Today is my birthday...I am 47 years old. Thirteen years ago a good friend gave me a book that was quite ground-breaking for me. This was thirteen years after leaving art school when I had been struggling with a career and young children and still painting, waking at 5am and going to sleep at midnight just to fit it all in. I was desperate to find work that would blossom into a series, something that mattered to me, something that I felt would reflect how I felt and that I wanted to commit to. Little did I know that I didn't have to find it, it would find me. It still continues to find me. I just have to keep working.
Anyway, the book I was given was titled 'Spilling Open' by a young woman named Sabrina Ward Harrison. It was a catalyst of sorts, a reminder to belong to yourself...just trust yourself...that we all feel fear and inadequacies and that's okay. So, I just painted what was around me. And took that massive frightening leap to share what I was doing with others. And a year later I had my first exhibit opening at the grand opening of ArtSpace complete with an A-Channel interview (yikes, a live recording), Bernard Callebaut chocolates, champagne and a performance by my friend Tim Tamashiro's trio. Life (and my work) has changed dramatically from that time. I have continued to work and experiment throughout the years. And after what's been transpiring across the province as far as flooding with many friends experiencing displacement and loss, I am humbled and grateful beyond measure. Plus I'm looking forward to turkey dinner with all the fixin's this evening (yes, in June). So this is a good day. And for those who have wondered...yes, I have legally changed the spelling of my first name to a 'c'. It's just easier this way. Comments are closed.
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