Connecting the Dots
Connecting the Dots
A bio I wrote not too long ago reads:
D.E. Bentley believes that an object in motion stays in motion. She loves learning new ways of creating and has, most recently, been experimenting with the design, carving, fabrication, and animation of human and animal figures using locally sourced wood and other materials from the land. She lives, creates, and frolics in the Finger Lakes region of NYS. When not creating, she can be found scrambling up hillsides or quietly conversing with her honey bees.
This captures some of what I do and how I create, although as with any statement it also leaves so much out. As any Owl Light followers will be aware, for many years after moving to the Genesee Valley region of NYS, near Canadice Lake, editing was primarily how I spent my time. In 2025, I published the second issue of our literary journal, These Wilds! Although I love the editorial role—that is bringing voices and art into print form—so much of the work of Canadice Press (established in 2017) is online time. If you look at my recent FB cover photo, in which I attempt to mentally tie together some of what I do and how I hope to “Connect the Dots” in the new year, you will notice that there is no computer shown.
Although there are many aspects of editing and publishing that I love, so much of it involves engagement with machines (which, as you likely noticed are demanding more and more pseudo engagement from human users). I would much rather stick with simple (analog) machines and most prefer using hand tools. As such, for me connecting the dots reflects my connection to the natural world through gardening, bee keeping and using natural materials and environmental influences as materials and inspirations for creations. This includes recent work in wood as well as fabrication of silver jewelry—which I hope to spend a bit more time doing in the year(s) ahead. Most recently these creations have been puppets, which I am adoring doing!
That said, I don’t want to lose sight of many other things I do and want to see these merge a bit more. One goal for the new year it to see a children’s story I wrote and illustrated, Blue’s Magnificent Tale, find a mainstream publisher. Looking back on 2025, in some ways I believe I should have not supported others through the literary journal (and a huge amount of volunteer time in the community) and should have, instead, published this story myself, using those financial and mental/social resources spent elsewhere. As I have mentioned, I want less machine time and more hands on time, so finding a publisher would be ideal for this story and several other children’s stories in the works.
Another planned connection is a deeper dive into theatre arts (albeit with puppet actors) and dramatic writing (for puppets and human stages). This connects, somewhat, with Canadice Press and Owl Light. I started the press, in part, to write more. That goal has certainly been accomplished, in so many ways. I will, in the year ahead, be moving away from Owl Light News as a site specifically for Canadice Press , transitioning it into a platform for a wider range of arts than its initial literary arts focus. At some point, the current email (1 of 3 that I maintain) will be going bye-bye, and I will be a bit more challenging to get in touch with unless you know where to find me. I will keep posting some arts-related content that makes its way to me, strictly limited to and related to creative arts.
All this to say that owllightnews.com will continue to be online but will be morphing, growing, changing in the year ahead to reflect my wider world of experiences and arts. Like everyone else, at least everyone I know, the arts and creating is so important right now—perhaps more important than it has ever been. As is a greater engagement with, and protection of, our natural world. I believe in and love helping others, when it is valued and appreciated, but Connecting the Dots in 2026 will take me, and anyone who chooses to follow and join in, on a more personal journey to new and exciting places as I continue to create and grow doing the things I most love.