Tumbling

Today I saw a tumble weed roll across fields...funny I think this iconic image has mostly been in my imagination or on TV in the past, in spite of living in the desert.


Tumultuous Hillside #1 (Horizontal) - Copyright by Heather J. Kirk

Then it crossed four lanes of traffic. I was sure it would cause problems, but perhaps it is engineered (by the Creator) to follow paths of the open wind. It dodged all cars!

Barbed #1 - Copyright by Heather J. Kirk

 A few years ago I saw these amazing sites above and photographed them. They can now be found on my Photographic Artistry website on the "Tumbling In" gallery page.

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk -  www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#tumble, #tumbleweed, #desert, #weed, #barbed wire, #Arizona, #landscape, #photo, #photography, #colorphotography, #heatherkirk, #heatherjkirk

Short cuts are rarely short

“The short cut is always the longest path…The bad news is that in the effort to skip the time involved {in creating real change in your life}they’ve cost themselves more time... Wanting it NOW keeps you from having it. ... People who want it now face many discouragements because of their many false starts…In the end, the ‘want it now’ people end up back where they started over and over again.”

 

-- from 9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life by Dr. Henry Cloud

"Beachside Warning Horizontal Black and White with
Colorized Red Sign," copyright Heather J. Kirk
Overlooking Boomer's Beach at Point La Jolla, San Diego, CA

Growing up I remember we all used to groan in the car when my dad announced he was taking a short cut. It was code language indicating that we either were already lost or we were about to be lost...but the trek certainly was NOT going to be short!


"Lifeguard Call Box Boomer's Beach La Jolla Cove California,"copyright Heather J. Kirk, Overlooking Boomer's Beach
at Point La Jolla, San Diego, CA

Still, I learned a few things from those experiences. Don't sweat mistakes or 'creative ways of arriving' and don't ever TELL anyone you took a wrong turn. I ALWAYS get there...eventually.
Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

 

#shortcut #longestpath #creatingrealchange #wastedtime #want it now #discouragement #falsestarts #overandover #book #quotes #9ThingsYouSimplyMustDo #SucceedinLove #Life #DrHenryCloud #Beachside #Warning #BlackandWhite #photography #photo #Colorizedphoto #red #sign #HeatherJKirk #BoomersBeach #PointLaJolla #SanDiego #CA #beach #California #lifeguardcallbox



Despite fear...

Quotables:

 

Flying Feathers copyright Heather J. Kirk

 

How many times must the Lord say to me ‘Have no fear’ before I have no fear?

‘You are not a coward Joshua!’

Joshua gave a grim laugh. ‘The Lord knows differently.’

 

‘If you are a coward then so are we all. There is not a man among us who does not fear. Brave men do what the Lord commands despite their fear, as you have done.

From "The Warrior: Caleb" by Francine Rivers, published by Oasis Audio



Red Thunder in Motion copyright Heather J. Kirk

" For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."2 Timothy 1:7  (KJV)

 

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#fear #afraid #Joshua #caleb #coward #brave #God #Lord #valiant #trust #fight #dance #warrior #motion #indian #nativeamerican #feather #costume #2timothy1:7

Will the REAL Heather J Kirk Please Stand Up!

 

Will the "real" Heather Kirk please stand up? (LOL!)

You've seen the ‪#‎modeling‬ pictures very recently...

 

 

Photos from my ‪#‎artevents‬ for over a decade:

Guzal, owner of Gravity Elements Frame and Art Gallery
with artist Heather J. Kirk



White Mare Approaches Number One
Close Up Black And White
copyright Heather J Kirk

Crop Top Palm copyright Heather J. Kirk

   








Missing Middle Bar Left Flipped Horizontal
copyright Heather J Kirk



Black Eyed Susan Series copyright Heather J Kirk
available through October 30, 2015
at Gravity Elements in Scottsdale, AZ

 

Nestled copyright by Heather J. Kirk






Perhaps the "go to girl" fixing things.  I've been the professional art installer at ‪#‎HerbergerTheater‬ for perhaps 8 years!

Heather installing art at Herberger Theater Gallery


The "Seasons and Cycles" show curated by Georgia Michalicek is up! Check it out at a #Herberger Theater Center performance or during Box Office hours through January 3rd, 2016. Pictured here left to right (other than me): Bela Fidel's Calendar of Our Days II, Roger Spirit Feather Merritt's Storm and Ellen Bergstrom Nemetz's Reflexion 4.

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#belafidel #rogermerritt #ellenemetz #heatherkirk #heatherjkirk #art #artist #model #herbergertheater http://heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com/featured/missing-middle-bar-left-flipped-horizontal-heather-kirk.htmlhttp://gravityelements.com/heather-kirk/

"...being raised to be men...like thier mothers." OUCH!

