Fountain of Youth

Today my Aunt Muriel is 90. Pretty amazing. She is one vibrant youthful woman for any age. What's her secret? I would guess that she stays active, has lots of interests and keeps busy with family and friends.

Aunt Muriel 

Earlier this week I went to visit an artist friend of mine who is a resident at a senior group home. It had been a couple of months since I had spoken to Ruth- who I think is somewhere in her 80's. I was surprised and saddened to find Ruth laying very still on her back in a sparse new room. Due to a fall she was moved from her regular room which was covered with her charming ink and watercolor drawings and paintings, photos and doll collection.

There she was with only Raymond- her stuffed animal draped around her neck and the window shades drawn in a darkened room. I saw that she had some sheets of loose paper next to her bed with drawings of black birds sitting and flying among intricate designs of tree branches.  I opened her curtains, watered her plant and we chatted about her work and I asked her if she needed anything. She said no, that'll she'll be fine- and told me that her mother, who was also an artist- lived to be 100 and something and painted well into her 90's.   

One of my Forks (Wire, pulp, encaustic)
with one of my new tea bags (resin, cotton thread, book pg.)
Marking Time, Timeless 

Then the nurse came into to wash her and I had to leave, but not before Ruth left me with -

"Isn't art wonderful? It keeps you young."

What's your fountain of youth?

A shot of our frozen pond with only the slightest crescent of water thanks to our new pond pump.

and Happy Birthday Aunt Muriel! 

Big Fork - in My Drawers

Day #1, November 28, 2013 from What's in My Drawers.

Big Fork
wire, pulp, encaustic
©NanciHersh
$75.00

                                                                        

Thanksgiving Day as well as the second night of Chanukah.

Celebrating abundance, miracles, family- and remembering those who are no longer with us.

The fork on the right is from the silver set I inherited from my maternal grandmother, Rose. I was fortunate enough to know all 4 of my grandparents who were an influential part of my life.

Rosie a beauty, loved quality and beautiful things. She traveled the world and brought me home dolls from every country. She also took painting and sculpting lessons. Recently and surprisingly,  I learned that she volunteered and drove an ambulance during World War II when she wanted to help the war effort but my grandfather a prominent attorney did not want her working.

I started making these utensils out of wire, pulp and encaustic when I began thinking about what we inherit - genetically, culturally, and- literally.

And, how what we keep, what we let go of, and how this collective stuff shapes our identity.

Dig in.

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Chanukah.

Click here to see the post about What's in My Drawers and be in the loop for the rest of the art and stories in this blog series.

Searching Beneath the Surface for a New Perspective

Finishing up the last of the pieces for my exhibition at the Siegel JCC ArtSpace in Wilmington.

*to the Stranger that has loved you, 2013
Acrylic, spray paint on canvas
16" x 20"
©2013NanciHersh photo by Dain Simons

The title of the show is "Beneath the Surface" with paintings and works on paper of koi and sculptures of objects made out of wire and paper pulp as containers to hold experiences that wash up in our lives.

Water and fish have appeared and reappeared in my art throughout the years.
Now nets- and their shadows are a part of the exploration.

Suspension (detail) 2012
Acrylic, spray paint, graphite acquarelle, pastel on paper
48" x 96"
©2013NanciHersh photo by Dain Simons

A conversation in the 2013 Omega catalogue titled "Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, Debbie Ford on overcoming fear and igniting self- confidence" seemed to capture the metaphor of the shadow for me spot on.

Here is an excerpt.

Omega: You've written that you can't have the full experience of the light without knowing the dark. Why do you consider the shadow to be the gatekeeper of true freedom?

Debbie: You can't be fully yourself if you have aspects that are hiding. The shadow holds the truth of all the authentic parts of being human- your vulnerability, your discontent, your jealousy, or an experience from the past that you haven't digested.  The only way to invite them out of the shadow is to bring them into the light. The light is a new perspective in which you see that everything that's happening is happening to help you develop your soul.  Then your're free- free to be who you are most authentically, free to ask for what you need, free to find your joy and bliss, free to share your gifts.

Always in search of a new perspective...

Hope to see you at the opening reception on Thursday, April 11, 5-7 pm.

*the title of this painting is a line from the Derek Wolcott poem Love after Love.