I Can Do This

The last few days I’ve been thinking a lot about people.  People and their problems.  Everyone has problems but sometimes a person feels their problems are bigger than they are.  I myself have felt this a few times in my life. 

Tonight I was talking to a friend of mine.  I was telling him how people come into my life, and sometimes it takes them a little while, but usually, if given enough time, people become attached to me.  And I become attached to them.  When they are attached they open up.  I think that people feel safe with me.  Maybe because I’m a scooter child.  Maybe because many of my problems are not hidden.  My struggles are right out in the open.  People can see them with their own eyes.  This makes people feel comfortable around me.  It’s kind of like there is not as much mystery with me and little room for people to feel intimidation.  My body is shaped different.  I use a wheelchair.  I have a machine that assists my lungs.  Many of my weaknesses are exposed for all to see.  This allows people to open up to me more than they might with others.  They tell me their problems.  They share their secrets.  They let me see their invisible wounds.

I am happy that people feel safe with me.  I feel that I’m able to see things that lots of people don’t.  I see so much beauty in people, beauty that they feel they need to hide.  Too risky.  I see it because people feel like they can be real with me.  And sometimes I see the sadness and hurt they hide as well.  Although I am happy people can share their realness with me, sometimes it is heavy.  Life can get heavy and that’s when people feel their problems are bigger then they can handle.  I wish so much that I could fix or remove the problems.  If only I could fix them like a doctor, using a scalpel, remove the bad appendix, sew up the cut with sutures and let the body do what it does and heal itself.  If only I could.  My friend is wise and tells me that it’s not my job to fix all the broken people. I know that I can’t fix it all.  I know that most the time, it’s up to an individual to fix themselves.  But everyone needs support.  Every person needs to feel like they are cared about and loved.  During this messy experience known as life, I think we frequently forget the love that God has for us.  We forget how to feel it.  This is so unfortunate because even though we go through dark times and can’t feel it, this love is not hard to find.  If we stop for just a moment and hold very still, if we quiet our minds and open our eyes, our hearts will remember how to feel it and we will see evidence of His love all around us. 

I know I can’t fix everything.  Sometimes we get broken and only God can repair the break.  Like a doctor for the soul, God can heal our spirits.  I’m living an unconventional life and I’m not following the traditional pattern of wife and mother.  But as I grown older I am identifying more clearly the role and responsibilities that are mine for this life.  I’m striving to know the purpose and mission God would have me fulfill during this time.  It’s said that God uses us to do His work, to answer prayers, to be His hands.  Sometimes I think should have done more schooling, so I could learn how to better help people with their problems.  But although I’m not a professional and I really don’t know much, I have a willing heart.  I feel that if God keeps sending people into my life, then He’ll help me know how to help them.  I want to be some of the evidence of God’s love to other people.  I think this is part of my purpose.  I think I can do this.

 

Counting Blessings

I didn’t do a good job keeping up with writing about all the things I’m thankful for during the month of November.  December is already here and although I didn’t write about it, I did take time to think about all the good in my life.   I made several lists, some on paper and a running list in my mind.  My life is packed exceptionally full of blessings.  Here are some of the highlights from a few of my lists:

My car that gives me so much independence, a job that allows me to support myself and brings people into my life, kindness from strangers, my apartment, prayer, memories, good parents who love me, the gospel of Christ, food, education, Hope, life in America, my art, sisters, nature, faith in God, incredible siblings, my bed, hands that work, holidays, insurance,  life with a disability, temples, good books, a forever family, oxygen, contacts, nephews, nieces, my wheelchair, free agency, courage, co-workers that watch out for me, light, spiritual gifts, adventures, sweet grandparents, compassion, my church calling, summer, opportunities to grow, friends to love and who love me, my ability to be happy, scriptures,  an able mind, determination, atonement of Jesus Christ, good ideas, physical health, music, brothers, promises to keep, my wheelchair, guidance from the Spirit, modern technology, clean water, ventilator, my ward, tender mercies from God, a sure understanding of who I am and what this life experience is for, a living prophet, opportunities to learn, Faith that grows, my testimony and connection to my Heavenly Father.

This is a small sample of the good things in my life.  With so much good there is little room or time to examine problems or difficulties.  Problems do exist, yet my blessings outweigh them a hundred times over and within the blessings I am given all that I need to handle them.  My hope is that I can live a life and develop a character that will express the gratitude I hold in my heart for the generously blessed life that is mine. 