Some SERIOUS #spokenword about #beingaman, about being PRESENT! I know women will "Like" this post - but the message is really for MEN! Are you out there? Are you willing to LISTEN and SHOW UP. "WE HAVE A GENERATION OF BOYS...THAT ARE BEING RAISED TO BE MEN...JUST LIKE THEIR MOTHERS." ouucch Jonathan Evans​ !

I don't want to stereotype - there are a lot of men who are right there raising their kids and living Godly examples...I am blessed to have many in my own family. But that does not negate that too many are not present or are setting negative, or hurtful, examples. The video is by Jonathan Evans, son of Tony Evans and chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys.

Then go see the #Woodlawn (a #football #movie for everyone), providing examples of a few more #amazingmen who lead by example - some confident throughout, a reluctant hero and strong conversions - yet the underlying personalities stay the same. I love that part...how God uses us the way he made us! (Release date October 16, 2015. Make it a great opening weekend!)

https://youtu.be/z8A_Ya5D7Nw



Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Act Immediately - Help Restore Funding to Fight Child Labor

While one of the issues that I am passionate about ending is child and adult #sexualexploitation, #childlabor is so closely related it's hard to argue that one does not feed or even cause the other. Impoverished families, particularly in other parts of the world, tend to want children to contribute to #familyincome. Working children are placed in dangerous situations with adults who can easily exploit them away from a parent's watchful eye...or even (though we don't like to admit it) with a parent's explicit or implicit approval. A working child does not get an education, which perpetuates the likelihood of #poverty cycles continuing.

"The #InternationalLaborAffairsBureau - #ILAB - at the #DepartmentofLabor has worked for 20 years to reduce exploitative child labor through education. Last year the office received about $59 million, but now the entire funding for these programs is in serious jeopardy. The lack of funding for ILAB will leave #children, who would have been helped through these programs, at risk for exploitation. Fill out our* easy form to ask your members of #Congress to restore this critical #funding." (*World Vision)

Deadline to sign: October 11, 2015

http://www.worldvision.org/get-involved/advocate/take-action?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f42133%2fRespond%3fvvsn%3dBwnwAAddACVSKAnRwpN7FAA
  

Image provided by World Vision - Acton Alert

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

My #3D #art / #photo piece "A Wing and a Prayer" (currently at Art & Custom Frames Gravity Elements LLC) that I tweeted was "Favorited" by #Kollecto - Nice!

www.KOLLECTO.com

"A Wing and a Prayer" copyright Heather J. Kirk

Detail of shadowbox of "A Wing and a Prayer" copyright Heather J. Kirk

Photo taken at #GraniteDells in #Prescott, #Arizona

Printed on metal created a framers dilemma. The framing was done by Art and Custom Frames Gravity Elements in #Scottsdale, #AZ - and it was not only beautiful, but creative, but professional and friendly.

Learn a little more about me and see the other pieces currently at #GravityElements here: http://gravityelements.com/heather-kirk

As you can see the #3dimensional pieces in my Photo Assistant Series may have some difficulty being safely shipped outside of Arizona. Still, feel free to contact me about them. You can also see (and purchase) two dimensional versions of the #photography #art pieces in the "Assistent Fotografic - #Photo #Assistant " #series here: http://heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com/art/all/all/all/assistent+fotografic+-+photo+assistant+-+series

Beyond My Reach Copyright Heather J Kirk

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#heatherkirk #heatherjkirk #photographicartistry #frame #shadowbox #mannequin #arizona

Who does the abandoning?

“God will not abandon men, my Son. Men abandon God.”

The Prince: Jonathan by Francine Rivers, published by Oasis Audio

Image: "RISE Festival Lanterns 2014 horizontal Sky Only", copyright Heather J. Kirk

 

 Photo from RISE Lantern Festival, Jean Dry Lake Bed, Nevada, October 2014
copyright by Heather Kirk and PhotoGraphic Artistry

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

The Internal Civil War of Extreme Hate with Miraculous Forgiveness

While a young man full of hate beyond measure hoped to incite civil war by killing those in a Bible Study who accepted him without question, forgiveness offered during his bond hearing expressed by family members of those killed demonstrated hearts full of a love beyond measure. Most human beings cannot fathom the existence of either of these extremes – but we all carry both inside of us…the ability to both hate and love…

www.juno-news.com/news/read/category/AP%20Top%20News%20-%20US%20Headlines/article/the_associated_press-church_victims_family_face_alleged_attacker_in_cou-ap

          We convince ourselves we are “good people” because most of us hover near the middle in terms of anger and hatred. But what if we had to compare ourselves daily to the kind of love that forgives such wrongs. Oh, how we fail that test! 

