Somewhere in the Middle
2024 was an exciting year, yet a trying year, full of ups and downs, moving across the country, traveling for art shows, two international trips. But, I also lost two very important people in my life at the beginning and end, bookends to an otherwise productive year.
The first was a friend of 8 years, such an timely connection and gift for delving into my spiritual development. The latter was a constant force throughout my life, shaping me into the person I am today. My grandmother Janie.
The phrase, don’t mess with grandma comes to mind. She stood 5 ft tall but with such a vibrant personality that made her the tallest person in the room. I can still hear her laughter now, or her voice in a high pitched “hi mija” when I would call her on the phone. She loved fiercely. She would also rip anyone up one side and down the other if they messed with her or her family…and she’d do it in both English and Spanish!
Some of my best childhood memories lie within the 5 acres of land she owned with my grandfather in Houston, Texas. Everything from family gatherings on Sundays, climbing the tall sycamore trees to read a book, go cart riding with my cousins…
When I was older, the two of us would stay up late, sometimes until 2am talking about the past. About life. About the future. She’d make sopapillas and I’d drizzle them with honey, chatting until we could barely keep our eyes open any longer.
I could go and on with tales of all the beautiful memories I have of this special person, but I’ll save those for myself.
At the funeral each of my cousins went up, one by one, sharing their own memories of her, painting the picture of their personal experiences and how she’d supported and influenced their lives for the better. For a split second, I felt this twinge of envy, as if my relationship with her held more merit or was stronger, more meaningful in some way. But, it was only for a second.
After all, the relationship with a grandparent is so different than that of a parent. There is a friendship that develops and matures; wisdom is shared and advice respected in ways where parents (or even spouses) find difficulty. She was that special confidant for each of us in exactly the way we needed.
Then I was reminded of how love is an emotion that does not grow weaker when shared. Like a candle doesn’t diminish its glow after lighting another candle. She loved us all, so unconditionally; so independently of each other and with equal caliber.
So much love.
Love is the only thing that lingers, survives and transcends dimensions.
Interested in adding Somewhere in the Middle to your collection?
Behind the Scenes - Somewhere in the Middle
At grandma's funeral, butterflies kept finding their way into my field. Whether it was my cousins vibrant yellow dress or ornaments placed inside the bouquets of flowers at the rosary...they were everywhere. Even flying at the cemetery where we said our final goodbyes.
It got me thinking about transformation in the bigger sense. What happens when we move on from this life. This realm. This planet.
My grandmother was in and out of lucidity the last several years. Sometimes in my meditations I would catch glimpses of her. My grandfather would come to visit on occasion. He'd passed 11 years earlier.
***
It seemed fitting to bring butterflies into my work given their ever present appearance during this trying time, but also for what they represent.
Metamorphosis. Change. Transformation from one state unto the next. On a monumental scale too. Imagine a caterpillar that is very much rooted on the ground, moving from plant to plant to feed itself until it consumes enough energy to close up for the long nap. A hibernation, if you will. When it finally awakens, it emerges with wings that allows it to take to the sky. It's tongue now feeds on the sweet nectar of flowers. Its purpose is to pollinate the earth, bringing new life to the land.
It's awe inspiring. A metaphor for life. For our growth. For our existence.
So, I bought these wings on etsy and proceeded out into the public on a trail on the Hudson river not to far from my house. The wind was an excellent photo assistant that day.
I decided to change the background to this scene I photographed in Cuba earlier that year. This one in particular is off the coast of Trinidad. Many photographs were taken during that trip, but the empath in me has a hard time processing the poverty of that country. I'm sure more work will come out of it later when the time is right.
But in the meantime, there was a longing in this sunset image that felt akin to the message I was trying to convey. The oranges and yellows also lending nicely to the composition. I don't often bring this color palette into my work, being stuck in somewhat of a Picasso blue phase, but sometimes it's nice to step out of my usual crayon box and play nice with some other colors.
Interested in adding Somewhere in the Middle to your collection?
Feel free to share this newsletter with your art lover friends. Leave a comment. Drop me a line. Until next time.
0 Comments