Stories of the Past Reception – September 30, 2016

We had a great opening night for our exhibition. The seniors were thrilled with all the attention and the Art Center had an amazing turnout. Lucy Brett, the senior who I have been working with all summer showed up in a red suit and a red hat. She looked lovely and reminded me so much of my mom. She has lent me the quilt she had crocheted and the red hat she wore while a member of the “Red Hat Society. These are both on display along with the artwork created based on Lucy’s story. I will post some pictures as soon as I get them of the display but if you are close to the Vernon Community Art Center between now and October 25th, stop in and read some amazing stories given to us by the seniors we have all worked with. What a pleasure to have had this opportunity. The following pieces of artwork tell part of Lucy’s story. The “Quilt of Many Colors” shows Lucy’s quilt work. The “Happy Hats” shows a hat shop with the hats Lucy loves to wear and “Birch Bay Summers” is my interpretation of the trailer that Lucy and her family spent summers in at Birch Bay. I have created cards and prints of these images and have also included a copy of the artwork in a book I published on Lucy’s “Stories of the Past”. The book will be given to Lucy at the end of the exhibition as a thank you to her for sharing her story. “Quilt of Many Colors”

“The Happy Hat Shop”

“Birch Bay Summers”

“Stories of the Past”

In April of this year I signed up to work on a project called “Stories of the Past”. I was teamed up with a senior from a retirement home here in Vernon along with six other artists and seniors. The plan was to have an exhibition at the end of September telling their stories in artwork and words. It has been a great project and I have enjoyed getting to know my senior, Lucy, who turned 91 this summer. She has some great Vernon historical connections and I am looking forward to telling her story on September 30.

The Joy of Coloring

I recently completed a coloring book of whimsical images similar to the ones on this website. It was fun to create and available in most of the locations that carry my cards. Here is a peek at some of the images.  Coloring at first glance may seem childish,  an act that many of us did when we were young.  But think back – remember why you colored, and how you felt when you were doing it.  The act of coloring itself becomes a meditation that relieves stress, relaxes the body and clarifies the thought processes.  I am now looking forward to coloring my originals and creating prints and cards from them.  Coloring for me is happiness.