Ganesh - Remover of Obstacles

Continuing with my Ganesh in cartoneria class (first mentioned in my 10/31/08 post). I finally got the hands, tusks, and ears on last night. I'll finish up the little tidbits tonight and tomorrow making the form stronger, then start on the pasting this weekend before next week’s class.

As I create this figure in paper mache I am learning lessons in humility and patience, and clearly seeing what stops me in making art. It's ironic or poetic that I'm working with Ganesh. He's the Remover of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings, and patron of arts and sciences. As I understand it, he breaks obstacles by working around them helping you find other ways of overcoming the obstacle. It is said that the real obstacles he breaks are those which prevent you from recognizing alternative solutions.

Apparently I have two teachers in this project - Ganesh and Ruben. Both are patient with me as I work through this “ambitious” project. For the past two weeks I have been so incredibly anxious about creating the hands. Ruben gave me several options on how to work with them but I was stymied as I tried a few and failed to get exactly what I wanted.

I take Ganesh home each week, thinking I'll work on him before the next class, but he sits there on my bench quietly, patiently...sometimes taunting me. I almost cried in class last night as one hand was just not cooperating. Frustration swelled and I was overwhelmed with the thought that I'll never get this done! Ruben, my teacher (a blessed teacher he is) talked me out of my anxiety spell. He told me (again) to take a step back, and breathe. I realized I was taking it too seriously and all too personally, wanting perfection, when this craft (and this figure) are not about that. And I must keep in mind that it’s my first time with this medium! I took a deep breath and allowed myself the opportunity to fail if necessary. Suddenly the hands were coming together as I envisioned them. I stepped back and one classmate commented that I had truly captured the spirit of Ganesh. So true on many levels.

When I started the class in cartoneria I was thrilled by the whimsy and play of it all and the freedom working with recycled materials to form the object. No problem if I made a mistake or changed your mind, I wasn't wasting too much time or materials. Last night I lost track of all that for a moment, but thankfully was able to work around it and get to the other side, and even laugh at my seriousness.

I’m removing obstacles to my creative flow, recognizing alternative solutions and I’m pretty proud of the results thus far with Ganesh. Om gam ganapataye namaha!