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Gifts From My Father
Some paintings I will never sell. This one was painted at Kensington Metropark in August of 2012. It was a picture perfect evening spent with my father, George Wright.
My dad suffered from Alzheimer's disease. As sad as that is I consider myself supremely lucky. As the disease progressed it dissolved his memory, his speech , his ability to walk and even the names of his children and grandchildren. As these parts of my father faded what was left was the core of a man who was kind and considerate. As he sat wheel chair bound he would worry that others were not comfortable or he would offer to share his food so that no one would go hungry. As his capacity to live an active life shrank his appreciation for beauty became a source of joy. When I would push him in his wheel chair he would gesture towards flowers or clouds lit by a sunset so the appreciation of beauty could be shared. He could still walk and speak when I painted this landscape. We sat together on the side of a hill while I painted the sun setting across the water. At one point he walked away and I heard "Wow, will you look at that!" He was standing about 20 feet behind me and was enthusiastically trying to find the words to say what the painting meant to him. "You got it" he kept repeating with a big smile. No award ever meant more than impressing my father and sharing that evening with him.
My family continues with his gracious ways. My daughter and I were in NYC this weekend for the Pastel Society of America reception when my father passed away. They stayed silent know there was nothing I could do. We had a great time in NY and my family shared the news with us when we returned. My fathers legacy of compassion continues to thrive in my family. They put my happiness in front of their own grief. In the midst of sadness there is the gift of his kindness that continues beyond his death. I love you dad.
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