the great privilege of living in one of the most spectacular places on earth.  The snow capped Coastal mountains are at my back, my toes dip into the shimmering blue palette of the Pacific Ocean and my belly rests on the green, green mosses of the British Columbian rainforest.  Eagles, cougar, bears, wolves, deer, owls, herons, ravens are just a few of the wild beasties in our backyard.</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Arias-fishies2.jpg" rel="lightbox[99]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-139" title="Aria's little fishies :)" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Arias-fishies2.jpg" alt="" width="525" height="700" /></a></p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p>Every  autumn, my  youngest child, Aria,  fills our swimming pool with little rainbow trout she has caught in our mountain fed stream .  It&#8217;s fun to watch them jump to catch bugs along with the frogs who take residency the moment the temperature drops.  Come  spring they are released  back into the sanguine stream , sleek and silvered.</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SchoolOfThotVertical.jpg" rel="lightbox[99]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-142" title="School of Thoughts" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/SchoolOfThotVertical-330x1024.jpg" alt="" width="330" height="1024" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mardi.ca/gallery">W W W . M A R D I . C A  &lt;&lt;&lt;  Stream of Consciousness Collection &gt;&gt;&gt; SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS</a></p>
<p>Available as Architectural Glass Panel</p>
<p>Custom sizes / Limited Edition</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">It&#8217;s so easy to be in touch with Nature here.  Just step outside and breathe.</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-11-at-11.39.24-AM.png" rel="lightbox[99]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-137" title="Sun-kissed Aria" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-11-at-11.39.24-AM.png" alt="" width="539" height="715" /></a></p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p>The sensuous summers here are so very long &#8211; but never, never, long enough.  I can never take enough walks with my hounds on waterfall-beaded trails.  I can never warm myself enough over beach fires of cedar bones umbrellaed by vast luminescent skies.  I can never play enough with <a title="sun-kissed bronzed children" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1420950556249&amp;set=a.1023338296191.2005242.1007234843">sun kissed bronzed children</a> or musicians, drizzled with wine.   I find myself nostalgic and longing for more &#8211; a spoiled child , greedy for yet another golden roasted marshmallow &#8211; toasted to sticky fingered perfection and smelling of wood smoke.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m just not ready for the Canadian monsoons to begin &#8211; but , ah&#8230;too late.  They have come a pitter-pattering, without my permission.  As I fight off the base impulse to collect all the animals and design a retro-funky ark &#8211; I decide, instead, to begin this season of rich creativity  with a video vignette of a special time of summer we all look forward to &#8211; the painting of the <a title="Roberts Creek Mandala" href="http://www.robertscreekmandala.org/">Roberts Creek Mandala</a>. I&#8217;d like to share it with you &#8211; something to  feast the senses on while being serenaded by the dulcet tones of <a title="Sting/Botti - Bourbon Street" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZW3YDmievI">Sting, and my favourite trumpeter, Chris Botti</a>.  Enjoy.</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p>
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</p>
<p>FYI : My contribution can be seen at 2:10 (&#8230;the eye of a beast)</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p>Every summer our little village, along with visitors from around the world, get together and paint a rather huge Mandala that can only be viewed in it&#8217;s totality at a Eagle&#8217;s nest height. Each person &#8211; whether Artist or Electrician, Child or Grandparent, paints their little piece to make up the visually delicious whole. The Whale was this year&#8217;s motif,  in honour of our global commitment to healthy, clean waters.</p>
<p>We painted from plastic buckets in rainbow hues, heads bowed to the earth &#8211; our backs and shoulders bathed in golden light.  A  supine  <a style="color: #7f8e91; text-decoration: none; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" title="Grey Whale came to the shore" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apLbG4Sby8U">Grey Whale came to the shore</a> ,  as close as possible to us without beaching. It was the first time in many years there had been a sighting and, to the delight of all, the Whale visited many times during that week.  But for those of us who live in this majikal place, this was no surprise.  We&#8217;ve come to expect miracles here.  When the whale was sighted, we rushed to witness the awesome event.  Afterward, there was a lot of exchanging of glowing, smug smiles as we returned to our inspirational works of art &#8211; these prayers for a healthy world.</p>
<p>A Mandala is an ancient , often circular , drawing of great symmetry and balance.  They can be found the world over in every culture since the dawn of humankind. The Mandala is Nature&#8217;s blueprint for flowers and galaxies and everything in between.</p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Spiral-Fish5.jpg" rel="lightbox[99]"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-127" title="Spiral Stream Mandala" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Spiral-Fish5-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1024" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;">Spiral Stream Mandala &#8211; Mardi<br /> Digitally manipulated graphite drawing<br /> Click to view image &#8211; Custom Prints available</span></p>
