The Revolution of the Mommies: a mother of a revolution. "It's about the hive and the honeybee!"

Check out this summary of Revolution of the Mommies on Elephant Journal. We've decided to include Revolution of the Mommies in our finalist vote because we LOVE the way that it was presented on Waylon's blog (for those of you who don't know of Waylon Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal, be sure to look him up!). The full piece is below.  http://www.elephantjournal.com/2008/11/joana-smiths-secret-poetic-mommy-re-volution/.

cosleeping...

I am speechless...this is just amazing and beautiful and inspiring. The best scrapbook album I have ever seen. Wow.....

This is just amazing, Jo!!! Your light is shining! I love the lyrics, "Yahwey" and and the Ani lyrics from "Hat Shaped Hat"! So cool! What a beautiful book. Truly a labor of love. Very soulful, very universal. Very inspiring! I love you! - and Abilene and Nathan too! Throw all my love your way! -your little bro

The revolution is about brothers!

This is a beautiful testement through generations of mindfullness. I love your hard work here!

much thanks, girlfriend!

you really should have made the finalists...what were they thinking? i'm sorry i didn't get a chance to look at your whole piece earlier but i just did and it is really eclectic and creative. you obviously put alot of time, effort, and personality into your artwork!

p.s. are you familiar with the artist, monica canilao? you should check out her work if you're not cause i think you would appreciate her asthetic. she has a website-monicacanilao.com

no, I don't know this artist! But, I'm interested! I'm no artist, I'm just someone who makes things, whose never been given a chance!

I'm just a trash collector! That's what my husband calls me. That's what I'm happy to call myself!

And it looks like this is not my chance either! But when I'm sad, I listen to Dylan live at Royal Albert Hall, and secretly,

I think every song is about me! And I dance! Dance mommies, you deserve it ! ! ! ! ! You work so hard ! ! !

We're building a generation here! ! ! ! !

lighting a candle.

blowing a trumpet

Isn't it kinda odd when you think about it.  Mindful and competition?  Seems so not Buddhist!  More like just another form of exerting capitalistic ideas, hey, which are after all just another form of patriarchal ways.  Besides isn't creativity, in and of itself, the whole beauty of mindfulness.  Who said that creativity should be judged just to win 'freaking' concert tickets!  Maybe there is another way, eh?  Feminism is about connections, not cutting off other women -- especially in their acts of creation.  P.S. Could you pass the Kleenex box!

Jade Zanita 

Right on Jade Zanita!

I just found out Revolution of the Mommies is back in the competition. And though I agree with Jade Zanita about the contradictory nature of "mindfulness" and "competition", I am really happy that this piece is back, because it is so creative and full of energy. The color splendour of the work alone is worthy of respect. As a non-mother or grandmother, I wondered for a long time what this piece says to me, and I think it is about inheritance--the way in which we are born with things, into things, into a world that is often filled with junk, and the question that we must answer is: what do we do with this stuff? I think Joana's answer is just right.

YES, YES, YES! Viva la revolution! I'm going to be a father in about 8 weeks give or take a few and the idea of MINDFUL became a reality when I looked Joana's piece here. Being a parent changes our perception of how we live in the world, not just with our babies but with our "stuff". We have a responsibility to the earth to look after it and share our stuff with others like with the idea of cuffs. We are all connected and maybe becoming mamas and dadas help us be more mindful of that! Way to go, Joana! Let the revolution take form! You got my vote!