I
started writing this post about how the darned varmints keep eating my
garden. I got up to get another cup of
tea and looked down from my kitchen window to see deer eating my
gooseberries. They’re shameless. They don’t even seem to care about the
gooseberry’s vicious thorns. The twins
camped out in my yard for 2 days. They
didn’t care about my loathing. Sure, I
had a few moments when I thought about how pretty and cute they are, but I
collected myself and remembered to go back to hating them. I fantasize about eating venison.
Okay,
let’s switch topics and talk about something more pleasant. I was at Mom’s house and commented on a
framed collection of pictures by my great aunt Ila Rhea (Lee) Little that Mom had on the wall which I hadn’t seen
before. Mom said I could have it. Whoopee!
I took it home and realized I don’t have enough wall space either. I propped it up against the dining room wall
and find Ila Rhea’s art makes me happy whenever I walk past it. That’s got to be a sign of good art.
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| Size: 20" x 24" |
This
piece is very nicely and professionally framed so I didn’t want to take it
apart to scan it. The reflective glass
and shadow box format made it hard to photograph. That said,
let me share Ila Rhea’s art from her college days, from 92 years ago…
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| I think I inherited that table |
Obviously,
studying my aunt’s work is much better than studying the devastation of my
garden. She was a lovely lady. I imagine her decades of students were glad
to have her as a teacher. I wish she was
still alive so I could ask her things it didn’t occur to me to ask about life
and art when I had the chance.
Mom got upset with
me the
last time I posted some of Ila Rhea's work (which you can see here). Mom said it was a violation of Ila
Rhea’s privacy. I said I thought Ila
Rhea would be pleased people could see her art.
It’s a way for her to live on although she’s no longer with us. How many years after you die is it okay for
other people to blog about you? I think
I’d be happy if one of my nieces or nephews posted my work after I’m gone. What do you think?
As an afterthought, I googled Ila Rhea's name and found this post about the school where she worked early in her teaching career. Fascinating. More stuff I wish I would've thought to ask her about.
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| The great lady herself :) |
