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.
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