Page 246 - index
P. 246
P Patron Profle
It’s like winning a prize: it’s just for you, just for a
moment. Conversely, sometimes you get a surprise: the
thing you tried hard to see isn’t so beautiful after all – not
everything there appeals to your exact taste. When you
see something extra special, the feeling hits you in the gut
like some physical thing, and then it touches your heart.
Art is like that for me. I think the mental part comes last.
I could have walked by the painting with all the animated
people and colorful canvases that surrounded me. The
original, Prophetess, was on a metal display stand right in
front of me. The piece stunned me and stopped me in my
tracks; the image’s eyes held me there. I took in the entire
portrait. First, I noticed the eyes (haunting and knowing),
and then the shock of hair (wiry and gray white with a
few Black strands: bushy, thin and natural). The image is
clothed in white and holds a wrinkled hand at
her breast, as if holding her garment tighter around her
The very frst time I saw Prophetess by George Nock, it lean body. Her face is the only color on the portrait: a
was November 2003, and I was walking through the many shade of caramel.
artists’ booths on the foor level of the annual October
Gallery Expo in Philadelphia. My own booth, where I The artist noticed me looking at the piece. I told him
exhibited crafts, was located on the upper level of the how much I loved her in that very moment. I asked how
venue. Thanks to my husband, I was taking a respite to much the original was, and was immediately saddened
visit my many fellow exhibitors. That year, as is the case that I could never aford it. As always, beauty comes at
every year, the foor was crowded not only with vendors a cost. I felt such a sense of relief when I saw prints of it
and the buying public, but also with artists of every kind hanging on the walls of the booth. I had to buy one even
who use various media. The foor was visually arresting though I was spending the profts from my own vending.
in the best way —eye candy for those of us who can
appreciate all the shapes and colors, the lines and the Prophetess hangs on the wall of our dining room.
textures, the essence of what art is. No one else seems to get her. They look at it and say,
“It’s nice,” or sometimes they say, “The portrait is okay.”
What I experience is an almost sexual, visceral feeling They just see an old lady staring straight at them from her
that envelops me. Touching and seeing are one aspect of perch in the painting. But, of course, I see more. I see
the experience, and many pieces command your attention an uncompromising beauty, wisdom and strength. I see
over others. So many people attend the Expo, and often hard times, and some good times. I see weariness, but I
your view of something beautiful can be obstructed. But, also see a light in those eyes. She’s seen some stuf, this
if you are patient and take your time, the people move out woman. And she has more stuf to see. I want to know
of the way and you can “see” something beautiful. her, for real...but sometimes I think I already do.
Robin Dickerson-Rhone
Benefts Administrator
Upper Darby, PA
Creation of Man by Edwin Lester
246 247
247
It’s like winning a prize: it’s just for you, just for a
moment. Conversely, sometimes you get a surprise: the
thing you tried hard to see isn’t so beautiful after all – not
everything there appeals to your exact taste. When you
see something extra special, the feeling hits you in the gut
like some physical thing, and then it touches your heart.
Art is like that for me. I think the mental part comes last.
I could have walked by the painting with all the animated
people and colorful canvases that surrounded me. The
original, Prophetess, was on a metal display stand right in
front of me. The piece stunned me and stopped me in my
tracks; the image’s eyes held me there. I took in the entire
portrait. First, I noticed the eyes (haunting and knowing),
and then the shock of hair (wiry and gray white with a
few Black strands: bushy, thin and natural). The image is
clothed in white and holds a wrinkled hand at
her breast, as if holding her garment tighter around her
The very frst time I saw Prophetess by George Nock, it lean body. Her face is the only color on the portrait: a
was November 2003, and I was walking through the many shade of caramel.
artists’ booths on the foor level of the annual October
Gallery Expo in Philadelphia. My own booth, where I The artist noticed me looking at the piece. I told him
exhibited crafts, was located on the upper level of the how much I loved her in that very moment. I asked how
venue. Thanks to my husband, I was taking a respite to much the original was, and was immediately saddened
visit my many fellow exhibitors. That year, as is the case that I could never aford it. As always, beauty comes at
every year, the foor was crowded not only with vendors a cost. I felt such a sense of relief when I saw prints of it
and the buying public, but also with artists of every kind hanging on the walls of the booth. I had to buy one even
who use various media. The foor was visually arresting though I was spending the profts from my own vending.
in the best way —eye candy for those of us who can
appreciate all the shapes and colors, the lines and the Prophetess hangs on the wall of our dining room.
textures, the essence of what art is. No one else seems to get her. They look at it and say,
“It’s nice,” or sometimes they say, “The portrait is okay.”
What I experience is an almost sexual, visceral feeling They just see an old lady staring straight at them from her
that envelops me. Touching and seeing are one aspect of perch in the painting. But, of course, I see more. I see
the experience, and many pieces command your attention an uncompromising beauty, wisdom and strength. I see
over others. So many people attend the Expo, and often hard times, and some good times. I see weariness, but I
your view of something beautiful can be obstructed. But, also see a light in those eyes. She’s seen some stuf, this
if you are patient and take your time, the people move out woman. And she has more stuf to see. I want to know
of the way and you can “see” something beautiful. her, for real...but sometimes I think I already do.
Robin Dickerson-Rhone
Benefts Administrator
Upper Darby, PA
Creation of Man by Edwin Lester
246 247
247
