Hidden Inside

This past weekend, our county had its first county wide "art trail"--an open studio weekend for our local artists.  Some displayed in museums or other public places, and others opened up their studios.

I prefer studio visits because the artist is in her or his native environment, at ease, and eager to reveal the creative processes.

So, there we were, parking our car in a village where I worked long ago.  As we walked to the house the studio was located in, a woman came out and greeted us like long lost friends.  "Welcome, welcome!  Good to see you!  Come in!  Welcome!"

I was taken a little aback - did I know this person?  I'm not the best at recognizing people in setting where I normally don't see them.  But she did seem vaguely familiar.

When she asked "how is [my autistic brother in law] I realized who she is.  Her hair was a different color than when I last saw her, about 18 months ago, but I knew she was a person who had worked with my brother in law at a program he used to attend.

Turns out this person is also a fiber artist, and she showed off her art.  Then she showed us her garden.

She bought the house less than two years ago.  The house was built in the 1920's.  The back yard had been totally taken over by knotweed, one of the most invasive weeds there is.

She had hacked all the knotweed out (and will have to keep on top of it), and planted both plants friends had given her and plants she had bought from clearance racks.  One, a hibiscus, was thriving in a pot.   Another, a daisy, bloomed in her front yard.  Both had responded to her love and attention.

Then, there was this columbine,  in her hidden back yard.

All of us have talents we may not share with those we work with or, sometimes, even the people we call friends.  It's hidden inside of us, but one day we find it and make it bloom.

On the art trail, I met a retired product engineer who now works with cherry and black walnut wood.  I met a real estate agent who saw a You Tube video and was inspired to make art from discarded aluminum cans and a woman who makes art to fight the lupus she suffers from.

We all have talents.  Some of us hide them and only share with certain selected people.  Others share them with the world.

Which type of person are you?