Make your own fun

Sampler from Salem, MA, 1791.Needlework was one of the last traditional crafts to vanish; girls were still taught to embroider into the 1960s.

One would have to be blind to not notice the current trend in adult coloring. Of the top ten sales positions on Amazon, three are adult coloring books (and one is a guide to decluttering).  

19^th century fretless banjo. The banjo was invented by American slaves, fashioned out of gourds strung with gut strings. Talk about making your own fun in a stressful situation!

Evidently, coloring is nostalgic, it’s stress-relieving, and the end result gives a sense of accomplishment. I wouldn’t know; I never liked to color as a child.

Carved whale bone whistle, 1821. This was carried by a 'Peeler' in the London Metropolitan Police Force.

Our ancestors played musical instruments and sang. They painted in watercolor, they did tole painting and needlework. They did scrimshaw and macramé. They whittled birds, made toy furniture and tin sculpture. They kept diaries.

Quilters in Crenshaw County, Alabama, late 19th century.

To some degree, you can lay the blame squarely on our economic success: we are accustomed to buy, not make, our own fun. But three generations of us have also been raised in schools which are rigid and unyielding. Our schools viciously stamp out creativity, and our art and music teachers are at the bottom of the heap.

Whittlers in Shelbyville, Tennesee in 1968. Many of the best stress-busting crafts were ones done in community.

And now we have a nation which seeks release through coloring.

Adult coloring books are a symptom of a culture that has forgotten how to entertain itself. And that's a problem.

Mid-19^th century hair-wreath. It was a time of gut-wrenching infant mortality and limited photography. 

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park in 2015 or Rochester at any time. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops! Download a brochure here.

The changing face of Polonia

Historic Polonia is no longer a Polish neighborhood, and the workers at the Broadway Market reflect that changing demographic.

Today is Dyngus Day—the Monday after Easter—celebrated in Buffalo, South Bend, and Cleveland. It originated in Central Europe, where it is still observed, and was brought to the United States by the Slavic Diaspora.

The Broadway Market in 1906, when the East Side was a Polish and German ethnic ghetto.

On St. Patrick’s Day, all of Buffalo is Irish. On Good Friday and Dyngus Day, all of Buffalo is Polish. Historic Polonia is no longer predominantly Polish, but on Easter weekend it returns to its Polish roots.

Pussy willows at the Broadway Market.You don't have to be Polish to enjoy a good party, but it helps.

When I was a youth, Dyngus Day was described as a sort of Polish Sadie Hawkins Day, where boys splashed water on the girls they fancy, and girls collected pussy willow and hit the boys they like. Mostly, though, it’s an excuse for a good parade and party.

Dyngus Day sign from a few years ago at the late, lamented Central Terminal on Paderewski Drive.

As usual, the origins of this festival are lost in the mists of time. In truth, it probably has more to do with the end of Lent than anything, since it always falls on the day after Easter.

If you’re in Buffalo this evening, the Dyngus Day Parade starts at 5 PM, at Corpus Christi Church, 199 Clark St. Festivities at the Pussywillow Park Party Tent start at 3 PM with music from Those Idiots. The complete itinerary is available here.

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park in 2015 or Rochester at any time. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops! Download a brochure here.

Stations of the Cross (5 of 5)

This week I am running a series of Stations of the Cross. They were completed during a deadly year, one in which I was being treated for an advanced cancer. For this reason—and because I was traversing new territory for myself—they’re uneven. But their power comes from the underlying story.

The language is simple, meant to be accessible to a child.

The originals are on display at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Avenue, Rochester NY 14618.

Jesus died.

The sky grew dark. At three o’clock, Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

"He is calling for Elijah," the people said. Someone got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and lifted it on a stick for Jesus to drink.

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," cried Jesus, and he died.

At that moment, the sun’s light died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and there was an earthquake. When the soldiers felt the earthquake, they were terrified. "This man must have been God’s son," one said.

People disagree about what Jesus meant when he said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The crowd did not know what Jesus meant, either. They did not understand he was God’s son, so they thought he was calling for Elijah.

The soldiers recognized the earthquake as a sign of God’s power. But there were other people who still would not see.

Jesus’ side was pierced.

The crowd did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. They asked Pilate to break the legs of the three men so they would die faster. Since Jesus was already dead, the soldiers did not break his legs. One soldier took his spear and pierced Jesus’ side.

After Jesus died, he stopped talking, but he was not quiet. The things that happened to him were signs.

The blood that came from his side was the blood of the new covenant. The water was the water of baptism. "On that day a fountain shall be opened to cleanse them from sin and impurity," said Zechariah.

Jesus was taken down from the cross.

Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked him for Jesus’ body.

Joseph took Jesus’ body from the cross and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. A man named Nicodemus helped Joseph.

The people who had come to watch returned to their homes, making a big show of their grieving. But the people who loved Jesus stood at a distance and waited.

