Yesterday Mrs. Eaves was fussing over the last touches of the large installation piece that will soon be on its way to its permanent home at the University of Western Michigan. She scrutinized every inch...scraping a bit here, removing a panel to fuse an area a little smoother there. She let her hands slide over every bump, every piece of embedded pigskin and metal, and linger over every image and incised line.
As she paused,a thought occurred to her. She wasn't inspecting the piece as much as saying good-bye and letting it go. It's funny how an artist can have such a love-hate relationship with a piece of art. This piece has been hogging studio wall space for many months, slowly evolving over time. Some days it glared defiantly, refusing to cooperate in any measure. Other days, it yawned with ennui, casually wondering aloud if this was really what all the fuss was about. Other days it sang out, bursting with ideas and possibilities. In short, it had become a stalwart studio companion.
But now it's time for this painting to go out into the world. In this case, it is public art so, in theory, Zuzu and Mrs. Eaves could go visit it whenever they like. In reality, they will help it settle into its new home and visit it one more time for a grand unveiling and dedication. And then, most likely, they will all go their own ways...sharing fond memories and mutual respect but leading separate lives. Mrs. Eaves can't help but wonder...is artwork created or birthed?
and it's beautiful!
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