 

A Thankful Heart

Despite the coming of cold weather, I really like the month of November.  I like that people verbalize their gratitude more than usual.  It’s a habit that should be developed throughout the year but it’s cool that people share it more during the month of November.  I like to get on Facebook and read each day the posting of what people appreciate.  I wanted to do the same sort of thing here in this blog.  I feel like my life is very blessed.  Even exceptionally so.  I’ve always tried to pay attention to the good things in my life and honestly it’s pretty easy to do.  When your life is brimming over with blessings it’s easy to recognize the good that surrounds you so closely.  I’d like to post a several things every few days.  Things, people or ideas that God has so graciously placed in my life and my heart.

1.       I’m blessed with an independent spirit that grants me the desire to do what I can for myself, have ambition to go after the things I want, and live an active life.

2.       I’m thankful for modern medicine and medical technology that allows me to live and be healthy.  My wheelchair that takes me everywhere I need to go and conserves my energy.  My ventilator that keeps my respiratory system functioning.  Antibiotics help my body fight infections that frequently find me.  Had I been born even 50 years ago I would not have lived to the age I am and I would certainly not live with the ease and comfort I am able to enjoy.

3.       I’m thankful for my apartment and the ability I have to live on my own and care for myself.

4.       I’m grateful for the power of FAITH and its trusty companion HOPE. These two bring peace to my heart and light to what would otherwise be a scary and uncertain life.

5.       I’m thankful for my nieces and nephews.  Each one of them brings delight and entertainment to my life.  They are magic and I so enjoy watching them become people and feel the influence of their beautiful spirits.

Utility Box Art Project

Last week was amazing.  In my previous post I talked about the art utility box project that I was invited to be part of.  Week before last one of my paintings was scanned and printed then installed on two utility boxes that stand side by side located on 3300 South and 300 West in South Salt Lake.

Last Thursday there was a media event held on the location of the boxes where several news channels where there to interview the Mayor of South Salt Lake City, Cherie Wood and the project director, Glenn Smith and to also feature me as an artist.  What an opportunity for me!!  I get nervous seeing and hearing myself on camera but this was an opportunity I could not pass up. 

Soon after I returned to work that day another news channel called asking if they could interview me in their studio that afternoon.  A quick outfit change and back to the city I go.  I was pretty nervous after I arrived at the studio.  I’d never been on the live news before and I wasn’t certain what questions they would ask me. 

See the news clip here:

http://www.cw30.com/content/news/state/story/Utah-artist-s-mission-is-to-beautify-South-Salt/q9HJz-rjLkKSWMmbt2y_jg.cspx

I’ll never be comfortable seeing and hearing myself on camera but I feel like Channel 4 did a good job and made a nice story of the project. 

The Deseret News also sent a reporter who talked to me and the story ran in Sunday’s paper.  It was a very nice article and I am delighted that they wanted to write about me and my art.  I was not totally thrilled with the headline which reads “Disabled woman takes leap of courage and gets her art on display”.  It was such a nice article but I don’t love the term Disabled Woman and prefer woman with a disability.  I know my art and disability walk close together.  I realize that the disability side might lead me to opportunities that might not otherwise come but my hope is that people see my art more then they see the disability.

Deseret News article:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589199/Disabled-woman-takes-leap-of-courage-sees-her-artwork-on-display-in-South-Salt-Lake.html

From that story my information was given to a talk radio host who set up an over the phone interview which took place yesterday.  I was interviewed by Abby Bonell, a radio host with a fantastic British accent! The interview will play on the radio Sunday morning at 7:15 on My 99.5, 97.1 ZHT, Rock 106.6, Oldies KODJ and again Sunday night at 7:15 105.7 Talk Radio.

It’s been so exciting for me to have these opportunities.  It makes me feel happy that other people are connecting and responding to my artwork in positive ways.  I’m so luck and incredibly blessed to do something I love and have others appreciate it.  It’s an honor for me to have my art on display in a public place where people thousands of people will see it every day.  I hope that if people look at it, it will bring happiness to their heart, if even for just a brief moment.

Art of the City

I’m really excited about my latest project!  A few weeks ago, during the Harvest Moon Celebration, a man named Glenn Smith found me at my booth and was very interested in my art.  Glenn works for the City of South Salt Lake and as we got talking he invited me to be part of a project he facilitates under the Urban Livability Dept.  This is the project:  Glenn looks for artist whose work uplifts and would add vitality to the streetscapes.  A work of art is scanned and printed onto plastic material.  The same kind of material they use to make car wraps.  The art will then be used to cover utility boxes around the city.

The idea behind this project is to bring art to the city and its residents.  The artwork on a utility box creates a vibrant, interesting and a more beautiful urban environment.  It is also a means for discouraging vandalism and enhancing community pride.  Click here to read more about the utility box art project and see pictures of boxes that have been wrapped in art.

As soon as the project was explained to me I was in love.  What a genius idea!  I love the concept of taking something functional yet boring to look at like a utility box and making it interesting.  Transitioning the mundane into color and beauty!  I was incredibly excited when I was invited to use a piece of my art to be wrapped on a box. 