<p><br class="spacer_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We are a tiny insignificant grain of sand</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">on a tiny insignificant planet</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">in an infinitely magnificent whole.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">We are</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">each of us</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">the centre</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">of our universe.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-09-at-10.34.24-AM1.png" rel="lightbox[99]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-105" title="Jia Lu's Mandala" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Screen-shot-2010-11-09-at-10.34.24-AM1.png" alt="" width="280" height="354" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="Jai Lu's Mandala" href="http://www.paragonfineart.com/artists/jia-lu.html">Jai Lu&#8217;s Mandala</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">It is from <em>our</em> unique perspective</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">that we observe the unfolding of time and space</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">fractally blossoming to our sublime focus.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>
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</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And the greatest gift</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">you will ever give</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">to your universe</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">is to take your</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">passions</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">courage</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">talent</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">enthusiasm</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">and create your own</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">burning sun</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">of</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">elegant truths</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>
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</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><script src="http://www.stumbleupon.com/hostedbadge.php?s=6&amp;r=http://www.mardi.ca/blog"></script></p>
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		<title>Imagining Omnipresence &#8211; folding all time and space &#8230;I&#8217;ll never complain about laundry again :P</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/playing-with-time-and-space</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/playing-with-time-and-space#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 06:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Musings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/playing-with-time-and-space</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Imagine a ball of energy, floating in space, about the size of a basketball. Make it burn with a powerful, pure white, fauceted light that is the auditory equivalent of a very clean, crystal clear &#8211; barely perceptible high pitched tone&#8230; Now imagine perceiving the vast universe outside of this ball of energy using this ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/playing-with-time-and-spac.jpg" rel="lightbox[43]"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-73" title="playing-with-time-and-space" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/playing-with-time-and-spac.jpg" alt="playing-with-time-and-space" width="300" height="400" /></a><br /> Imagine a ball of energy, floating in space, about the size of a basketball.</p>
<p>Make it burn with a powerful, pure white, fauceted light that is the auditory equivalent of a very clean, crystal clear &#8211; barely perceptible high pitched tone&#8230;</p>
<p>Now imagine perceiving the vast universe outside of this ball of energy using this term of reference &#8211; that there is everything that is this ball of energy and there is everything that is not this ball of energy only. Imagine these two states from that perspective.</p>
<p>Alright, now, under the entire pressure of the vast universe, spin and compress this ball of energy into a minutely tiny, cosmic, energetic diamond spark &#8211; so that you have only the perspective of that which is this spark and that which is not this spark. Experience the perspective from within the center of ther spark.</p>
<p>Now turn this spark inside out like a donut and fold all time and space &#8211; all that is not this spark &#8211; within the spark. Again, experience the perspective from within the spark.</p>
<p>Now overlap the images of the tiny spark with everything on the outside and the image of the tiny spark with everything on the inside. Experience the perspective of both states simultaneously. If you have trouble with that imagine flipping back and forth between the two states faster and faster until, like a film, it merges and blends into a singular experience.</p>
<p>Well done! Now go do the exercise again &#8211; except imagine yourself as that ball of energy.</p>
<p>by Mardi&#8230;written Thursday, April 9th, 2009 at 11:16pm</p>
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		<title>Equine Divine Series : Spirited</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/equine-divine-series-spirited</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/equine-divine-series-spirited#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2009 06:38:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Works]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/equine-divine-series-spirited</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Spirited The horse ran free Within my mind Unchallenged before the wind The horse is Spirit and Spirit mine You shall forever remain Unbridled by Mardi http://www.mardi.ca]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Spirited-3.5x3.5-RGB.jpg" rel="lightbox[42]"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-75" title="Spirited" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Spirited-3.5x3.5-RGB.jpg" alt="Spirited" width="400" height="400" /></a><br />
