Who Knew......

As a mother I can look back at many "lump-in-the-throat" moments when we watched our son or daughter do something special.  Damp eyes are part of parenting.....and probably an embarrassing part for the "kid" on the receiving end.

Last night was one of those moments for me. Dave and I drove over to Cedarburg for an art opening at the Art Museum. Megan and three other artists were invited to hang a show titled "Collage!" Megan was one of two artists who would be at the opening and she would have a few moments to talk about her work.

A lot of people attended, considering we'd had a snow storm the night before. As we gathered on the second floor of the museum and Meg stood in front of some of her work, I found a spot in the corner. I could not help whispering to a few people next to me "She's my daughter!" And then I listened as she explained her process, her inspirations and how her art has changed over the years while still echoing some familiar themes about place, and memory, and experiences. I was struck by the way she explained how she "layers" her work and what she thinks about as she does each piece. The layers of her life, the moments of her life, the experiences of her life.....some big but mostly small, everyday moments that pile up to make the whole. And she mentioned both of her grandmothers....how at my mom's house there was a special small cabinet filled with art-y things to use. How Dave's mom had this wonderful big desk where Meg could sit and use lovely velum papers to create grade-school-age art. That's when the damp eyes hit - I could instantly see that cabinet and that desk. I had no idea they were something that made such an impression on our daughter as she was growing up. I'm not doing her justice by trying to share what she said.

But, driving home, her words made me think of the layers of my own life....all the moments leading to this one evening at the Cedarburg Art Museum. When Megan was little we provided her with crayons, and paper, and watercolors, and scissors, and clay....all the creative stuff that fortunate pre-schoolers get to use. And she took it from there..... a proud little girl in with an early piece....

...and proud parents listening to an accomplished artist share her visions.....

Remembering her when she was about four years old sitting to color or paint at her child-sized table and chair....who knew!