Are We Art?

Every beginning has an end, vice versa. When one door closes, another door opens. What happens when one day you are told , “You are a failure and disappointment.” or “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “You need to decide what you want to be.” Recently, I had my image shattered. I began to ponder and these words came to mind...I began to put it in writing to release from my shoulders. My mirror was shattered...The start of my book. I am going to...So lets begin the journey to discover the meaning behind the Art..My work in progress and as my Art teach would say, "I'll pencil your grade in the book. You'll eventually finish. Does the artist really finish the piece?

Are We ART?

HOW TO BEGIN YOUR NEW LIFE....WHERE TO START? CAN I EVEN DO IT? WE ARE ALL FACED WITH CHALLENGES ON A DAILY BASIS. HOW WE SURVIVE IS BASED ON HOW WE RESPOND....WHAT IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA....WE NEED TO DO A DAILY ASSESSMENT. WE REALLY NEED TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES...NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO START.WE NEED TO STAND NAKED IN THE MIRROR AND TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK. DON'T YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO BE HONEST?

Every beginning has an end, vice versa. When one door closes, another door opens. What happens when one day you are told , “You are a failure and disappointment.” or “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “You need to decide what you want to be.” Recently, I had my image shattered. I began to ponder and these words came to mind...I began to put it in writing to release from my shoulders. My mirror was shattered...

The Shattered Mirror

Recently, I had my mirror cracked actually it was shattered...
What I thought I saw in the mirror wasn't as it appeared to be.
The mirror sometimes lies to us or distorts the truth.
We are actually afraid to appear naked in the mirror.
The mirror like TV adds 10 pounds and so on...
So, the mirror delivers bad news when we least expect it.
How to put the mirror back together once it is shattered?
The mirror is like our life.
Once shattered it is hard to put back together.
So, you slowly pick up each piece and glue them back in the "same" place.
Eventually, the mirror will be back together.
Will it be as it was in the beginning or before?
Doubtful...
There will be a new mirror and new image.
Will the image be better than before....only time will tell.
My image in the mirror is still me, 10 pounds and all...
So what appears with our image may be slightly different.

Our choices when putting the mirror back together will decide the view....Through The Shattered Mirror.

Only you can put the image in the mirror back together. Only you can decided where each piece goes. Only you can paint the image of what others see. How do you respond? Do you respond? How do you repair the mirror? You think, If I had only decided differently, or had a crystal ball, things would be different? You begin to ponder. Sometimes you have to go back before you can go forward. Because the mirror sees...

The Mirror

The Mirror sees The Truth,
But ponders the words.
The Mirror sees the object,
But clouds The Vision.
The Mirror tells a story,
But lends itself to variation.
The Mirror tells your age,
But can lie.
The Mirror speaks of your life,
But utters nothing.
The Mirror hangs on the wall,
But adds dimension.
The Mirror shatters an image,
But shows many facets.
And as I stepped into The Mirror,

I lose all perception but gained a new facet of myself...

Dunno if my story is important but...How you see you through my paintings is important as is yours.. We are Art and the artist. Lets begin by painting the first few strokes.

I had lost my job due to personal differences with my new manager. I lost my job after nine plus years. The road not chosen had been chosen for me. The journey down this road was a tough winding and full of potholes. It began with losing my house then my car. I was ejected from my house Thanksgiving week. I had no place to go but a friend helped me with a reference to a landlord. The apartment wasn't in the best of areas but close to work. It had the space at a reasonable price. I stayed in the apartment through thick and thin. I had gotten robed 4 times which prompted a security system. My car had gotten vandalized. I am not sure why I was being tested in this manor. I had a friend to tell me, “I can see that you miss taking care of patients.” He referred me to his hospital. I applied to 4 positions at the hospital. I had interviews setup. I took the first opportunity. Before the PCA position at the hospital, I had gotten a regular 9 to 5 job at bank after being unemployed. I had to rethink my choices. Actually the bank decided I was not a fit for their institution. During the bank position, I was driving almost an hour each way five days a week. I should thank the bank for telling me, “I wasn't a “fit” for their establishment.” The position was monotonousness, boring, and not me. I thought, “How dare they let me go on the 90^th day of training?” How dare they? I guess my road was going in another direction. I guess I had unfinished work. My day of waking up at 4:30am ended. My day changed again...

The Day

Hustle, Hurry!

The Day has begun.
Stop!Look, you forgot to shave!
Rush, even faster, you are getting behind.
Water, soap, towel...
Wet, wash, dry...
Wake Up!
Tic, Toc, tic, toc.
The clock chimes half past the hour.
Out the door to a cold car, but no time to waste.
One block, two blocks, and then stop, the light is RED.
Hurry, turn Green.
Park? Where?
Finally a parking spot...
Clock in with a few minutes to spare.
Work, work, and more work...
Lunch...Yeah.
Work, work, and more work.
Tic, Toc, tic, toc.
The clock chimes half past the hour.
Out the door to a cold car, but no time to waste.
One block, two blocks, and then stop, the light is RED.
Hurry, turn Green.
Park...Finally Home.

Today is a good day to have a good day!

You start by imaging or creating. You image you having a good day. You will have a good day. So you have to be creative or inventive. I am an artist, which creates art or skillfully and creatively performs something. Art implies the mastery of any sort of craft. An artist begins to conceptualize or ponder ideas. The problem with words-once spoken, you can't take em back. Words are usually literally read but a painting or sculpture lends itself to interpretation by the artist and the viewer.

Let me paint you a picture. I am from an Appalachian family. I am the first person to attend and graduate from college. These experiences and family shaped my character and professional goals. At birth, I was born with eight ounces of blood, lack of iron and an impaired immune system. Throughout my childhood, I was sick for three to six months out of each year. These among other life experiences developed my admiration and respect for the medical profession. I asked my family physician many questions furthering my interest in healthcare.

My heritage starts in the Appalachian hills of Kentucky. Years 

later, my family moved to another rural

part of Kentucky. My grandmother had a fourth grade education, 

while my mother and father had ninth and 

eighth grade education, respectively. At age 43, my mother

attended night school to earn her GED and my 

father considered pursuing his as well.

I am the first to attend college and get a degree. My mother knew

it was the only way out of rural Kentucky.

My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps working the 

family business. During college, my grandmother

had open-heart surgery and her children wanted to place her in a 

nursing home. I left school to support her. 

She will say she took care of me , but I say we took care of each 

other.

Eventually, I moved to Columbus. I needed employment. So I 

went to work for Brooks Homes Inc. caring for 

MRDD clients. I taught sign language, gave medication, 

performed general household chores, and assisted 

with their daily living .

I decided to return to college and attended The Ohio State 

University. There, I was a founding member of a 

few organizations, Campus Partners and Project Community, and

on committees and other groups. Campus 

Partners is a group for Redevelopment and Revitalization of the

University District,specifically, south campus 

gateway project. We formed Project Community to inform the 

student organizations of University District 

community volunteering activities.

While there were many unexpected turns in my life and breaks in 

my education, I do not regret any of my 

decisions. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to 

continue reaching for your goals.

You have traveled my road and seen my painting. You know the painting is ever changing and evolving through choices. What will be your painting? What others see will be different interpretation of your idea. The painting will be yours to interpret but others will attempt to interpret you. Time to get painting and no time for regret. 

Imagine Columbus as One