in her words...

This wonderful opportunity came from an invitation from the March and April artists, Dot Harmon and June Pearson, in Celebration Gallery. This group is named the Harlinsdale Farm Art group. The ladies in the photograph are:  Molly Parsons, Jane Lies, Dot Harmon, and June Pearson.

As I viewed beautiful yellow flowers covering acres of undeveloped farmland, I opened a gate to a small entrance that allowed me to wind down a narrow gravel road. I past at least a dozen beautiful horses grazing in the fields with their stable visible on a small hill and came to a turn of the century house, a tractor shed, and a birthing shed for the young moms and their babes.

The house is an art house and home to a sisterhood of artists. Each room had settings for at least 15 artists who enjoy this quiet getaway on various days of the week. There were areas homesteaded with paints, easels, canvases, paper, lights, vases, baskets, flowers, fabrics, old toys and anything else one could possibly paint.

Several clotheslines hung on the walls with wonderful drawings among the peeled wallpaper, cracked paint, and bare ceilings- reflecting the spirit of artists who painted here and have now passed on. The rustic setting with its creaking porch and wobbly floors lent itself to the creative spirit and opened the desire to be more than an ordinary person doing the ordinary daily routine. It allowed one at any age to skip, sing spontaneously, hug unabashedly, and love endlessly.

I looked at the beautiful works of finished art hung on the tall walls and laid along the floor areas and admired the works of art in progress. The gentle but honest advice from the mentors to the newer artists was welcomed and encouraged. This allowed the group to be stronger. It was an honor for me to visit this setting and a joy to be offered honorary membership into this heavenly group of women that I loved instantly.

I invite everyone to their next art show at the Jewish Community Center on June 3, 2007, from 2-4pm. It will be a visual treat.