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The Artist’s
Almanac
March 2006
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…daffodils
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty
- Shakespeare, The Winter’s
Tale
“Today is the first
day of my garden, remarked good wife, checking her supply of rose
sprays.
It was part
anticipation, as she is good at schedules, and part lament, for the
loss of her quiet February days, with good books by a fireside on a
snowy day or conversations with friends over afternoon tea.
March sneaks up on us.
By now we are conditioned to winter’s quiet, hats, wraps, and long
walks on sunny days when we can see forever and not worry about
weeds or ticks, snakes or humidity.
Suddenly, bold
buttercups swarm the ground and the trees are hazed with buds
straining towards the light. February’s mud turns to dust and March
winds swirl it into our eyes. Windows are open on cars thronging the
highways surging with noise and raucous radios.
We are swarmed with
duties. Longer light draws us outdoors and reminds us what we must
do to participate in this great awakening – planting, pruning,
painting, and pitching the baseball. Kites and grandchildren let us
feel and see the wind.
March is volatile,
winter howling its defiance with cold winds and late snowstorms.
Summer responds in kind, with tornadoes and spring floods. Yet the
sun finally prevails, surrounding the ice with growth and melting it
into nourishing streams which gladden green valleys.
Now the artist must be
out and about, catching nature in its flamboyant dance. He tries now
to translate this teeming passion of rebirth into a painting, done
at speed, that captures the glory about him with colors a tenth the
power of light.
My beautiful wife’s
beautiful mother passed on to her daughter her secrets, praise God,
of cooking and gardening. One was that there was a certain day in
spring before which it is futile to plant anything.
From Ash Wednesday
dark struggles with light for forty days and nights. Then it is
Easter and the Light prevails.
Let the planting
begin.
Upcoming Events
La Dolce Vita –
Fifteenth Annual Gala, Huntsville Museum of Art, 6PM, March 4th ,
North Hall, Von Braun Center, Auction followed by Dinner and Dancing
Art In Bloom –
Fine Art Sale by The Junior Service League of Gallatin, Opening
Reception at Gallatin Civic Center, Friday March 10th, with General
Showing Saturday 10-4
Sumner Regional
Health Systems, Volunteer Auxiliary Spring Benefit Evening
Reception featuring Live Auction of Southern Light Artists of
America paintings, Thursday March 23rd 5-7PM
The Harding Show
– An Exhibit & Sale of Fine Art Presented By Harding Academy, 31st
Annual Show, 170 Windsor Drive, Nashville, 37205-3794, Opening 5 PM
Thursday May 4th through 4PM Saturday May 6th.
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