Faye's Feedback

I had a rare day off yesterday, and after my massage, hair appointment and fantastic coffee from a new place on Main Street called "Parlour Coffee", I sneaked over to the Winnipeg Art Gallery for a quick view of William Kurelek's exhibit " The Messenger". Mistake. I didn't allow enough time to thoroughly peruse the exhibit, although I'm so very glad I went, since the man's genius inspired me in many ways. What a great way to start the new year! At the exhibit, I was standing with several people in front of a complicated and very detailed painting representing the results of a nuclear bomb upon the Hamilton/Toronto area, and a woman nearby said, "I certainly can't see this one in my living room." This comment made me ponder the meaning of art in general. I have learned so much about art in the last little while, and realize that there is so much about art that the general population doesn't know. It's like Kurelek's pain...

In reading what I wrote in my journal at the beginning of 2011, I realize now that I was very pessimistic about the coming year. I didn't feel confident about the future in many aspects of my life, except for the security in the love of God and my marriage. Those two things I clung to with ferocity. Renovate: A women's Bible study at my church on the "fruit of the spirit" fed me spiritually as I struggled with issues of pride and forgiveness.I devoured helpful books like Laying My Isaac Down and Healing Soul Misery , and books by Frank Peretti dealing with spiritual battle. I bought a beautiful piece of racu art - a clay "spirit shield" by local artist Gloria D'Neve, to remind myself about the armour of God , and the spiritual swordplay going on behind the visible world. I learned to pray deeper, drink deeper from the Word and release myself through painting. While I still have a long way to go in my faith journey, it is a joy to discover the surpris...

I have always absolutely LOVED Toronto! I have so many happy memories of visiting the area - most of them had been in my past (I was born in the area), and with my late husband Wern Kliewer. A couple of years after he passed, I went to Toronto by myself for a weekend to do some of the things we used to do together on visits, and to relive memories. It was a very therapeutic time, and I even repeated the visit to see "Mama Mia", the Abba musical. Wern and I had been in TO just a couple of months before he died - our last trip together. This time I was in Toronto for an entirely different reason. My boss, Steve Bell was going to perform at Massey Hall for the first time with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra! My husband Darrell and I booked the weekend to see this prestigious milestone event  in Steve's career as a three day romantic getaway for the two of us. Oh - what a weekend it was , culminating in attending the rehearsal with the Toronto Symphony on the afternoon on D...

Imagine a beautiful old city, buildings restored from years of past conflict. The weather is sunny, warm and there's just a slight breeze. There's an old cathedral, street vendors and people selling fresh caught fish in the local market. But something is different. When you arrive in this city, you receive a report on how to stay safe. Girls are not allowed out alone as soon as it gets dark. You are warned not to look people in the eye because that is seen as a sign of aggression. You will immediately be asked if you have a problem and you must reply "no". You are told never to carry much money or valuables on you, and many more useful hints. You see, the criminals are absolutely fearless in this city. They do not care about being seen, about injuring their victims or anything else. There is only one active church in the vicinity. That first day walking around town, you will quickly see that while the criminals may be fearless, the rest of the population lives in...

Dreams of stardom are alive and well and living in pretty well all of us. I am no exception. We all want to be seen - to be recognized for our looks, our talents and gifts. Even though I was a shy child, I still would dream of being an actress - I got as far as being an extra in a couple of Winnipeg movies and starring in some Christmas plays at church. Some dream of being singers - I was always in choirs and small singing groups at church, and in a worship band that toured Southern Manitoba coffeehouses and churches "way back when." Now I have a dream of being a famous artist with a loft studio (sigh), not necessarily in New York, but a loft studio in the exchange district of Winnipeg would be pretty cool. I dream of retiring from working full time, and living off of the income of my sought-after painting skills. One's parents or elders usually have more life experience than we do, and they will often volunteer their advice when we don't want to ...

When I began my new art website The Art of Faye Hall , my webdesigner, Jeff Lukin, assured me that I should have a blog, and that one day I would have something to say. I couldn't imagine what that would be. I was a newbie as a professional painter, and did not know what God had in store for me. As time went on, I discovered that God was beginning to use my art to encourage others, and I could write about it on my main website. But much of what I learned was far too personal to put on a public website that is meant to look professional and further my painting career. I feel that He is telling me to put my personal thoughts down in a blog. I called my blog "Faye's Feedback", because I was looking for a term that would emphasize that I am a constant learner, who is willing to regurgitate what I've learned and discovered through life experiences and reading. One of my greatest learning sources is my job as administrative assistant/concert producer in the office...