It seems appropriate to be writing this today because I’m dropping my most recent work off at the Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield for a juried show, Russet, Rouge & Bronze. Hopefully the yellow-gold colors along with subtle seven red circles will qualify this enough in the eyes of the juror to be selected for the exhibition. Later today, my mom and I will be attending a memorial service for my dad hosted by Jefferson Hospital.
Continuing to use the book The Geography of Loss by Patti Digh as a source of inspiration and guidance, I Wish You the Sunshine Of Tomorrow is a topographic map of the peaks and valleys of my dad’s 211 day hospitalization. These days were traumatic and tragic for me and my entire family which is why I continue to make art about them. This is my way of expressing my feelings of what I experienced throughout my dad’s entire illness and subsequent death. As an artist, I feel compelled to make art about dying, death and grief in order to create a larger dialogue on these issues.
I chose the title I Wish You the Sunshine Of Tomorrow because it is a line from the prayer my mom chose to be on the back of the mass card for my dad’s funeral. Quite simply the yellow section represents the sunshine: the sunshine of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The yellow is also representative of the color of the hospital gowns we had to wear every time we visited him. It was also the color of the walls of his room in the ICU at Jefferson Hospital. I also like to think of the yellow as the accumulation of memories I have of my dad throughout my life hence the sunshine of yesterday.
I’m Free, author unknown Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me. I took His hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief – don’t lengthen it now with undo grief. Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.
Jennifer,
This is beautiful. Of course it made me cry but I am thankful that Dad was set free from his suffering.
Love,
Mom
I lost my dad a little over a year ago and found your site through a comment you posted on a grief meditation. Everything about this is beautiful – your art, the poem at the end, your vulnerability in sharing it. I was so deeply touched by this on a day when I really needed it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I’m so sorry for your loss but utterly amazed at what beauty you’ve created from it.