The Discovery of Self Through Creative Exploration

Within these pages lie reflections and descriptions of a voyage into unknown territory. A voyage, which has ended, yet is just beginning. Here for your consideration follows a documentation of an artistic process. Humbly, I put before you a modest attempt at presenting a number of personal discoveries made within the last four years. First I had chosen to participate in a program of Integrated Arts, the Creative Pulse. My participation in the Artist-Forest-Community Residency in the Helena National Forest the week before I began the program initiated a desire to present my artwork and become a better teacher. Expanding upon the theme of becoming closer to nature is also addressed herein. I needed to gain first-hand experience of what nature means to me in order to produce a confidence based upon knowledge. Developing an authentic voice grounded in experience leads to an ability to nourish and expand the learning of others. I had proposed to continue with my artwork and develop a body of work and present that work in a public venue. The following is an ichnolite of that process. This presentation primarily documents a voyage of discovery into the business of mounting a “solo” show. More importantly, the purpose of this paper is to give the reader a feeling for the creative encounter. This paper strives to provide an ability to view the work and experience that transformational moment which is so captivatingly elusive. For this reason I have included a section devoted to a selection of my imagery and Haiku poetry to accompany them. The transformation is up to you, just as it is for me. In summation one shall encounter a number of perceptions regarding the experience and process of showing artwork. These ponderings reflect the impact of my experience within the Creative Pulse, pathways I stumbled upon and where I am currently heading. If you are further interested in my work please take a moment to glance at the Appendices. Beginning again Discovering new terrain Shining worlds within

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Montana

Year

2006

Author dc:creator

• Pointer, Stephanie Jo

• Art
• creative exploration
• encaustic
• Haiku Poetry
• images
• Nature
• seeing
• self-discovery
• Trees

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/979

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.umt.edu:etd-1998