REMEMBER WHEN:

MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

Besides my relationship with my Lord and being a mother, I think opening an art gallery and painting classroom, to be my most satisfying accomplishment. It had been a dream of mine since High School where I discovered Art and that I was good at it. But as often happens life gets in the way and dreams are put on hold.  I had always kept painting as a hobby and personal pastime but never thought to do much with it.

After moving back to the Midwest from Washington State I started looking at Art as a business in earnest. I had owned and operated a convalescing care center and decorated it with my paintings in nearly every room. The person who bought the business wanted me to leave all the art work in the building and compisatated me for it. That sparked my interest in the possibility that I could sell what I painted and teach others to do the same.

My dream had been setting on the shelf patiently waiting for it’s time to arise. I joined a painting club and started showing my art work. I was asked to teach some classes for the other members of the club which led to my teaching classes for others in the community. When a building came available I made an arrangement with the owner for reduced rent if I did all the remodeling and updating myself.  And Beside Still Waters Art Gallery and Classroom was born.

I took on the challenge of turning a warehouse space into a working Art Gallery and classroom. It was located in a small lakeside town in south central Missouri where many local artisans reside.

Even though it was my business it soon became a community affair. By inviting other artists to display their work and give classes I was able to pay the rent and remodel the building. Besides displaying my art work and that of several other artists we held bazaars and swap meets in the parking lot. It became a weekend meeting place for locals and tourists alike. I had a table made from a 20 gallon milk can that sat on the sidewalk with 4 antique wood and metal folding chairs, I had painted a farm scene on the can  and it sat on casters so it could be rolled inside at the end of the day. People would stop and set awhile to talk or just watch the peaceful lake.

In early summer you could see the Eagles that had a nest across the lake teaching their young to fly; or the river otters playing along the shore. Early spring brought white Pelican on their way south, watching them fly in a line one following the one in front like the game follow the leader. They would fly up and down the lake then land all in one small area flapping their wing to stir up the waters; the fish would jump and Pelicans would surround them and start catching the fish as they jumped. This would go on until all in the circle had eaten. They didn’t come every year but when they did the word spread and it became a local attraction.

I taught classes for all age groups. Saturday mornings were kid’s classes but I had a rule that an adult needed to be in attendance. I had several grandmothers bring children and joined the classes. We had a great time and some of the kids went on to take Art in school and win awards.  Many of the adults came back to take classes on their own. The local wood carving association gave classes and did shows. The local ceramic shop gave pottery classes and displayed student pieces. I also gave sewing lessons and a friend taught jewelry making. It was a community endeavor.

But as sometimes happens we got blindsided by life. The building owner came in one day and said he had sold the building. I had been given first chance at purchasing but he said when someone comes in and lays down three times your asking price, in cash, it is hard to pass up.

There was no way I could beat that and I was given 30 days to vacate the premises. With the sudden loss of income and no place to teach my dream came to a crashing halt.

Art will always be part of my life. I still do commissions and have fond memories of Beside Still Waters.

LIFE GOES ON