Jeremy loves Kate.

A little over eight years ago when I first started creating pieces, it was because I was tired of buying wedding presents. It was one of those summers when I attended eight (8!) weddings between May and October. I've learned a lot since then. . . .including saying no (ask about The List of 5). . . but most of my friends are married now.
I met Kate when she was a junior in high school and she and her family welcomed me both as a surrogate big sister and her youth pastor all at the same time. She called me the day of her first date with Jeremy. Giggling like the school girl I first knew, she told me all about the man that we had hoped and wished for. . . .Jeremy and Kate married in the Spring of 2007 after a beautiful courtship.
The quote comes from a plaque in Kate's family's cabin outside Seven Springs. It actually says, "May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty." But it seems fitting to change it here, on this old antique door. This piece needs to make the journey to its new home in New York City. Soon.
All the best, always, Kate and Jeremy.
Oil on found antique door with cut paper collage.
30 x 24
Summer 2007
On loan from the private collection of Jeremy and Kate Laswell Maco.

Hotdogs. . . or steak?

I have too many Yankee fans in my life. Or maybe, there are too many Yankee fans.
This piece was created from collected items as the world said good bye to Yankee Stadium. This summer I've learned--reluctantly learned more about the Yankees than I have ever wanted to BUT I learned long ago, that my best art is created when it is for a specific person whom I love.
And as the story goes, I first spotted Jason. . . . at a funeral. I had no idea that my friend Terra's brother was hot. What is a single girl to do? Hmm. Gather up the phone numbers.
Jason, I hope that you can find room for one more.
Fare thee well, Yankee Stadium.
Oil on found antique door with cut paper collage; tissue paper and rubber stamped letters with ink.
43 x 15
Early Autumn 2008
On loan from the private collection of Jason Ingram.

Baseball. . . and church!

After completing, Take Me Out, I knew I needed to do more baseball art. Having already tipped my hat to the wrong team (but really, it is a good thing to have the boss on your side). I turned my attention to my beloved. The Boston Red Sox.
Zack loves the Red Sox. Zack is the only son of a preacher. Whom better to marry church and baseball (or as I sometimes say, church. . . and church) with then for Zack. We weathered this baseball season together. We stood separately outside the Cathedral (Fenway Park) and called each other wishing we were together. We wore matching Sox hats at work in the kitchen for good luck. We begged his preacher father to pray for The Church at church. We cried together when the Tampa Bay DEVIL Rays reached into our hearts at the end of Game 7 of the ALCS. Ah, we love this game. Wes Westrum and Rob Shelton's words (through Annie Savoy in Bull Durham) make the connection easy between baseball and church. Zack loves Number Nine, the great Ted Williams, so the right side of the collage is a testimony to his number and his greatness.
Zack, thanks for making me feel safe and pretty.
Next season, I'm moving to Mecca. I mean, Boston.
Oil on found antique door with cut paper collage; collected baseball tickets; typed and stamped words on tissue paper; cigarette advertisement and found Scrabble tiles.
43 x 15
Summer 2008
On loan from the private collection of Zack Harbaugh.

Baseball. . . and other things

My love affair with baseball began when I was too early to understand affairs. . . but I understood love. When I was seven, the neighborhood boys invited me to their Little League game at Community Fields. Huddled at the end of the bench with my sister and backdoor friend, Sherri, I began my lifelong affair with the Boys of Summer. The crack of the bat, the feel of the leather ball in your hands, the smell of the infield dirt mixed with sweat. . . oh, I love this game. Summer of 2008 for me was blissful. Several times a week I would journey to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to usher for the State College Spikes. I don't know how it happened but my section (104/105) was right behind home plate which meant 1.) a great view of every pitch of the every game 2.) knowledgeable and generous fans and (as a very very special bonus) 3.) the off day pitchers, both home and away teams would chart games right in my section. Some days I could barely breathe.
So out of all this love, all this bliss, came this piece. I am not sure why I haven't connected my passion for baseball with my art together before now (I have at least 20 years of baseball quotes collected), but maybe it was just time. I am fortunate enough to have a boss at my day job who loves baseball as much as I do. Although he loves the wrong team, he loves the game and doesn't get angry when I am reading last night's box scores on the clock.
It is a beautiful evening. Let's go the Park.
Oil on canvas with cut paper collage; typed words on tissue paper; rubber stamps and ink and found Scrabble tiles.
18 x 24
Summer 2008
First Prize in the Multi Media Painting category at the 2008 Centre County Grange Fair.
On loan from the private collection of Bryan W. Bausinger.