Art: An Outlet to Connect my Past, Present and Future • by Nelly Eisenhower

How do I sum up how art saves me in a few short paragraphs? Do I mention its meditative qualities and how I can lose all sense of time? Do I talk about its healing qualities in my journals allowing me to tell my deepest hopes and fears? Do I just simply talk about the joy that it brings me when I am pushing paint around a canvas or journal?

Family Connections to Art
As I struggle to begin, I begin looking around the room. When I look out the window, I am gazing at a stained glass panel that was made by my aunt. I get up to go to the kitchen and walk by two paintings that have been painted by my mom. Sitting on my counter is a glass bowl that was made by my cousin in a glass blowing class. I turn to walk back into the living room and I see the teddy bear my Nana made for me sitting on a cabinet next to a wood carving done by my Poppop. All of these items were gifted to me at some point in time.

I come from a family that surrounds itself in making. Whether it is painting, crafting, or decorating, lots of our time is spent creating. I can always remember making something or having someone making something around me. I am struck by the amounts of art that surround me made by my family. Finally it dawns on me what art gives to me daily — connection. Art is not merely an act of creating for me; it is an outlet to connect to my past, present, and future.

The Beauty of Handmade
I have always been delighted at the receipt and giving of a homemade gift, something that you have made with your own two hands. I will walk into a store, and instead of thinking, “Oh, I should buy that,” I am thinking, “I can make that” — a habit picked up from my Nana. When I am making something for someone, I think of the recipient and how he or she has impacted my life. I always imagined the people giving me handmade gifts have done the same.

I see the beauty in a handmade gift — something you have made with your own two hands. As you are making whatever it is, you are thinking of that person and connecting to them by making them something.

To learn more about Nelly Eisenhower, visit nellysjunkdrawer.blogspot.com.

Comments

[Heather Foust]

Hi Nelly Bell!

I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you!! You are my special girl always!

Love Mom

[Jamie Wenrich]

Nelly, what a beautiful story about our family. When I stop to think about some of our friends I am sometimes sad for them because they do not have all that comes with our family which is sometimes very awesome to me. Love, love, love!!!!