Lately wonder | wonder | women are back into the creative groove. We're in the throes of some really exciting work. But it suddenly reminded us...
There are people we'd love to share this work with who are now gone. People who inspired and shaped us, who in some way had a hand in making this work too.
We want to sit down with them, have a cup of coffee or some wine, say "Look at this! What do you think?" and hear what they have to say.
We can no longer invite ourselves over for dinner or merienda. We can't call them and hear their laughter. But we can put our memories of them into our work.
Some of the people we lost were mentors and fellow artists. Some of them didn't practice art but were supportive and warm people that we drew strength from.
With art, we can say "I miss you", "Thank you", or "I hope you like this". We can share it with other people who loved them and say "Don't you think they would enjoy this?" "Do you remember when we went to see this artist (or this movie)?"
Author Terry Pratchett in his book
Reaper Man wrote, “No one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away, until the clock wound up winds down, until the wine she made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence.”
The people we loved are departed, but we still love them and are grateful for their gifts and the time we spent with them.