At present, I have art hanging in *three public places* I my hometown of Herrin in Southern Illinois! All of which happened more or less effortlessly ~ 

Chestnut Codes, Tahverlee, and Winnie are currently on view at Herrin Animal Control, all in the front reception area! Last year, the shelter directors Leona Jackson and Jason Engelbright invited me to hang some of my Cat Code paintings there, after I presented them Winnie as a gift. They asked if I sold any paintings if I would please donate a portion of the proceeds to the care of the animals at the shelter—this was the intention all along! All of the paintings are the forehead markings of Cats who have sojourned at the shelter. In the photo below you can see all three paintings currently on the walls, plus Puppucino, an adoptable dog, is making an appearance from under the desk ;o) 

Space Jaguar Chincha is on view in the pedicure cove at Amazon Salon, a lively Steel-Magnolias-style hair store with a rainforest motif. I was there having my hair cut by my gifted, much beloved hairstylist Gwyn when it occurred to me in a moment that Chincha would look perfect on their walls—so I asked the proprietress Holly Burks if they would consider hanging him there and she thought it was a great idea! I love where she placed Chincha and hope he evokes a smile in clients and stylists alike. ((The original Chincha is a jaguar in Dartmoor Zoo.))

The magazine reading room in Herrin City Library is home to rotating art and photography exhibits. Assistant Director Jason Hedrick asked me if I would like to hang some of my paintings in that space for the next installation. I chose two of the Angelic Orders series (Seraphim I and Angels I, the first and the last—they began and completed a story and complemented each other, felt like they went together) to flank the big picture window; and then 'literary' paintings: the two Shakespeare paintings, and the Tom Robbins painting which fits perfectly over the ornamental fireplace. The front display case needed a new display in it and it is just the right size to house one of the big Angel panels so I proposed we hang another one there ~ it's Ophanim I! So he is there beckoning to people to come back and view the rest of the paintings, and circling light at patrons as they enter and exit the Library. 

All of these displays happened pretty much effortlessly, following a moment of inspiration and/or and invitation. This way the paintings get out of the studio, get to see the world and be experienced by other eyes than my own which is what art is meant to do, it is meant to be shared—to be seen and felt, to add resonance to people's lives. It is for us and for others. There really is a presence and a spark to original art—it has a vibrational quality which adds depth, force, life, and dimension to any space it's in. Art needs to be beheld because it inspires others to have faith in themselves and open up to the possibilities of their own creativity! So if you have some art hanging out in your own studio, consider the local places you might share it: schools, nursing homes, hospitals, churches and church halls, the lobbies of theaters.... They all might want to exhibit it! Be unconventional! 

The next New Moon Newsletter will be sent out 18 March, and the Full Moon Blog in April will rise on the 1st ;o)