For a decade I have encouraged students to express feelings related to the “One Read” books which are recommended by the Central Missouri Regional Libraries. My design students have explored collage to illustrate themes related to the various books. This year's selection The Ruins of Us explores the theme of returning home to a place that is largely a manifestation of memory, and imagination. I also explore the spiritual place of home in my painting of a little girl, back in time, moving to a place she will call home.
I am looking forward to exhibiting this painting inspired by my Grandmother.
My Grandmother was an identical twin. Ola and Lola lost their mother when they were little girls and because their father had other children and could not provide for all of them, and therefore had to give the twins up for adoption or maybe it was to different guardians, the story remains unclear. They were separated, but after they married, Ola and Lola lived only thirty five miles apart. My grandmother Ola McKinney, lived in Licking, Missouri and my aunt Lola Hume, in Rolla, Missouri.
I was a young boy when my grandmother died of cancer in 1959 and a young man when my mother Ruth also died of cancer. I was very close to both. In the years after my grandmother died I dreamed of being with her at the farm where she and grandfather McKinney made a wonderful home. In the summer months I would visit them and I loved every minute I was there. I helped my grandfather with the garden and remember my grandmother walking to the farm pond with me and my brother Gregg to go fishing.
After grandmother passed away I would continue to have dreams with her in them. She was always helping and encouraging me! Even today so many, many, years later I sometimes imagine visiting the home where the McKinney family made their grandchildren so happy. I speak to her and I sometimes think she knows how I am doing. Mom is there with her and It is very peaceful.
This painting is dreamlike, rather childlike in style with symbolism I am only now explain, years after first painted it. I gave the painting to my mother long ago and she loved it, but only now after reading The Ruin of Us desire to explain the story behind the painting:
A small girl (my grandmother) wanderers down a road, toward a village on the hill. In the foreground sits an inattentive woman dressed in the fashion of the time. The custodian of the girl is not close to the girl and the painting suggests the girl may be leaving. She wanders under a leaning tree, perilously close to falling. She is determined to reach the place where perhaps her twin sister is, but she is also afraid to be alone and to journey to an unknown place. But her faith was great and even as a girl she sensed the words of the Twenty Third Psalm.
I am looking forward to exhibiting this painting inspired by my Grandmother.
My Grandmother was an identical twin. Ola and Lola lost their mother when they were little girls and because their father had other children and could not provide for all of them, and therefore had to give the twins up for adoption or maybe it was to different guardians, the story remains unclear. They were separated, but after they married, Ola and Lola lived only thirty five miles apart. My grandmother Ola McKinney, lived in Licking, Missouri and my aunt Lola Hume, in Rolla, Missouri.
I was a young boy when my grandmother died of cancer in 1959 and a young man when my mother Ruth also died of cancer. I was very close to both. In the years after my grandmother died I dreamed of being with her at the farm where she and grandfather McKinney made a wonderful home. In the summer months I would visit them and I loved every minute I was there. I helped my grandfather with the garden and remember my grandmother walking to the farm pond with me and my brother Gregg to go fishing.
After grandmother passed away I would continue to have dreams with her in them. She was always helping and encouraging me! Even today so many, many, years later I sometimes imagine visiting the home where the McKinney family made their grandchildren so happy. I speak to her and I sometimes think she knows how I am doing. Mom is there with her and It is very peaceful.
This painting is dreamlike, rather childlike in style with symbolism I am only now explain, years after first painted it. I gave the painting to my mother long ago and she loved it, but only now after reading The Ruin of Us desire to explain the story behind the painting:
A small girl (my grandmother) wanderers down a road, toward a village on the hill. In the foreground sits an inattentive woman dressed in the fashion of the time. The custodian of the girl is not close to the girl and the painting suggests the girl may be leaving. She wanders under a leaning tree, perilously close to falling. She is determined to reach the place where perhaps her twin sister is, but she is also afraid to be alone and to journey to an unknown place. But her faith was great and even as a girl she sensed the words of the Twenty Third Psalm.