Art Appreciation

Preparing For A Photo Shoot For Crooked Creek Band

In college I studied art appreciation and art history. I learned about art movements, famous and not-so famous artists and the people that influenced their art. None influenced me more than my mother Polly. She always saw beauty and art in her surroundings, as plain and simple as they were. I share my art with you and hope you can see her influence in my work.

Cardinal Perch In Old Flower Bed

Tree Ornaments

Sunbathers

Art Departure

Polly's Birthday

Polly loved photographs. Here she created a collage of the many faces of Polly..... showing a lifetime of memories.

Polly was born on this day 95 years ago. She was born in Grandin, Missouri on B Highway. She always joked that there should be a large monument marking the spot! If she had ever figured out how to get that done, I'm sure the farmer who now owns that land would be looking at the monument, scratching his head and wondering who the heck was Polly?

And that's the predicament Polly struggled with her whole life. That's why she became a storyteller and a writer. She didn't want her children to grow old without knowing their ancestors. It took a lifetime to research, write and publish her memoirs. How thrilled she was when "Fading Footprints" arrived from the publisher!

"This book is a heirloom for my future generations," she said. It's our family history of seven generations of my ancestors and the stories I remember."

More than one hundred copies were published and sold of Polly's book.

We can best honor Polly by keeping her stories alive. How about you? Have you talked with your children about their ancestors? Are you writing stories to tell your grandchildren?

Happy Birthday Polly, you were a true Ozark Storyteller! 

Bird Watching

Polly loved watching birds. She had made a simple tray type bird feeder out of rough lumber and attached it outside the window over her kitchen sink. She could raise the window and add feed and water without ever going outside, especially nice during the cold winter months. But most importantly she could see their every move just inches away from where she stood washing dishes or preparing a simple meal.

She could tell you stories about the birds! She knew what they were saying and would repeat the sounds made by the bluejays screaming "Snake! Snake! Snake!" or the scream "Gotcha!" made by the hawk when he swooshed down to grab a field mouse.

"It's the father cardinal that feeds the babies so the mother can go build another nest for the next batch of little ones," she explained. "Most of the time males pick a lifetime partner. Even though they don't live for a long time."

She would laugh and add "Like men, there's a few of them that's unfaithful and has another partner on the side!  You can watch and see 'em trying to keep both nests of babies fed!"

I can still hear her insisting she knew how courtship worked! "But the females have a say in who they choose for a mate. You can watch them, it's like they are flirting. To prove he will be a good provider for the babies, the male cardinal will feed the female. The best feeder wins!"

I didn't truly believe her until I became a birdwatcher. "Oh my goodness, would you look at that!"

"Well, maybe, I'm not hungry but….I'll try just one seed…."

Mother's Day

The Cherokee Tribal Council gave Polly an Indian name in her later years. In all their interactions with her, she loved them unconditionally. She showed that love by giving - whether it was something she had cooked, sewed, written, recycled, re-gifted or shared - she gave without strings attached! They named her Holy Heart Woman.

Her children agreed that Holy Heart Woman was a fitting name for a mother that loved each of them totally and unconditionally! She never, ever put her needs (or wants) before theirs.

Testament to that love was the determination and strength she mustered to stay in this world until her children were able to come home for one last family reunion on Mother's Day, May 10, 2010.

After waving goodbye to each of them as they left to go home, she died peacefully the next day on May 11, 2010.

Always busy, Polly loved making collages. Below are some of those. If you look closely, you may find yourself or for sure someone you know in these collages!

This collage includes photos of Polly throughout her lifetime.

Polly left a legacy of love. That legacy is:
Mothers make the world a better place! If your mother is still alive, spend as much time as you can with her, showering her with love and affection. If you are a mother, love your children unconditionally, putting their wants and needs first.

Walking In The Woods

It's my mother's fault I love walking in the woods so much. She and her sister Marcella would pack a picnic lunch of whatever they had on hand and head for Tolliver Hole. I never had to be asked twice if I wanted to go. I knew that the long leisurely walk would include all kinds of looking for treasures. Not treasures you bring home but mostly the kind you stop and admire. Like a woodpecker pounding away on a tree, or mushrooms growing on a log. Oh, the beauty of it all.

Recently, I had the pleasure of walking in the woods with my brother Sidney and sister Jo Nell in rural Kentucky. Now with a camera in hand, I can bring back some of the treasures I find. Here are a few from that walk in the woods.

Walking The Back Forty

This is an open field bordering Jo Nell's land. I thought the colors were pretty with just a hint of green grass contrasting against last year's orange sagebrush.

Emulating Butterfly Wings

While walking I remarked that surely we would find the season's FIRST morel mushrooms. We didn't, but I found lots of beautiful fungi along the way. The one above reminded me of butterflies, while the one below looks like the beautiful ruffles you see adorning skirts worn by women at square dance festivals.

Ruffles For Dancing

There He Is

The sounds of birds are one of the real joys of walking in the woods. It's always such a challenge to find them among all the tree branches. This woodpecker was so noisy he was easy to locate.

The Rock Tumbler

After the previous day's rain, the creek was full of rushing water. Sidney says that springtime rains like this loosens new rock. New rocks like the ones below to build fireplaces, swimming pools, walkways and more!

The Rock Study

After one of the harshest winters anyone can remember, last year's leaves are still hanging on!

Still Hanging On

To see more of my work visit me at http://www.lena-wilhite.artistwebsites.com