Work In Progress

If you were to walk into my kitchen right now, you'd know something was certainly up.

For sitting atop a folding table is three quarters of a human form. Upright.

I am in the process of creating a papier-mache sculpture to the exact measurements of my youngest daughter Rowan, aged 7.

The final goal to be a life sized figure of my seven year old daughter. Spray painted white. Then covered in one year's worth of used syringes. Syringes required everyday as life sustaining therapy to my wee daughter, who is a type one diabetic.

Think that'll make a statement?

Until then... everytime I walk into the kitchen (unfortunately) I see this looming figure and it scares the junk outta me. You'd think with all the time I've put into the project thus far, I'd remember it was there.

Earth without "art"

All Hallows Eve

"All Hallows Eve"
mixed media canvas
7" x 7"

Donated to the Mission Arts Centre for their Halloween festivities.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/event.php?eid=265029556845833

Walking Wounded

We are the walking wounded

Silently navigating hospital corridors

Overhead flourescents illuminating our exhaustion

Highlighting tired eyes and tear stained cheeks.

We are the walking wounded

Wearing masks of bravery for our children's sake

Cheap facades crumbling easily when little ones sleep

Heavy hearts needing comfort away from children's eyes and ears.

We are the walking wounded

Witnessing our children's howls and wails

Wearing their pain as though it were our own

Vain attempts to lessen their burdens.

I am, indeed, walking wounded.

The diagnosis does not wear my name

But by marking my daughter as one of it's own

My spirit has been forever be scarred.

Yet we, the walking wounded, keep on walking.

Picking up the pieces

Kissing injection sites and offering cheap distractions

All the while wanting to sacrifice ourselves for their sake.

But we can't.... and so we keep on walking.

Walking though wounded

One foot, then the other

Wearing brave faces.

Just for them.

Always.

"Grateful Heart"

"Grateful Heart"

20 x 20

acrylic canvas

Donated to "Rowan's Recruits" benefitting the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes.

Every walker registered with Rowan's Recruits, and for every donation over $20 will have the opportunity to win this painting.

www.jdrf.ca/walk

They Could Really Use A Wish

Usually I try very hard to keep my diabetic posts at their proper home: "Adventures In Parenting A Diabetic" but I'm particularly fond of this l'il video of mine, and all the brave happy faces included within it.

If you'd like to make a donation to "Rowan's Recruits" for our 10K journey on the Telus Walk To Find A Cure, please visit: http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=981&participantID=90886

You are also able to register to walk as a part of Rowan's Recruits at that link.

And on behalf of the 250 million diabetics world wide, and especially on behalf of my seven year old l'il diabetic wonder: "Thank you!!!"

Gypsy Wagon Zine (Spring 2011 Issue)

The Spring 2011 Issue of the Gypsy Wagon Zine is *finally* finished and ready to visit the printer..... come visit us at: http://gypsywagonzine.blogspot.com/

2011 Visual Art Journal

I have been working on the same visual art journal for the last four years. It was originally a college level mathematics textbook, and is more than 800 pages. I am maybe halfway through altering it with recollections of my journey.

But a New Year looms large ahead of us, and after reflecting on the journal for a bit, I came to the conclusion that it is time to move onto a new book. Don't get me wrong.... I love that journal, it is nearly a chronological record of my last few years. The happy, and the sad are detailed in that book... including death, divorce and a sexual assault. Today, as I look happily towards the coming year and what lays before me, I know it is time to gently put that book to rest, and to move onto a new chapter in my life. The *current* chapter.

I have come to the conclusion that I have a thing for textbooks. Maybe some post-adolescent academic angst or something, who knows. But I picked up a spiral bound text book at the local thrift store for a dollar. I decided to work with a spiral bound book this time, as with my previous journal, the farther into the centre of the book I delved, the beginning pages were beginning to loosen. Only time will tell if I have more luck with the spiral bound.

In the meantime, here is the cover of the newest journal, as well as some excerpts. Happy Holidaze!

Displayed Pages:

1) Cover of new journal "Art Of Becoming"

2) 2011 Mind Map. I don't "resolve" I plot, slowly and persistently.

3) "I Believe In Me"

4) "There's Something Growing There"

5) Untitled tree

Evolution Of A Painting....

