The List

And so it can be revealed…

The List

The List – Commission for The Hunters on the occasion of their 30th Anniversary

This one was special, for the one who holds the position of being the first, and most enduring, patron. It goes that far back. And it was no surprise that, when Steph, a world class facilitator from elementary school days,  requested a painting to mark this milestone in their lives, she sent me a 38 page…LIST… of the “most” important things about their marriage and decades together.
I confess that it was daunting. Just printing out the tome required a trip to the office store. And the pressure…how to edit and redact and not leave out one sentimental jot. But then, I know these Hunters. And what I know of them, what tops the list, is their complete and uncluttered love for each other and for life.

Paired down to its essence, these elements are all they need to enjoy a day, let alone a lifetime, with each other. The rest is always pure spontaneous gusto.

Congratulations you zesty dear ones…

Granary Gallery on Facebook

When I sit down to start work at the easel each day, one of the things I do to center myself is to check email and facebook before I PUT-DOWN-THE-PHONE .

Today the Granary Gallery had a post with this painting shining back at me…Her Smalls72

Her Smalls –

from the painter’s notes…

I believe the origin is British
but that doesn’t matter.
Smalls…it’s just a matter of undergarments.
And the dearness of intimacy.
And the gift of props.
Like the hat box which belonged to John’s grandmother.
The tiny gloves that I wore to the White House.
The delicates which used to live on the shelves in the Muddy Creek General Store.
The leather purse and traveling iron which used to live on the shelf in Jane’s shop.
The coin silver spoon that Ted gave.
The teacup that Sue had to remind me was from her grandmother.
And that whimsical handkerchief of Polly’s which I pulled from the drawer
because of it’s red stripe, and only discovered half way through setting up the still life,
that it’s little girl was, Herself, doing the ironing.

Some of my most favorite paintings come from a single word.
And the gathering round of favorite things.
And the gift of quiet leisure in which to cherish them both.

A nod of thanks to the Granary staff for keeping the work alive and fresh and for all their support…which is no “small” thing.

News from Menemsha

aof_menemsha_harbormaster_shack

From the MV Gazette…(photo credit, Albert O. Fisher)

New Harbor Master Shack Arrives in Menemsha

A new harbor master shack arrived in Menemsha on Monday afternoon, replacing the 35-year-old building perched above the commercial dock. The shack was built by students at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and transported via trailer. Voters approved spending $24,000 on the project late last year.”They did a nice job,” harbor master Dennis Jason Jr. said at a recent board of selectmen meeting. “The building was nicely put together.” – See more at:

http://mvgazette.com/news/2014/04/01/new-harbor-master-shack-arrives-menemsha?k=vg5246eee864179#sthash.tZMH95pO.dpuf

So, if I read this correctly, this newly delivered building will replace…

this old building…

Harbor-Master

Harbor Master – 2002

Just part of the many new changes in store for this old fishing village…stay tuned.