My story in art
Creative juice has always run through my veins. I drew with blue crayons on the newly papered bedroom when I was four. I was attracted to story, music, dance and other creative arts—always trying to push boundaries a little bit.
My education began in a one room country schoolhouse, where I tended to be more interested in what was going on in the older grades than my own long addition or division exercises. By the time I was in Grade 7, I persuaded our long-suffering teacher, Mrs. Orr, to let me produce a Christmas Concert with music, costumes, and recitations: an example of pushing the boundaries.
High School brought choices between music and art class and music won—I took up the oboe and took piano lessens, but a concert career was not in my future. The foundation for my appreciation of music and other arts was laid. In summers I worked at camps and ran day camps which called for endless ingenuity as well as organizational skills.
While at university where I majored in History and Politics, my extracurricular activities included participation in the Radio Service and a figure drawing course. But though I kept the thread of art development alive, my work life took me in other directions: local history and consumer advocacy.
As a mother, I encouraged my sons’ artistic expression, often being disappointed when they opted out of music, art class or drama. To my surprise, one son changed his major in university from business to drama and a play he wrote was produced by his school. Another son decided he wanted to go to Art School. He applied to the Fine Arts program and to my delight thrived in the creative environment. Then Ian was diagnosed with cancer at the end of his first year, and had to take time off for chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. He returned for a very productive second year, but at the beginning of his third year, his cancer returned and he died.
By then I was heavily involved in my work as a parish priest. While at All Saints Westboro, I was able to develop programming, often arts-based, for our chapel programs. I also arranged for a labyrinth to be built in the courtyard and initiated Jazz Vespers and Art Exhibits in the Chapel. I was facilitating experiences that connected spirituality through the arts for others in addition to the obvious connection in liturgy.
One day a new colleague came to visit my office. She asked me about the art on my walls, one by my son. “He was an artist,” I told her. “You are one too,” she told me. I didn’t agree, but I must have filed it in my memory.
The next parish I worked at had a chapel that was rarely used. I had the dream of creating a “SpiritArt Studio” there. With the help of folks from beyond that parish, I created a venue where a wide variety of artistic activities took place. Funding ran out and the church was ultimately sold, but my artistic fervour had been stoked.
My next parish was an amalgamated one which included an Inuit congregation. Lots of intercultural learning happened there. When I took a sabbatical, I joined a study tour on Medieval women mystics in Europe. We focussed particularly on the renowned Hildegard of Bingen, who in the 12th century combined a deep spirituality with arts and prophetic leadership in her own community and the church at large. Clearly she is a mighty model.
I resolved that in retirement I would develop my own personal artistic gifts in some way in the service of the common good. I enrolled in painting classes and participated in plein air expeditions. At the end of my first day painting in Gatineau Park, the teacher came by and declared, “You had a good day.” As I studied my first indoor still life painting, that instructor told me to “sign it and sell it.” Those endorsements pushed me forward.
I feel swept along by an invisible force that keeps me creating. A room in my home has become my art studio. During the pandemic my art education went online and art practice has been my focus. A little gallery space was created in our basement and I have had several shows--some benefitting charities. Exhibitions, sales and an internet presence are ongoing.
After losing my husband, I have moved from our house to an apartment, still with dedicated studio space.
