My Mother: The Humble Artist

 EVERY MOTHER IS AN ARTIST

Although she would never accept that title, 

my mother was certainly no exception to that rule.

When my mother's almost Century-long journey on this world ended on August 2, 2022, she left behind so many who will miss her infectious and easily attainable laughter, her quick yet often quiet wit, her self-reliant attitude, and her ability to make those around her feel special just for being in her presence.

Born on March 31, 1926, she grew up with perseverance and adaptability and it was those acquired and intrinsic traits that saw her through life with grace, strength, and good humor. Renowned for her many positive attributes including her work-ethic and affable personality, Ruth was also a working-mother of three, and an avid trophy-winning golfer and bowler who loved to travel. Possessing only basic kitchen and gardening skills, my mother demonstrated her art as a very accomplished tailor; a skill she learned out of financial necessity. I doubt that she ever thought of herself as a tailor, but that she was. As a child I would watch in  amazement as her nimble fingers, adorned with an assortment of thimbles, would place an array of pins between her lips and then deftly insert them one after another into yards of flowing fabric. The crinkly sound of the thin paper patterns joined with the gentle squeak-whoosh of her shears created a soundtrack for the magical transformations she performed.

Proud to call the creations she made for me "handmade", I was often complimented by those who appreciated the craft and I proudly wore them from kindergarten through high school and even on my wedding day.  Everything she made, from sweet little dresses edged in rick rack and lace to bedroom curtains for her grandson, was made with fine attention to detail and yards upon yards of LOVE. When sewing, either by hand or on the machine, my mother was always at her most peaceful. Well, except when the fabric would slide or her bobbin would fail, but even then she just grumbled and carried on. 

Unlike other art forms that are preserved behind glass, within frames, or displayed on shelves, her creations were worn and often worn out. It is with a great deal of regret that I do not possess any of the dresses, skirts, jumpers, bell-bottomed slacks or blouses she lovingly made for me. But all I have to do is look through family photos to see them again and to remember how very fortunate I was to have such an ARTISTIC mother. 

Thank you Mom.

I miss you so much.

EXPRESS YOUR DREAMS

 In order to fully    EXPRESS

                       REVEAL 

                           EXHIBIT   

      

 your        DREAMS

                VISIONS

                    FANTASIES

You MUST

    DISCOVER   

          REALIZE

             EXPLORE

 your PASSION

          your JOY

               your DESIRES  

        YOURSELF!         

                                       

 

As one we come.

As one we go.

In between we often wander as entities through a void of our own design,

climbing mountains of desire, drifting across nebulae of fate and destiny

Until we catch a glimpse of the infinite web of our existence

With trepidation and curiosity we pull, pluck and tug at the strings

discovering what threads move others

sensing that eternal intricate pulse

of the universe

We feel the strings vibrate in

Power

Greatness

Life and

Energy

We perceive their beauty in

Knowledge

Learning and

Experience

We sense their complexity in

Lovers

Artists

Thinkers and

Teachers

The synergy of life and the bond of our universe in a

collaborating

bouncing

chaotic

network  

all in the strings that we pull and pluck and tug.

 

 

                                    

Michigan ArtShare at MEDC

 

 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/michigan_artshare/ 

 

 I am extremely honored to be a part of the MSU Extension program -

MICHIGAN ARTSHARE

with a display of some of my most recent pieces at the 

MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

in downtown Lansing. 

When I recently met with my good friend and mentor, Diane Wilson (Executive Director-Michigan ArtShare) about the prospect of displaying my art in a public setting for the first time in 12 years I was THRILLED!  Not only did I need an escape from the cruel reality of recent events on the campus of Michigan State University, I needed to express the LOVE I possess for my beautiful state of Michigan! 

Keeping a theme of Winter-Water Wonderland in mind, I created several pieces that pay tribute to our State symbols; the Robin, the White Pine, the Apple Blossom, and the White-Tailed Deer.

Michigan Spring

White Pine Buddies

Elusive Beauty

.....along with some friendly and frisky squirrels and a nuthatch!  

Lobby hours for public viewing are 8 to 5 daily - CLOSED on weekends.  

300 N. Washington - Downtown Lansing

 

 

FROM THE WEBSITE:

Michigan is loaded with creative talent. Innovation is all around us. Technology, manufacturing, entrepreneurs and businesses large and small are working their magic. Whether we live in a small town, a big city, suburb or rural community; we all need arts and culture. Too often we forget that a strong economy requires an equally strong and diverse arts community in order to stay relevant, connected and viable. Working together, we've learned that sharing our creative passions result in a stronger and more elastic economic base within and between communities.

You choose how to spend your money and in doing so, you also choose what is important to you and your community. There are many ways to support arts and culture. We encourage you to think about what you'd like to see and do in your community, then work with us to make it happen.

Visit our website often to see what we've been up to in communities around Michigan, then let your imagination soar. Together we can create inspiring events for your community. We have the commitment to work with you to create something good, then export that idea to other Michigan communities. Michigan ArtShare is an open-concept idea that allows Michigan's creative citizens to share their work state-wide in an established network.

 

Demeter Dreams - Demeter Awakens

Tolkien's Respite

Welcome to Demeter's Dreams: 

                        Art from the Heart of Nita

I'm so very glad to welcome you to my NEW BLOG and I encourage you to further explore my journey at:

http://foamfriends.blogspot.com/   

FoamFriends - From the Heart and Hands of Nita 

    Since a very young age I’ve been thinking about, or working on, an art project of some kind.  My passion was first fueled by my older sister, Roxanne, who introduced me to the art of penmanship and the joy of creating handmade cards for the special people in our lives when I was only 5 years old. After working mostly in pen and ink throughout my college years at MSU, I began making custom latch-hook rugs and wall hangings along with personalized cross-stitch pieces on commission.  After our son, Jackson, was born in 1994, I began working with Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Foam Insulation, or "Styrofoam.  Through the use of blades, hot wire, soldering guns, candle knives, heat guns, wire brushes and other tools, the foam would be cut, carved, melted, molded, painted and embellished to be transformed into a multitude of shapes and objects. I was fortunate to have a very successful gallery showing of my work at Art Alley in the Reo Town area of Lansing in March of 2011 and continued working in “styrofoam” until my retirement from the Lansing School District in 2018.

    As a retirement gift, one of my dearest teacher friends presented me with a large blank canvas with a note attached that read, “Express your Dreams!”. In my little art studio located next to the clothes dryer in the basement, my foam-working tools were soon replaced with jars of acrylic paint samples from the hardware store and previously used canvases from the thrift store readied for repurposing. It was a liberating experience to finally create what I wanted to as most of my work for the previous three decades was by commission. I was overwhelmed by so many ideas for subjects that I finally decided to focus on what brought me the most joy (other than my family and my cats) and that was the beauty and magic of Michigan’s natural world from my little backyard garden to the shores of Lake Superior.

    With my husband, Jeff, as my muse, teacher, and assistant, I continue to experience great joy and satisfaction through expressing my dreams on canvas.   

It is my sincere hope that others enjoy viewing my work 

as much as I enjoy creating them.

 Juanita "Nita" Rae Kennedy

foamfriends4u@gmail.com