Sept 2020 - Wallpaper, Milestones, Self-care, Covid, RBG, Forgiveness
Fall Greetings ~
Wow the weather turned fast, bye-bye summer. It’s been a busy month. I had a huge house painting job consisting of a kitchen, dining room and half bath with deep soffits all around and wallpaper from hell. It took several days to feel like I was back in step with ladders and getting into hard-to-reach places. It’s been a while since I worked that hard. And there was time to adjust - I made 10 trips to the house. It started badly. In all the jobs I’ve had removing wallpaper – I’ve never been so soundly defeated. I spent HOURS the first day working on a 5' stretch until I gave up. So we nixed removing the devilish paper and instead I painted over it with 2 coats of primer/sealer, did extensive drywall repair and patching to hide the seams and loose edges, followed by 2 more coats of base paint before I could start the fun stuff. In the last 2 days I did a pretty pumpkin ragged finish in all three rooms along with 4 mini murals - one with fruit and the others with birds and flowers on branches - to match a stained glass light and cabinet glass insets. It was worth the effort – I actually got a delighted ‘Holy Sh*t!!!’ from the husband when he first saw the completed mural. Lol. I was also thrilled to sell 13 large prints of my Fusion Foto Art on Fine Art America and have several commissioned pieces, too. More to come on that next month. Oh, and I didn't get the Black Cat Alley gig. One of the recipients was Adjua Nsoroma, daughter of Ammar Nsorma - two remarkable artists that were featured on CBS Sunday Morning. Kind of hard to feel bad about that!
We passed some milestones. 200,000 Covid deaths (higher according to experts) and the anniversary of 9/11 – which is actually my parents anniversary, too. I spent that day with my mom looking at old photos and videos of my Dad. It was bittersweet, but didn’t feel tragic. Not until the next morning. Everything hit me like a ton of bricks the next day. I was completely overwhelmed. I missed a photo session with the vets and barely got out of bed. I seriously needed a day of self-care to let the feelings of sadness wash over and through me. I hope you all take them as needed, too. Sort of related to Covid, in my last blog I forgot to mention I'm in the Martini Girls show ‘Forgot My Glasses’ at the Art*Bar (haha on forgetting). It ends Sept 30. My painting is titled ‘Covid Prayer’. I created it in the early stages of the pandemic when there was more fear of the unknown. Now we know we can reign in the virus and significantly reduce the death rate by doing two simple things – physical distancing (I like that better than social distancing) and wearing a mask. It’s a small inconvenience but a huge act of kindness for the common good that appallingly our 'leaders' won't support. The US has less than 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the fatalities. I only have one thing to say on that subject. VOTE!!! OK, two things. Wear a damn mask. WI is surging again with the highest rates of infection in the country. Please stay safe.
Tragically we lost Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the notorious RBG, before the election. Out of respect, I had hoped the GOP would have honored her dying wish to not be replaced until the next president was installed. Alas, it is not to be. Read the following article for some remarkable background on her life. Article Link. She broke ground fighting for gender equality and again in her death as the first woman and first person of Jewish faith to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol. On a spiritual note - today is Yom Kippur, the highest of the Jewish Holy days. Tradition states that the book of life opens (10 days earlier) on Rosh Hashanah – the start of the Jewish new year. This is marked by a time of deep personal reflection and is celebrated with apples and honey and greetings of ‘Shana Tova’ – wishes for a sweet new year! The book of life closes on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is preceded by a feast and then observed with 25 hours of fasting and intensive prayers. According to a site on Yom Kippur origins… “it is the moment in Jewish time when we dedicate our mind, body, and soul to reconciliation with our fellow human beings, ourselves, and God. As the New Year begins, we commit to self-reflection and inner change. As both seekers and givers of pardon, we turn first to those whom we have wronged, acknowledging our sins and the pain we have caused them. We are also commanded to forgive, to be willing to let go of any resentment we feel towards those who have committed offenses against us. Only then can we turn to God and ask for forgiveness." Wow. This is a profoundly humble spirituality. And I’m not religious. Forgiveness is powerful.
Someone asked what I was planning for fall. It took me a moment to figure out they meant AUTUMN – not the fall of civilization. I feel like we are on the brink.
Forgive us all.
Anita
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Fruit Mural / Stained Glass / Bad Wallpaper x 2 / New faux finish /
Covid Prayer art / Pretty flowers
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Anita Burgermeister, eclectic independent artist in Milwaukee ~ creator of faux finishes, murals, fine art, photography, websites & more. Sharing news about creative people & events in art, music, magic, dance, dining, film, writing, architecture, inventions, life & other stuff. Hope you enjoy and read often!
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