My beloved father died August 2, 1998, also the 10th day of Av, which is Tisha B'av, the commemoration of the destruction of the second temple, during which the Book of Lamentations is read. My father died at the age of 64 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The day he died the Blue Angels flew over the house as part of the show at nearby Hanscom Airforce Base. It seemed a fitting tribute to my father.
My father became an avid birder in the last several years of his life. He and a pal enjoyed spending time going to the Audobon Sanctuary and other places and watching birds. It was a relaxing contrast to his normally busy work schedule and gave him a much needed respite.
In honor of my father, George A. Kolovson, I have made a mandala in memory of him for my July BJP. If you read my blog, you will know that a little while ago I posted a photo of a birdbath that I can see from my computer window. Initially I thought that the birdbath was what I was beading. But as I beaded, it became apparent that I was really beading memories of my father.
Below you can see a mandala I drew shortly after my father died. In keeping with his love of birds, my parents back yard was designed to attract as many different birds as possible.
This mandala was drawn the day before my father died. I was sitting on the front steps of my parents home and started this mandala. Initially it was part of their garden, but if you use your imagination you can also see that I incorporated an oceany feel, because my father also loved the beach.
I was fortunate to be at home when my father died. My father-in-law had just died 6 weeks previously. My husband and I were spending as much time as we could in Massachusetts, while the kids were at overnight camp back home in Michigan. It was a difficult summer. Both of us feel honored and saddened that we were with our father's when they died.
I was fortunate to be at home when my father died. My father-in-law had just died 6 weeks previously. My husband and I were spending as much time as we could in Massachusetts, while the kids were at overnight camp back home in Michigan. It was a difficult summer. Both of us feel honored and saddened that we were with our father's when they died.
Last night I was very angry about something. Anger is not conducive to sleep, so I got out of bed, went to my bead room, pulled a few things together, sat on the floor and made this piece. I used markers in my least favored colors, project rejects, embroidery thread, which, when I got frustrated with using it on the needle, I just wrapped around the lacey's stiff stuff. I even left the needle in the piece. Was I less angry? Well, enough to go to sleep. And enough to get out of bed today and move on and leave some of the anger behind.
You have already seen a version of the above piece for April. It is a yin/yang interpretation of the shift from winter to spring. The more I looked at it, the more I didn't like it. My critic was still present and telling me it could be better. But I still liked the idea, so I just changed around the flowers on the right, added a few green leaves to the tree, and a butterfly in between, signifying the transition from winter to spring. I like this piece and feel content with it now.