          It is tempting to blame parents, education, culture, drugs or even mental illness, but we all understand at some level such horrific acts demonstrate pure evil on a realm greater than the normal human experience, even a “dysfunctional” one. The true Civil War is one that happens daily inside of our hearts and for each of our souls. The real life scenario playing out in Charleston, SC, only makes sense when we understand that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness…”

In this realm we must “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

To read about the “Whole Armor of God” in context and what that armor includes, read here. When I see not just pure evil, but pure love in action in response to it, I am reminded I need to put on that armor daily. What about you? Don’t understand but want to? Ask someone in whom you have seen a touch of that impossible kind of love and forgiveness.

Ephesians 6:10-20:   www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-20&version=NKJV


Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#EmanuelAME #charleston #forgive #love #hate #memorial #sc #southcarolina #armorofgod #ephesians6 #hatecrime #racism

Michael Land confirmed to sing at Heather Kirk's art opening "Momentum"

Just confirmed, Michael Land will be performing at my Curator's Art Reception. Plan ahead for Friday, May 1st, 5:30 - 7:00 pm at Herberger Theater Center​. My own show may not be up yet, but here is where to see the Art Gallery at Herberger Theater:

Listen here (link below) as he sings with #AmericanIdol 's Danny Gokey​ at ImpactChurch​. Pastor Travis Hearn teases Mike in the beginning, but as you will see when Danny comes out, they are both amazing musicians with rich, beautiful voices - to say nothing of the talented back up band and musicians. Then listen to Danny Gokey's amazing story in an interview - much more than we were able to hear on the 2 minute clips on American Idol

I am honored that Michael Land will be joining me for my art show, entitled "Momentum". Some of my standard series, like "Flowers on Black" and "Forgotten Landscapes," and some new series called "Metalogical" and "Assistent Fotografic". You will see abstract works, 3D wall art and digital art. Some of the new and fun stuff, includes metal, gold leaf and artist manikins YEP! All with photography! Don't miss it! 

A portion of the sales of my art ALWAYS goes to #nonprofits. And sales at Herberger Theater support several amazing arts programs for disadvantaged youth.

See my art at http://www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com/

‪#‎DannyGokey ‪#‎MichaelLandMusic ‪#‎ImpactChurch ‪#‎manikin ‪#‎mannequin ‪#‎AndreWadsworth ‪#‎artreception ‪#‎photography ‪#‎music ‪#‎soul ‪#‎fineart ‪#‎digitalart ‪#‎arizona ‪#‎az ‪#‎azculture ‪#‎artcollector, ‪#‎topartcollectors, ‪#‎buyart,‪#‎aaartcollectors, ‪#‎newartcollector, ‪#‎uprisenyc, ‪#‎theartcollector, ‪#‎artcollectmag, ‪#‎artmags, ‪#‎startartist, ‪#‎artprofiles, ‪#‎globalartagency, ‪#‎artlover, #owningart, #artkontrol, #ninedotarts, Startartist American Idol #americanidol

Listen to Michael Land sing at Impact Church with American Idol Star Danny Gokey


Heather J. KirkArt by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#DannyGokey   #MichaelLandMusic #ImpactChurch #manikin #mannequin #artreception #photography #music #soul #fineart #digitalart #arizona #az #azculture #artcollector,  #americanidol

Hearing the Unconditional in "All of Me" by John Legend

I knew the chorus to "All of Me" by John legend (You Tube link with lyrics below), and found it truly poetic and beautiful, but didn't really appreciate hearing it in my church. I'm a bit off put by using secular songs, especially secular love songs being used to illustrate God's love. If you try to make the straight comparison throughout an entire songs lyrics of human love, something always falls horribly apart - cheating, lust, possessiveness, hurt, anger, fantasy, loss, unrequited love, once had now gone...something decidedly human I don't want in a God's love for me.

And yet, "love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections," while starting with a sensual image quickly moves to the psyche and the whole person. It sounds just like unconditional love! "You're my end and my beginning, even when I lose I'm winning."

Most people growing up in the United States have heard the verses used most often to refer to God's love (whether we truly understand or accept it or not), John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

And we have heard the seemingly impossible high bar set for human love so often heard at weddings, that we think is beautiful, but don't really believe will last past the first few years of marriage, I Corinthians 13:4 - 8: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

But what comes to mind here in the song "All of Me" is not a love that has to die or work really hard, but a love that just IS, like that found in Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Did you catch that beautiful part? "While we were still sinners.." To be loved and accepted just like you are, just like I am, "all your curves and all your edges"! You don't have to figure it all out or change to meet the requirements before being loved, you ARE loved with "all your perfect imperfections"!

For the first time I decided to listen to ALL the words, and decided this is  how I want to love and be loved, and I almost see myself as that girl being sung to, the one who is sometimes confused, "drawing me in and you kicking me out, no kidding, got my head spinning,  I can't pin you down, what's going on in that beautiful mind?"

