Tuesday, February 20, 2007

In Honor of my Mother...


Today is my mother's birthday. She was born in 1917 and would be 90 if she hadn't passed on way too young at age 48. I started this metal pin with the photo of her and her father in Thomas Mann's class at Art & Soul in Asilomar 2006. It fit perfectly in the fiber shrine I made in Keely Barham's class...my first attempt at needle felting.... (and one of my all time favorite classes)...
My mom was a very cool mom. She had an art room filled with prints, art supplies, and a paper cutter. She didn't sweat the small stuff...like broken lamps from my brothers rough housing and hide and seek games throughout the house. She painted water color landscapes on our camping trips and taught bookbinding, fashion design, and art education at Cal State LA and UCLA. She took me to art musuems all over the United States and always encouraged us to be creative and use whatever art supplies we wanted. She filled our house with art of all kinds and had a wonderful smile.
She also had a great sense of humor, started UCLA at age 16, had a radio show in high school, and went to school with Mickey Rooney and Lloyd Bridges. I still miss her and when I get confused or stressed out I say to myself..."I want my mommy!" Well, somehow it seems to work...and I just wanted to honor her and hope she is having a good time up in Art Heaven! Later this week I am going to So. Pasadena to visit one of her old friends who has a box of her old collage materials...can't wait to see what is in there...

6 comments:

Tracie Lyn Huskamp said...

Mary,

Your tribute to your beloved mother is BEAUTIFUL! What a wonderful way to remember her.

xo!

One Crabapple said...

This is a really great piece and Your Mother sounds wonderful. I lost my mom in her fifties and I still have that same "I want my Mommy!" sometimes. I was smiling when I read that you too have that feeling. I guess it won't every go away ?

Well I came to tell you that I got your Lovely Hearts Journal in the mail this week and I am just In Love with it. It is beautiful and I can't believe how nicely done it is. I have admired your hooked pieces for so long now.

Thank you !

Love, S.

Shari Beaubien said...

This shrine is so wonderful, Mary. I love it, and I'm sure your mom does, too. How wonderful that you had such support... Hugs, Shari

Runner Gurl said...

This is absolutely beautiful, Mary.

My mom was young when she passed away, too. On March 5th she will have been gone 27 years.

Your piece made me stop and remember her today. Thank you.

xo
Gail

Anonymous said...

oh mary, so sweet. my mom passed away at a young age too. your mom sounds wonderful! maybe they are all gathering together making art like we all do. miss you and look forward to seeing you. xo

Anonymous said...

This is such a beautiful piece Mary. Thank you for sharing your memories of her with us. Such a lovely tribute.

Debbie L

(I emailed you yesterday Mary, but blogger was having issues>)