From the Flames: How Fire Both Destroys and Sparks Creation

The Tightrope: metal-embossed cover of hand-made paper book of 30 original ink drawings by Janet Strayer

From the Flames

Devastation, shock, and a soulful emptiness after a fire destroyed so much of our Saturna house this summer. We saw it happen: the start of the flames, their rapid rise into a dragon consuming all in its path. From the flames came this necessary reflection.

It's hard to come to terms with the awful loss of a home: more than a material matter, though we had house insurance. Fortunately, no loss of life occurred, and the flames were contained to our house only. My life-mate musician saw his symphonic trombones melted beyond recognition, and we both saw cherished objects and memories burned to dust.The heart-breaking news that we could not move back for almost a year of needed reconstruction left us stunned, but we were supported by Saturna's caring local community . Some solace gradually emerged as we found temporary lodgings and tried to resume our fire-shattered lives.

My studio, up a small hill from our flaming house, was not damaged. So I tried to keep active there.But nothing came of it. Passing the remains of our once beautiful home seemed too much for me each time I walked up that hill. But it was also helpful to go to the studio, I think, even if nothing apparent came of it. And nothing came of it for quite awhile. Until I realized how fire can both destroy and spark creation.

The Tightrope: A Contemplation of how fire both destroys and sparks creation

I dreaded that art-making was gone for me. The spirit needed for my engagement with creating art felt hollowed out.But art and its creation was something I loved and aspired to keep doing. So, each day I persisted in going to my studio, no matter what came of it. Big projects were beyond me, but gradually ideas inched their way from my thoughts to my hands. Drawing came to me as a primal thing to do, just lines made with pencil or pen: scribblings first, then taking shape. The lines became a tightrope, reflecting my process and thoughts in the aftermath of my fire experience. The scribbles became people-birds who could not fly. Contemplation followed and brought some peace and hope along with the sadness and loss.

The Tightrope

 by Janet Strayer 

All must cross it before they can fly, if they ever want to fly.

It can take a lifetime.

It takes courage, mindfulness, and heart...

despite anxiety and fear.

Balance is the key.

Falls happen.

Feeling defeated happens.

So does grace

Triumphant moments

and moments of joy.

Some are cool.

Some show off.

Some pray.

Some barely hang on.

Some never even try.

But it is wonderful to fly.

The People-Birds

Birds have often flown into my paintings. Their shapes are varied, both simple and complex. They seem to me to be symbols of freedom, flight to and escape from things, a connection to unknown realms. That they can fly is like a dream to go beyond imposed boundaries and limitations.

The people-birds I drew after the fire became different characters in the drama of life, each walking the tightrope, falling from it, despairing or showing off, giving up or finding their way of walking the line. But all the people-birds experience the tightrope... before they can fly.

Serendipity

We had no time to take things from the house on fire. But afterward, I found a little book among the untarnished things that were not damaged. It was a hand-made book with hand-made papers a dear friend had given me as a present years ago. I'd put it somewhere and forgotten about it until I was clearing things from the house. The cover of this little book is pictured at the start of this commentary. When I saw this book again I knew what to do. I would fill each of its 30 pages with a drawing of my bird-people on the tightrope.

That's how my little book, The Tightrope, came to be. Perhaps you may recognize some of the people-birds in it. Perhaps you may align with some of its sentiments or thoughts. It was, and is, a changing process for me... and so it may be for you, as well.

The Tightrope Illustrated Book

I'd like to share a sample of the little book (approximately 8'x8") with you below. There is only one original book of The Tightrope. The video below shows photographs of several ink drawings from it.

The Tightrope video showing samples from hand-crafted book with 30 original ink drawing by Janet Strayer

If The Tightrope prompts any of your thoughts or comments, please do let me know. It would be good to know that a fire that destroys may also spark new developments... and that creativity is regenerative.

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