Ellen Anne Eddy's Thread Magic Studio: Wizard of Oz

Showing posts with label Wizard of Oz. Show all posts

Friday, December 23, 2011

The Wizard of Odd

11:22 AM |

Posted by Ellen Anne Eddy |

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Having fun being weird today? Thank an artist!

Lately, they've been playing the Wizard of Oz again. It occurred to me just how much of our language comes from that amazing movie.

Most movies are a cultural moment at best. They expand on a moment in time. What is a classic changes with the wind, but I think we can say that it's about how it changes the way people think.

I was going through the number of phrases that the Wizard cemented into my verbal landscape:

"If I only had a brain."
"Ding, dong, the witch is dead."
"Over the rainbow."
"And your little dog too."
"I hope my courage holds out. I hope your tail holds out."
"I'm melting."

And of course,

" Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Frank Baum, the author, had a rather unsuccessful life outside his books. He bounced from one thing to another until he wrote this odd and lovely tale, largely about politics. The politics have disappeared in time leaving a wonderful story about friendship, challenges, appreciating weird and very kind help, and finding your heart. Who would any of us be without it?

That being said, I take heart in this. When someone says, "You quilt, right? Can you make me a bed quilt? In beige?"

I remind myself that my glory and my crown, my hope and my consolation is that I be as gloriously odd as I am. And that if I do it well a small part of the world will shift for it.

Those of us doing our art shift the archetypes. Not purposely, or with cause, but simply by bringing our vision to the world. It's not something one picks and chooses. It's simply an act of trust to bring what your heart demands into being. We bring it all to the table and let time sort it out.