A Tribute To The Tick-Tick-Ticking Of My Biological Clock

Now don't get me wrong. I am not completely baby-crazy. I love and adore the two little girls that I have the privellege of calling my daughters. But somewhere, deep amidst the biological ooze, my cells seem to have been stamped with the biblical quote "be fruitful, and multiply....".

I have known for quite sometime that I am finished with the baby days of my lifetime. Until the day that I am bestowed with grandchildren. However, my womb sometimes mourns that it will never feel the movement of another child growing. I look at my beautiful little girls and wonder about the son that I always wanted, but never arrived.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my children or my life for anything. So I'm amazed how strongly some of us are programmed to breed. Let's face it, since my youngest was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in August I am more than done! Prince Charming could gallop along my side on his steed, promising the sun, the moon and the stars, and I still wouldn't have the time or interest for a baby. Who can have a baby when you're testing blood sugars four times a day and wrestling a six year old to the ground twice a day to administer an insulin injection.

So here it is. My tribute to my biological clock. Long may it tick! But could it please do so quietly???

Another New Art Journal Entry

"One day when I am old and gray
My withered body considering decay,
If single I have chosen to stay
At least I can contentedly say
I lived each aspect of life my way...
And didn't take much shit from anybody."

KCG 2010

New Visual Journal Entry

I will not bellow just to be heard

Nor will I be walked upon.

I will not be owned.

A Mother's Struggle To Cope

I have added some of my visual art journal pages to "Adventures In Parenting A Diabetic" simply because they are all my processing and trying to come to terms with this new overwhelming presence in our lives.

Hope you'll have a peak.... www.diabeticdiagnosis.blogspot.com

Pretty Remarkable, Pretty Amazing, Pretty Accurate...

Elizabeth Gilbert: New Ways To Think Of Creativity

I found this amazingly enlightening! I'm going to embrace my inner house-elf now...

Creative Chaos: The Art of Krystin Goodsell

Diagnosis Diabetes: The Plight of Type 1's

If this video moves you in any way, shape, or form, please..... PLEASE.... consider sharing it with as many people as possible. Knowlege is power, but in order for there to be knowledge, we have to start with awareness.

Thank you

Missing In Action?

Due to my youngest daughter's health crisis this summer, and the daily fallout of her new diagnosis, I find myself able to post less and less here. Doesn't mean I'm not coming back, it just means that, unfortunately, art has found itself on the backburner for the time being.

Note to self Krystin: this is JUST for the time being.

In the meantime, I would like to invite you to visit me at "Adventures Of Parenting A Diabetic" at http://www.diabeticdiagnosis.blogspot.com/

Thank you, and creative wishes!
Krystin

Sketch and Guess.....

I've never considered myself to be particularly good at portraits. Yet apparently, that doesn't stop me. So I'm curious if anyone is able to recognize who is in the image?

Ugh

Let me begin by sharing my mortification of even having to post this. It's amazing what we will resort to for our children.

My daughter Rowan (6) was admitted to BC Children's Hospital August 9th with diabetic katone acidosis. There is no family history of diabetes within our clan, so when she began acting strangely, diabetes didn't even register on my radar. Fortunately (maybe miraculously) it was finally recognized for what it was, and she was rushed to the hospital where emergency staff advised that if I had waited a mere four hours later, she would have likely fallen into a coma, and possibly passed away.

I can't even begin to express what our hospital stay was like, but I am forever grateful for the physical and emotional care offered at BC Children's Hospital.

Needless to say, I have not been able to work since August 9th. Rowan requires glucose monitoring four times a day, and insulin injections twice a day. Trust me, she fights them off like a wildcat, and as she gets healthier, she gets stronger, and I am still just the bad guy. Giving her needless to keep her healthy, let alone alive.

Unfortunately, I am ELEVEN HOURS SHORT of being able to receive an EI Claim!!! I do not qualify for social assistance, or any other social programs at this time.

As much as I am embarassed to ask, I hope friends and family may be in a situation to make a small donation to this "Rowan fund" so that I can continue to focus on keeping things stable with her health, and our home. Any drastic changes will have her feeling as though it is all her fault, and as it is, right now, we are all still mourning the loss of a healthy happy child.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this plea. I appreciate your understanding and compassion that this step is nothing I take lightly.

Sincerely,
Krystin, Trinity and Rowan