I was touched by Holly's post yesterday on Decor8, talking about her move to a new country and finally finding her place in the world. I totally get that and love that we all have a place that's special for us, or is still out there for us to find. It made me reflect on an Andrew Wyeth exhibition my family and I went to see at the Seattle Art Museum recently. A quote of his moved me:
"I couldn't get any of this feeling without a very strong connection for a place. Really, I think one's art goes only as far and as deep as your love goes. I don't paint these hills around Chadds Ford because they are better than the hills somewhere else. It's that I was born here, lived here - things have meaning for me." ~Andrew Wyeth
Image above (Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth) via Wikipedia, is currently in the collection of the Modern Museum of Art in New York City.
I can really identify with that. I'm 46 and in my adult life I had never felt that feeling of 'home' until now. I actually did move home about a year and a half ago but I think the thing that has been missing for me is that I've just been living too close to the city. We've never had a home in the country until now.
I love the quote that you posted especially the last sentence..."It's that I was born here, lived here - things have meaning for me."
I feel like now I can be 'me'...if that makes any sense at all! ...and I like the 'me' that I've found, here in the country! ;-)
Posted by: TinkerVerve | August 19, 2009 at 07:23 AM
beautifully said!
Posted by: ness | August 19, 2009 at 09:04 AM
beautiful words....beautiful painting...
xx
chasity
Posted by: the wild raspberry | August 19, 2009 at 09:49 AM
I love that painting and quote! I got your book in the mail yesterday! I read the intros and you both had amazing childhoods! WOW!
Posted by: linda | August 19, 2009 at 11:11 AM
I'd never seen that before... makes you want to drive right out the country!
Posted by: Sasha | August 19, 2009 at 03:29 PM
you two ladies are just FABULOUS! i love everything i see! so fun! i'm so glad i found you! i will definitely be visiting here often!
i just may have to order up your cookbook here too!
Posted by: amelia | August 19, 2009 at 09:23 PM
that's so true about the connection you have with where you were born and have always lived. I sometimes wish I lived in a much colder climate with lovely old architecture and more culture, but at the end of the day, where I am right now is where I know how the spring breeze dusts my bare legs, and the sun hits my arms at 4pm and the blueness of the sky. It will never be like that anywhere else in the world :-)
Posted by: lily boot | August 20, 2009 at 03:46 AM
Very late entry to this blog, but if you ever visit Maine, you can visit this house. I have done so; the house has been wonderfully preserved in a way that honors its bones, Christana, and Andrew Wyeth. It is not very Madison Avenue, shall we say.
But do visit in October, when the bulk of our summer friends are gone.
Posted by: Julie-Ann | May 22, 2010 at 01:23 AM