"To Make Living Itself An Art, That Is The Goal.
This is a tribute to my oldest sister, who passed away this past January. It is not sad but a celebration of how she led such an artful life. The above quote from Robert Henri describes how she approached every minute of each day.
She never followed trends, was always ahead of her time, creating a home from her heart that was a journal, a scrapbook, a vision of her individuality, and the magical artful world she loved.
As an artist, a shop owner, mother to seven beautiful children, grandmother to twenty-four, there was nothing familiar or ordinary about anything Teresa did. She created beauty always. She elevated even the simplest meal with a beautiful set table; candles lit, music playing. Every holiday had family traditions that I carried on to my children. Saint Nicholas Night, December 6th. Always a small party for the kids followed by leaving their shoe out filled with carrots an apple and sugar cubs for his horse in hopes he would leave small presents in their shoe. The Leprechaun who came and left presents on a beautiful set table in green depression glass. Pink pancakes were always the rule on Valentine’s Day and there were more.
Rocky and His Friends, her doll and miniature shop in Medford
Messing with me in front of her shop
We were thirteen years apart, Teresa starting college while I began Kindergarten. There were races mornings to see who could get ready the fastest. Nights that she would read and then drill me on her collection of art books. Of course, prints of the artist's works hung all over our room, and I had to be able to name them. There were nights I would cry to my mother for her to stop when the books came out, and now I cry when I pull them out too.
Graduating from Immaculata College, she traveled alone to Europe for an entire summer. A pretty bold move for a young woman in 1960. This adventure shaped her and gave her a sense of accomplishment, helped her dream big, and reach for new challenges. She bought me home dolls from every country, passing on her love of fantasy to me.
Going to Europe on her own money was very tight, and I believe she used some of her last Guilders to purchase these for me.
She started teaching kindergarten, and I would sit with her and help paint giant illustrations to decorate her classroom. Lucky were the children who had her as their teacher.
I will be proud to hang these in my home
She made sure I was exposed to all of the arts, from painting lessons to sewing lessons piano lessons (eight years and I was never good). I fondly remember her dragging me to the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Not the best place to take an ADHD child. I remember knocking off the lady's hat in front of me, trying to mimic the flute player. Then there was the story of the lady who switched seats with her husband. Yes, she was sitting next to me. After the show, we ate the most delicious pizza I have ever had in her little Volkswagen Beetle. But is my love for classical music because of that?
She supported my creative side, always showing up to my high school art shows and later shows, purchasing a few pieces. Even this year tricking me and purchasing a painting of mine online.
These were two of my early watercolors saved by my sister and given to my Daughter for her first child.
When I had grandchildren, they treasured the Christmas tea party she held at her home for all the little girls in our family, and they were just captivating. My girls would talk about this event all year, brushing up on their tea manners, planning their outfits, wearing their best smiles to Aunt Tesie's.
The Kitchen tree
Tea was for everyone
Santa was such a surprise at this Tea Party
We are all artists capable of living a life that brings more magic and brightness to the ordinary. Each day is our blank canvas to paint however we want. Let's choose to use our pretty china every day, arrange fresh flowers, light candles, prepare that gourmet dish, plant the biggest garden we can. Life is so precious we must take the utmost care of every detail and bring artful beauty into our lives.
"The greatest art is to shape the quality of the day" Henry David Thoreau.