She is lying next to me on the couch, peacefully sleeping, like I should be. I’m really enamored this time. I was with Om too, and made a whole graduate thesis based on my new reality with him, but she is something special in another way. Like her name means, a re-birth, a new life, a renewal of all that is good and can be hoped for. We’re working on three months and a week of knowing each other in person, I feel like the meet and greet happened long ago.
The new body of work Nesting is closing this week at Palmer’s, its an uncomplicated collection of 16 drawings and 5 paintings all of the same bird. Only two drawings actually have nests, because lets be honest, its all about the bird, and the bird is me. Its like I took a bow and said, yes, I can do Mothering, its what I do and I’ve got it now, and then had another baby and packed in an art show, a new business and other various time consuming activities. I think I’m up to more than what normal people do first few months post-partum. Is that called working for yourself? The bird stands on the ground looking up into the stylized London Plain Sycamores like the ones on my street, Michigan Avenue, and although looking away and quite small, is the focus of the entire piece. There are only three colors to choose from, yellow ochre, prussian blue, and green earth, and the bird is only in grahite with a little touch up. I’m happy with the simplicity, I’m pleased with the extremely positive response to the work, I only wish the economy was on the up during my chance to plaster the gallery walls! Friday night I’ll close the event with Melissa Bond and a poetry reading about nests, birds, and whatever else Melissa wants to share. Its nice to find someone who is working with words the way I’m thinking about images. Looking forward to it!
March 30, 2009 at 12:54 pm
She is so adorable! I wish we lived closer. I’m hoping to come down a bit more before I move to Indiana. I love your artwork and I love how you tie it in to motherhood.. Say hi to the family for me
March 31, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I am still waiting to meet our sweet baby Aanya. I wish I could have been to the gallery and that I had enough time and money to pay you to be my personal artist, decorator, therapist, friend. I miss you Leah. I wish we could come over and sit on your couch every time I feel overwhelmed with motherhood. Maybe you would teach me to express myself through painting, maybe we would start a non-profit group to support mothers….most likely we would sit and talk and I would feel better about life.
July 14, 2009 at 9:04 am
I can’t believe that I have waited until now to try to understand all of this better. I have been thinking about the little bird so much lately and what it means. The abstract communication of the thesis show and the new paintings make so much more sense. I love that Om and Aanya have such an amazing mother.