When I first started this painting I was inspired by my Mom's sorrow that I would be moving away to Greece. She feared that she would not see me again and this caused her heart great pain. Everyday on my way home from my studio / gallery, in Savannah, I would call my Mom and tell her about my day. The people who came into the space, tales of fellow artist, and if something special happened like getting a solo exhibit approved. She loved these conversations and often told me I should write them down. No wonder she was going to miss me. I tried to show her how we could still have our daily talks with aps like WhatsApp or Facebook phone calls, but her heart was so worried and hurt that she was not ready to consider this new way of talking. So, I started creating a painting to explain that I would be with her always. Even if I was not right there by her side.
A few weeks after I started working on this piece my Mom fell very ill and was rushed to the hospital. A day later I was by her's and my Dad's side. They both needed me and I needed them. After spending a month with them, my Mom was finally transferred to a rehab care facility. I had to return home for an Art festival, having already committed to doing and it was my last chance of selling off work and prints before moving away.
As soon as the show was over I returned to my Mom's side. By this time she had been sent back to the hospital with a turn for the worst. My Dad was worn with worry for the love of his live. Another month of hospital ICU care before she was once again sent back to rehab care. We did this cycle three times with each time getting worse. I was painting frantically between my time with her. I was trying to beat the clock. I could see that my Mom was not ever going to make it home and I wanted to share one last piece with her, especially since she was the one who inspired its creation.
The painting - is of two elephants. One elephant is pulling a large clock that is dragging into the dirt. This elephant was to represent my Mom and how the time apart will feel heavy and hard. The second elephant is just an imprint of an image but they are tenderly caring for the other elephant as they go through their sorrow. That elephant was meant to represent myself. I wanted to say to my Mom that I will always be with you in spirit and heart until we meet again.
On July 4, 2024 my Mom's time ran out and I became the elephant pulling the clock. She never got to see the painting.
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