This last Wednesday I took the piece I created for this project down to the city offices.  I was able to meet with Glenn and the Mayor of South Salt Lake, Cherie Wood, who gives the final go head on the art that will go on the boxes.  She was excited about the painting I had done and would like to do a media event later in the month once my art gets scanned, digitized and installed on the box.          

My painting will actually be used to wrap two utility boxes that stand side by side.  The image will appear split when looked at head on, half the painting on one box and the other half spilling onto the second box, yet each box will have the image wrap entirely around it.

This is such a great opportunity for me!  It’s a way to get my work out in the broader community and be part of an incredible project.  I just love the idea of art being placed around the city.  I’ll be posting more on this as the project progresses.

 

Farmers Market, Harvest Moon, Thomas and Trains

Yesterday’s farmers market was combined with Ogden’s Harvest Moon Celebration.  It was the last of the market season for me.  The day was really great.  Warm but not hot and the light has changed into a muted sparkle that only happens in the autumn.  The day was a prefect end to the season.  I was able to sell eight paintings of various sizes and as always I met some great people.  I wish I could give an account of each experience and each conversation I have with the people that come into my booth.  Art does something to people.  It makes them open up and share in ways that they might not otherwise do.  I love when people walk into my booth, look around for a moment and comment on how happy the art makes them feel.  I think it’s the color.  The human soul craves colors.   I love when people are able to make personal connections with my art. 

 

 

A few weeks ago a woman came to my booth and told me of her experience with my art. She said she bought one of my paintings at the market the year before.  The painting had silhouettes of two birds on a branch, surrounded by lots of blues and turquoise.  She said when she purchased the painting she was single.  She decided to get the two birds anyway.  She hung the painting in her room and looked at it everyday.  She came to find me this year and told me that she now has the most amazing boyfriend.  She wanted me to know that she feels like my painting helped her be brave and now the picture will always have a lot of significance to her.  Her story filled me with so much happiness.  People need art in their lives.

While I was in my booth I worked on a painting.  I didn’t get much done as I was usually busy visiting with people.  But it was fun to be outside and paint in the autumn light.

I also made some good contacts and a possible project is on the horizon.  There will be more about that later. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I have incredible parents.  I wouldn’t be able to do the market without them.  They have given many of their Saturdays to help me and they work hard.  I don’t know how I am so lucky but I hit the jackpot when I landed them as parents. 

I had some visits from friends.  A few friends from work came by and my best friend Michelle with her husband Kevin and adorable little Thomas.  They came at the tail end of the market so after my booth was cleaned up I was able to go with them to explore the rest of the festival.  Harvest Moon feels a little like a scene from a movie.  I love how people are out, laughing, having a good time and so many things going on at once.  There was fashion shows, live bands, all kinds of activities for kids and tons of food vendors. 

We made our way through the party and found ourselves at the Union Station, an old train station, that is now a museum and event center.  Michelle’s little boy Thomas is so in love with trains.  He goes nuts for them.  We had a fun time letting him be in absolute awe over the big engines. 

I really love spending time with Michelle and her family.  I’ve never seen a child like Thomas.  Many children are fascinated by my unique look and tiny size but he like loves me for real!  I never have to take his hand, he always places his hand in mine like it’s the most natural thing.  It’s not enough for his parents to explore the trains with him or for me to get up close.  He tugs on my hand till I get out of my wheelchair and climb onto the trains with him.  When we were leaving the station he was not content walking beside me holding hands or even riding on my lap.  Again he pulled me out of my chair and it was obvious he wanted me to walk beside him.  So we did.  Michelle with her very long legs climbs into my wheelchair and drives it.  Otherwise it would have been left at the station.  It was hilarious and we got some fantastic looks from people as we made our way back to the Harvest Celebration.  There is nothing as awesome as feeling the love of a child.  It might be the purest form of love to be found on this earth.

End of the Market Season

I’ve been busy every evening this week to be ready for the Market on Saturday.  This week is the Harvest Moon Celebration.  It’s a big festival combined with the market.  Activities, bike race, and live music happening all day and into the night.  Lot's more vendors and lots more people. It’s also the last week I will be setting up to sell this season.  I am working hard but I feel like I have nothing new or exciting.  I’m sad that this is the last market but I will also be relieved as I won’t feel so rushed to get pieces ready. 

After Saturday I have a few orders that people have put in and then I want to take some time to try to get some new ideas together.  I want to try a few new directions and hopefully be able to invest some time experimenting.  When I’m working to get ready for markets it’s hard to spend time trying new things, not knowing if they will turn out.  Trying new ideas is what makes art fun for me and I’ll be happy to get back to that. But for now I'm busy trying to replenish my stock with some favorites.