Joseph was a member of the council. He was a rich but good man. Nicodemus was a religious leader. Both were secret followers of Jesus.

When they asked for Jesus’ body, their secret was known. They risked losing their power and money—even their lives.

Joseph and Nicodemus could not help Jesus without showing their faith to the world. Sometimes we are afraid of what other people think of our religion. But we cannot serve God if we keep our faith hidden.

Jesus was laid in the tomb.

Joseph and Nicodemus laid the body in Joseph’s own new tomb. They rolled a large rock over the opening. They had to work very quickly because the Sabbath was starting.

Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother Mary kept watch nearby.

The next day, the priests and Pharisees went to the tomb and sealed the stone shut. "Otherwise his disciples may steal the body and say ‘He has been raised from the dead," they told Pilate.

On that Saturday, did Caiaphas, the council, and the people believe they had finally silenced Jesus? 

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park in 2015 or Rochester at any time. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops! Download a brochure here.

Stations of the Cross (4 of 5)

This week I am running a series of Stations of the Cross. They were completed during a deadly year, one in which I was being treated for an advanced cancer. For this reason—and because I was traversing new territory for myself—they’re uneven. But their power comes from the underlying story.

The language is simple, meant to be accessible to a child.

The originals are on display at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Avenue, Rochester NY 14618.

Jesus was nailed to the cross.

When they came to Golgotha, the soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh. He would not drink it.

They crucified him between two criminals.

Pilate put a sign on Jesus’ cross that said "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

The wine with myrrh would have made death less painful and scary. But it also would have made Jesus confused. Jesus did not drink it.

Golgotha must have been a scary place that day. Perhaps the two criminals screamed in pain. Jesus’ friends and followers wept. The crowd shouted and laughed.

All around him, people lost control. But Jesus kept a clear head. The crowd was lost in their feelings. Jesus was not. Jesus forgave his enemies. He showed us that forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.

The soldiers divided Jesus’ garments.

The soldiers took Jesus’ clothes and divided them among themselves. Jesus’ tunic was woven in one piece. They said, "We won’t tear it. We will gamble to see who will get it."

For the soldiers, this was just another workday. If we could ask them what they were thinking, they might say, "I’m doing what I’m told," or, "I need this job."

There will always be people who take advantage of weak or defenseless people. Sometimes we do it ourselves. But Jesus told us, "Whenever you refused to help these least important ones, you refused to help me."

Jesus spoke from the cross.

A crowd of people stood watching. Many shouted at Jesus, saying "Save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

One of the criminals who was dying with Jesus said, "If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!"

The other criminal said, "We are getting what we deserve, but Jesus has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

"Today you will be with me in Paradise," Jesus told him.

The crowd thought that if Jesus were the Son of God, he would take care of himself first. But he put himself last, not first.

In the world, we are called powerful when we can get other people to do things for us. In God’s kingdom, we are powerful when we are like Jesus—using our gifts for others.

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park in 2015 or Rochester at any time. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops! Download a brochure here.

Stations of the Cross (3 of 5)

This week I am running a series of Stations of the Cross. They were completed during a deadly year, one in which I was being treated for an advanced cancer. For this reason—and because I was traversing new territory for myself—they’re uneven. But their power comes from the underlying story.

The language is simple, meant to be accessible to a child.

The originals are on display at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 2000 Highland Avenue, Rochester NY 14618.

Jesus took up his cross.

The place where prisoners were crucified was called Golgotha, or the Place of the Skull. It was outside the city. Jesus picked up his cross to carry it to Golgotha himself.

Jesus did not pick up his cross and carry it for us because we are lovable. He did it to lift the weight of our sins from us and put it on his own shoulders.

It’s one thing to love someone who is good. It’s another thing to love someone who is bad. There are some very unlovable people in this world. Can you pray for them? Be their friend? Forgive them? Love them?

Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross.

As the soldiers left the palace with Jesus they saw a man named Simon. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus.

Sometimes God whispers and sometimes God demands. We believe we choose to serve Jesus. But Simon was forced to serve Jesus. When Simon picked up Jesus’ cross, his life was changed forever.

A person from Cyrene is from North Africa. The Bible does not tell us what color Simon was. If color doesn’t matter to God, how much should it matter to us?

Jesus spoke to the women following him.

A crowd gathered. They followed Jesus and Simon as they left the city. Some were Jesus’ enemies. Others cried for him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

There is a story that a woman named Veronica reached out to Jesus and wiped his face with a cool cloth; later that cloth developed a picture of Christ.

It wasn’t the cloth but Veronica herself who was a picture of Christ. She reached out to another person who needed help. Can others see Jesus reflected in us?

Probably the women who wept for him along the road did reach out and offer him water, encouragement, and love. Even in his suffering, though, Jesus understood that they were the ones in need.

Let me know if you’re interested in painting with me on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park in 2015 or Rochester at any time. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops! Download a brochure here.