Spent last Saturday afternoon at the open studios of a few
artists I admire. Reflecting upon that experience, while I saw work that tugged
my heart and captured my imagination, and learned much in conversation, the
impression that lingers is simple awe at the generosity of spirit of these
gifted people. They are exceptionally smart and talented, warm, sociable, and
great communicators – in other words, they could do just about anything they
wished in today’s world and succeed.
They chose to make art as their life’s work. It is a choice
that is often unrewarded in ways others take for granted, sometimes not even
respected. But we all have a chance to interact with objects that invite,
provoke, amuse, comfort, delight, challenge, keep us company and grow with us,
and the only exist because artists make that choice.
Today I experience a sense of wonder at how lucky I am to
know so many of these wonderful people and feel grateful for a life that has
allowed me to meet them.
Lena Viddo in her Chelsea Studio