Spirited</p>
<p>The horse ran free<br />
Within my mind<br />
Unchallenged before the wind</p>
<p>The horse is Spirit<br />
and Spirit mine<br />
You shall forever remain</p>
<p>Unbridled</p>
<p>by Mardi </p>
<p>http://www.mardi.ca</p>
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		<title>The Art of Listening to Visual Noise…</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/the-art-of-listening-to-visual-noise</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/the-art-of-listening-to-visual-noise#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:16:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inspirations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/the-art-of-listening-to-visual-noise</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ok &#8211; I realize that this sounds weird, complicated and confusing &#8211; but seriously &#8211; just follow the steps one by one and it will be worth it&#8230;I promise, if you relax and visualize it &#8211; it will make sense. Step one is open both of these youtube videos on your screen at the same ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Postcard-small-MicroMacro-II.jpg" rel="lightbox[41]"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-77" title="Postcard small MicroMacro II" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Postcard-small-MicroMacro-II.jpg" alt="Postcard small MicroMacro II" width="343" height="400" /></a><br />
Ok &#8211; I realize that this sounds weird, complicated and confusing &#8211; but seriously &#8211; just follow the steps one by one and it will be worth it&#8230;I promise, if you relax and visualize it &#8211; it will make sense.</p>
<p>Step one is open both of these youtube videos on your screen at the same time This is just an example &#8211; you can experiment on your own.</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5xk1-KEgds</p>
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMz8fKkG2g</p>
<p>One is an Adagio for Strings, op.11 &#8211; the other is Annie Lennox. Now play them together at the same time.</p>
<p>First try to pick out one piece of music playing over the other &#8211; then switch.</p>
<p>Then try to listen to both pieces at the same time &#8211; imagining you are listening to a completely new work you have never heard before.</p>
<p>Now imagine looking into a stream where the water has spots where it moves slower and spots that move faster splashing over rocks or pooling before moving on. Then imagine the music does the same so that you are listening the &#8220;stream&#8221; of sound and it is blended in a similar way as the water.</p>
<p>Now relax and breathe and let the sound wash over your entire being.</p>
<p>Great! Now you need to go and find a piece of Art &#8211; a complicated abstract works well (although all visuals will work, really, at various levels of difficulty). Using the previous exercise on listening as a metaphor &#8211; apply the metaphor to the act of seeing instead of hearing&#8230;</p>
<p>by Mardi, written Thursday, April 9th, 2009 at 10:16 pm Mountain time in Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Canada, Earth, Milkyway, Universe&#8230;</p>
<p>&#8230;there &#8211; here &#8211; and every point in between <img src='http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>PAINTRESS</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/paintress</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/paintress#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[My Process]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mardi.ca/blog/paintress</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am an Artist and an Ambassador of the Feminine Divine. The world is imbalanced. Like Artists the world over, I offer blueprints for the balancing of dualities of energetic forces, foremost that of chaos and structure, the intuitive and the logical, the right and left brain, the feminine and the masculine, the dark and ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/mardi.jpg" rel="lightbox[40]"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-71" title="mardi" src="http://mardi.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/mardi.jpg" alt="mardi" width="302" height="400" /></a><br /> <span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am an Artist and an Ambassador of the Feminine Divine.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The world is imbalanced. Like Artists the world over, I offer blueprints for the balancing of dualities of energetic forces, foremost that of chaos and structure, the intuitive and the logical, the right and left brain, the feminine and the masculine, the dark and the light, the mystical and the scientific. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: trebuchet ms;">I invite you to explore my works through my website galleries, videos, photos or musings. Please feel free to join my Facebook page to share my rich treasure trove of inspirations. Thank you for supporting my work by sharing my site with the world.  I would also like to express my deepest gratitude here to my patrons.  It is through them that I have been given the means to express my talent.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; color: #ffffff;">&#8220;Quantum Art is a realm where the intuitive and the logical dance in reality &#8211; in synchronistic causality&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; color: #ffffff;"> &#8211; Mardi</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; color: #ffffff;"><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;"><br /></span></p>
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		<title>mardi pix</title>
		<link>http://mardi.ca/blog/mardi-pix-3</link>
		<comments>http://mardi.ca/blog/mardi-pix-3#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:08:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>mardi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[bio]]></category>

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