Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
More Than A Conquerer
This piece was created for someone dear to me at a time when my words and hugs couldn't touch the places that needed to be touched...
This piece was created when I couldn't "fix" anything...
This piece was created in hopes of encouraging him...
This piece was created to let him know I care and am in his
corner..
This piece was created to remind him that everything was going to be alright...
Painting with Purpose
Painting to emPower
Painting to uplift People
~Ashley Jataun Moore
Pain to Piece to Peace
If I could put my pain on canvas
and walk away free
I'd do just that
If I could capture my tears in ink caplets
I'd release them in handwritten poems
and keep my pillows clean
"Band-aids can't heal a soul
but time and paint can"
~Ashley Jataun Moore
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Art Night
A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to facilitate an art night with New Life Open Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia. I had the opportunity to share the message behind my work as well as usher others (both youth and adults) through the process of creating their own masterpieces.
The Promise
Keeping His promise running through my mind
and in my ears
and settled in my heart...
Below is a link to Andrae Crouch's song, "The Promise" which served as part of my initial inspiration.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Write
What's right is that I WRITE
with all my might and all my heart
with all my mind and all my soul
WRITE
Write until I come out of this pit
Write until I can tell again my right from my left
Write into my new niche
Write into my rightful spaces and places
Write where I belong, right where I belong
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Hugged by Home
Tonight, I let home give me the hug I need
and I hug back
candles singing to me
Maroon 5 and Tenth Avenue North on deck
Embracing every room
Home hugs and I hug back
The simple blessing
of being home
Thank you Lord for home.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Reflections
I look up at my wall and see wrapped in blackness
the essence of what's running through my veins
the voices of those calling me forward and onward and higher and deeper
the reflections of my soul
John Lewis
A Dancer
Corretta Scott King
Jackie Robinson
Maya Angelou
and Me
All staring back at me
While sitting in my bed and looking at my wall
greatness in still-life form stares back at me
beckoning me
reminding
encouraging me
strengthening me
I see me
surrounded by
fortified by
the same things that are in me:
Fortitude
Passion
Strength
Talent
Poetry
John
A Dancer
Corretta
Jackie
Maya
Me...
I see Me
Someone who wasn't made to fit into
the molds others create for her
Someone who's yet to see all she was destined to be
Someone who fits in among the posted frames of
John, a Dancer, Corretta, Jackie and Maya...
I see the inner me
I see the true me
I see me and the lives framed around me
and am encouraged
to stand
to dance
to continue
to preserve
to write
to BE
by Ashley Jataun Moore
Monday, August 24, 2015
The Growing Revelation
I look up from where I am sitting, and I see the picture collage above my desk. The pictures remind me to embrace myself- all of me: my strengths, imperfections, quirks, past, present, dreams... The pictures urge me to love and embrace myself
and to BE GREAT
to go out and DO the greatness that is in me- that is in all of us.
Now is the time to accept ourselves, love ourselves and go out and share ourselves with others.
Today is the day to stop rejecting ourselves.
Today is the day to let go of the hurt, rejection, baggage we've acquired throughout life.
Today is the day to soar and triumph at being ourselves.
There is greatness in you.
Today is the day to lay down any shame, any weight that causes our heads to drop.
Embrace yourself: the gift of your life, the gifts within...
God loves you unconditionally and created you with great purpose.
Today is the day to release and allow yourself to be and be great.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Jimmy Potters Studio
Today, I visited Jimmy Potters Studio. I went with the intention of getting a taste-test of what goes into the creation of pottery, but I left with so much more.
I had the opportunity to meet and learn a little about the founder and owner of the studio, Jimmy. He's opened two locations and intends to open another.
It is important to constantly feed your motivation and inspiration tank. Meeting Jimmy and seeing the product of his passion and hard work was food for the soul. I don't know his full story, but I know enough to deter any thoughts of settling for a mediocre life.
It is possible to work your gifts and allow them to "make room for you." I feel like God strategically places people along my path as vision-checks for me. He allows me to see people walking in purpose and passion as a means of reminding me that IT IS POSSIBLE.
IT...
IT
IT IS POSSIBLE...
BELIEVE AND DO...
REST AND PREPARE...
CONSTANTLY FILL YOUR TANK WITH LIFE...
KEEP BELIEVING AND CONTINUE TO DO...
WATCH FOR, EXPECT, AND EXPERIENCE GREAT FRUIT...
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Pieces Behind the Scenes
Much of our lives happens behind the scenes
Before the curtain opens
Below the surface
In the roots
Inside the vines and branches
Production
Fruit
Masterpieces
Are just a part
A piece
Pieces of me that I share
But the other pieces
Pieces of me
The piecing of me
The peacing of me
Lay in less visible places and spaces at times
They lay not in the ends but in the middles
Poems and canvases being chapter cliff-notes
Today, however,
Today I write about the middles
The in betweens
The gap between thought and articulation
The gulf between experience and understanding
The river of reflection
The time in between revelations
Life in between
Processes in between
Growth in between
Preparation
Learning
Sitting
Walking
Reflecting
Growing
The pieces in between
Pieces seen and unseen
And the piecing together
Of those pieces
Behind the scene
All a part of me
Fitting together
To make the whole of me
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Show Up
There are times when the happenings of life
tempt us to want to
fade away
check out
just not care
apathy
fatigue
hopelessness
feeling overwhelmed
like effort is in vain
Just wanting to check-out
and when I say, "check-out"
I am not talking suicide
I am not talking suicide
I mean resorting to just existing
existing
floating
just being
DRAINED
Sapped of energy or motivation
Apathetic
checking out mentally and emotionally
because of the multitude of waves
because of the time it's taking
because of the constant winds
because of low visibility
because of clothes drenched from rain...
But I dare you
I challenge you
I beg you
DON'T GIVE UP
Go to bed
and get up again
SLEEP
and then rise again
plan again
REST
and then dream again
NAP
and then go again
PAUSE
and then press play again
SHOW UP
Show up in your own life
and KEEP SHOWING UP
Your life
needs you
You need you
The world needs you
the fulfillment of your purpose requires you
to keep SHOWING UP
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Celebrating a Piece of Me...
Granddaddy, this post is for you.
I've had moments when my eyes leaked
Gravity of emotions
Caused tears to drop
Yet I know that I have not yet fully wept
Or fully realized
The absence of your physical presence
But maybe all the moments of sputtered cries
Will add up to a full release
Mind racing
Time flying in slow motion
Surreal
Leaks have been my main release
Mind not wanting to be still enough to fully acknowledge and assess any loss
Yet I pause tonight
To be still enough to say
I miss you
I LOVE YOU
I am grateful for your presence in my life
Your life on earth has not been in vain
You've left a legacy of "FAMILY"
And many fond memories
Pop-sickles
Peppermint Patties
Golf Balls
Jazz
Sunday School Dates
Hugs and Kisses
The Bulls on TV
Two-Stepping
Love
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
God Has Smiled On Me
The song on my heart and
the song that has been replayed over and over during the creation of this piece:
"God Has Smiled on Me"
rendition by Jessica Reedy
Click below to listen.
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