a note from the curators

From November 2017 to April 2018, fLoromancy fell asleep with the flowers. It was generative, and we’re back this spring, bringing FIRE to the month of April.

This month, we asked four artists to contribute work on a theme of FIRE. They responded with beautiful, wild, hypnotic work, which we look forward to sharing every Sunday in April.

These artists are:

Kat Shuford

Carley Rickles

Charlie Watts

Diana Settles

We are grateful to them for their thoughtfulness and generosity. It’s a privilege to share the work of such talented people.

We are also grateful to you for engaging with the work → for standing around the fire with us. For giving your time to fLoromancy, valuing these artists, and building something.

In considering the month’s theme, our own thoughts ranged, very loosely, over: absence and return, destruction and regeneration, cycles, rituals, gods, gathering, and growth.

On Fire

“...the cosmic circle of fire that is the simultaneous and continuous creation and destruction of the universe. The ring of fire that surrounds the figure is the encapsulated cosmos of mass, time, and space, whose endless cycle of annihilation and regeneration moves in tune to the beat of Shiva’s drum and the rhythm of his steps.” - Farisa Khalid, “Shiva as Lord of the Dance.”

Screen Shot 2018-03-31 at 5.38.12 PM.png

Shiva's upper left hand holding the agni, the flame of destruction (detail), Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), c. 11th century, Copper alloy, Chola period, 68.3 x 56.5 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Agni [fire in belly], life force of momentum, regeneration, cyclical creativity. We tend to the fire within/before us - care for, pay attention. Increasingly aware of the divine - a dance with fear and awe. Burn to build.

It’s no wonder we bring fire into ritual - without understanding, we trust her presence will persist. Protect on my behalf. On our behalf.

Messenger to the gods. Comfort to skin and cold earth. Fear of the cosmos. Surrender to power. Trust of the cycle. Longing for. Agni as gatekeeper to MORE.

We want to send a special thanks to MaryGrace Phillips for putting her heart and poetry into fLoromancy our first year. She'll be taking a leave as our editor, but she will always have flower breath.