People ARE inconsistent sometimes, as humans we become doubtful of the others affections, then love with wild abandon, we have good days and bad days, we fear and mistrust, then throw caution to the wind and trust completely, and bring it back round again.


Yet to be told in spite of that, "'Cause all of me, loves all of you!" That's how we want to be loved, how we want to love, both with each other and with God. "Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you. You're my end and my beginning, even when I lose I'm winning."

Listen to "All of Me" by John Legend and read the lyrics here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk7-GRWq7wA

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#allofme #johnlegend #unconditionallove

Pondering Arizona Skies...

Pondering the Arizona skies (getting gas, otherwise I wouldn't be hanging around in this windblown drizzle), wondering if we will have a sunny Saturday or Sunday!

For those of you who came to the Valley of the Sun to not only see a football game or golf game or classic car show or visit an Arabian horse farm or take an art walk or listen to an incredible array of amazing music or eat to your heart's content or or or - wow! This is a happenin' place! Who needs the sun?

Oh, got distracted there...for those of you who came for the sun, periodically check the news or weather channel and it will keep you quite happy about a few raindrops here compared to what's happening back home!






As for me, I'm still thinking back on sunnier days, and certain they aren't too far around the corner.

Heather J. Kirk is a fine art photographer and graphic designer

Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Squarely Purple Succulent Crassula Baby Necklace: One of this Weak's Most Popular Images

"Squarely Purple Succulent Crassula Baby Necklace" is perpetually on the list of my most popular images. It is a favorite of mine too, with the many shades of green and the oddly shaped leaves tinged with purple.(Copyright Heather J. Kirk and PhotoGraphic Artistry and Publishing)

Find the image at:
http://heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com/featured/squarely-purple-succulent-crassula-baby-necklace-heather-kirk.html

Follow Heather on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/heatherjkirk
Follow PhotoGraphic Artistry and Publishing on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/PhotoGraphicArtistrybyHeatherJKirk

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk http://www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com
Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have always like the music of U2, but never thought I’d post a quote by Bono. But it fits with something I told a friend today regarding my belief that while some say all Gods are the same and all religions lead to the same place is wrong. (Stay with me here – I dare you…) Perhaps they all started out as the same, but somewhere along the way, people couldn’t believe that love, forgiveness , grace and heaven were completely free. All you had to do was admit you couldn’t be perfec t on your own and accept the gift. So various religions were created by man to figure out ways to EARN God’s love, EARN forgiveness and DESERVE Heaven. That’s why I believe Christianity is NOT the same as all the rest. It’s the only one that offers a solution to the truth…because haven’t you all figured out yet that you just can’t do it on your own. The rules are impossible to follow 100% of the time!

Sorry – I promised a Bono quote, so here we go: “You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you… And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that… Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.” (Michka Assayas, Bono in Conversation)

I found the quote thanks to the December 21 Advent Devotional from Water from Rock
http://www.waterfromrock.org/

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have heard that the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” (one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard, rivaled only by “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”) is secret code to remember basic tenants of Christianity or Catholicism when the practice was outlawed. But, duh huh, doesn’t using the word “Christmas” itself give it away? I mean anyone who sings Christmas songs or celebrates Christmas MUST be a Christian. OOPS! My bad.

As we can see in our present culture, that is not true at all. Jesus has been completely usurped by Santa and “Making a List;” giving to people by people until you go into debt and hope other people spend as much as you did on them or you will hold a grudge, overarches any understanding of receiving the gift of a Savior coming to live life as we do, so we can never say to God – “You have no idea how hard this life is!” At least one person I know from every culture and religion celebrates Christmas in some form. I say this merely to point out that celebrating does not mean believing (including those who call themselves Christians), not as criticism. It would be hard to avoid Christmas altogether in a society consumed with consumerism!  Though I would say people of the Jewish faith follow their own faith most closely at this time of year, maintaining their own beliefs as separate – perhaps made easier by a similar time frame for a holiday celebration. Or who knows, maybe that makes it harder…

So if I am not criticizing per se, why the duh huh? Because as a whole, the American culture is very accepting of so many things and people without criticism (which is good), or hate certain groups of people based solely on skin color or religion or place of birth (which is bad), but we tend to do so without knowledge or understanding (which is risky). Why risky? If any time of year is the right time to ponder the gift of eternal life, it is Christmas. And that gift is not in 12 golden rings, or a pretty tree, or shop ‘til you drop. It is in the birth of one very special baby. If you don’t really understand what that first “Christmas” was all about, isn’t it time you asked?

A great place to start is http://www.impactchurch.com/messages2#

Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 1: Three Things Jesus Came to Reveal About God
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3:  When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:  

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html