remember
One of my favorite artists is Brian Andreas (if you do not know his work, stop reading and head over to www.storypeople.com and explore; right now). His words, his poetry, his stories, are a gift to me in their simple, deep truths. We have several of his prints and a few sculptures in our art collection. Pausing to read his stories that adorn our walls is part of my sacred life.
Early on when we were dating, Jon and I visited a shop that had Andreas' work and I was able to introduce Jon to a favorite past time: looking through all the prints to discover which one resonates deeply on that day. The story that day was "Real Reason," and days later Jon drove 90 minutes back to that shop in Valparaiso, Indiana to buy it for me as a "two-month dating" anniversary present.
A few months later, weeks before we became engaged, we had the opportunity to meet Brian Andreas at a signing and we bought the sculpture of "Real Reason." As we handed it to him to sign, he said, "who do I make it out to" and without asking each other, together Jon and I said, "Liz and Jon." He looked at us and said something like, "that's a big commitment;" in a way, it kind of felt like we got engaged in that moment.
Of course, the truth is that my Storypeople collection began years before I met Jon. I wrote about my first introduction to them here. I remember reading the stories aloud in the car with my mom and coming to "Fog People" and pausing and reading it again and again. I love that story and my mom gave the sculpture to me as a college graduation present. I wouldn't say that I think of it as a test when I show people the sculpture, but I always giggle a bit when people say, "but I don't get it." Another favorite print that hangs alone in our hallway so that you pause to read it is "Crayon Pirate." The simple wise truth of a child's world – that is what that story says to me.
Last week, I spent some time clicking around the stories at the website and the two stories that speak so deeply to me in this moment of my life are "Whales" and "More Fair." I hope to one day add those stories to my collection.
When the events of September 11, 2001 happened, I found myself, like so many others, trying to find something to help me wrap my brain around what had happened and the grief and helplessness. Sitting in my office one evening a week or so after the eleventh, I turned to the Storypeople website, seeking the wise words of Brian Andreas, and found that he had written a story to commemorate 9/11. The story is "Awakening." At the time, Storypeople was selling the story as a poster with the proceeds going to raise money for the people affected on that day. I bought ten planning to share them with others. And after framing one for myself and giving a few away, I did what I do best, I put them someplace and forgot.
As we have been organizing and cleaning and all that stuff over the last few weeks, I came across my carefully rolled up posters of "Awakening."
I am wondering if any of you reading this might want one. I have five and would be happy to mail one to you. Please just send me an email at waywardtulip at gmail dot com and let me know. UPDATED: The posters have all been claimed. Thank you...
Many blessings to all on this day,
Liz
inspirations, my sacred life
Reader Comments (12)
oh...these are my sister-in-laws favorites. she has 3! and she is in the hospital at this very minute working on bringing me a new niece or nephew into this world
I would love to have one Liz. I really enjoyed this quote today and would love to share it on my blog today as a day to remember those we have lost 6 years ago today.
Thank you Liz for introducing us to Brian Andreas' work, and for your own beautiful story, and a special way to remember the day.
what a beautiful post. i will go check him out now! thank you!
every once in a while i visit your blog and today i find one of my favorite inspirations also.
i often wish i could write such wisdom with such simplicity.
best wishes to you, liz.
Wow- would I ever love you to send me one. I have posted about Brian Andreas before too- his work moves me. Funny I find myself here, at this post, because I haven't been by for awhile, and you just popped in my head this morning because I was listening to a song that was saying "om shanti" and I remembered that post you did awhile ago where you sang "om shanti"
I always thought that was so wonderful and brave of you.
Let me know if you want to send me one and I'll send along my address.
krista at the silent k dot com
i have never heard of this before
but am definitely going to
check into this more...
the little bit that i read just
from here was enough
to draw me in...
and i love that you both said
liz and jon at that same moment.
:)
I've you still have any left, I would LOVE one. His art hangs in one of my favorite stores in Woodstock. I have some cards and books.. a sculpture soon! I was getting little notes in my mailbox for awhile as well. Love his stuff. oh, and it's really fun making your own mandalas.
Doreen
Beautiful!
He is also my favorite artist ....I have many of his prints, sculptures and cards. I also get his daily quote sent to my in-box and I love getting up every morning and having that to read.
I also have a custom piece from him. He has a saying about "convinced she could do everything she ever dreamed of with a little more space".....well, my husband a few years ago called storypeople and asked if they could make a mirror for me and add in the word "closet" to make it "closet space" and they said yes...so of course I'm thrilled to have a custom piece that Brian Ok'd to have made just for me !!!!
I love Storypeople. I have his sight bookmarked, and every now and then, just go read and look.
:)
I too love Brian Andreas and Storypeople, ihave several of the prints and one sculpture so far...i agree with you, there are the people who get it and those who don't, lol...These stories and artwork feed my soul though and i can spend countless time just reading and rereading them....
Peace.