The Tale of Two Angel Paintings - The Tapestry for Peace

Eve Mackintosh with Tapestry for Peace project ©MMSikes

"Angel of the Marshland" is one of my favorite angel paintings of all time, and I've been painting angels forever. This painting and my Tapestry for Peace project painting were both inspired by Eve Mackintosh, a lovely lady with whom I had a meeting in Denver, Colorado only a few months before her untimely death in 2005.

I don't remember exactly how Eve and I connected, but I know it was through the National League of American Pen Women. During a trip my husband and I had planned to the Colorado mountains, Eve and I arranged to meet in the lobby of a hotel located in a Denver suburb . When I first saw her, I felt as if we had always known each other. She was vivacious, energetic, and filled with joy about the Tapestry for Peace project she had instigated and that was being sponsored by the Denver Branch NLAPW.

The first panel that Eve Mackintosh showed me in our Denver meeting.

That day, Eve told me about a vision she had in 1997 while driving along Florida I-10. She saw a gigantic angel in front of her, reaching high with the planet earth in one hand and holding another planet close to her heart. Overcome with wonder, she pulled to the side of the road where she heard the words, "There's a place in space for peace."

Eve was uncertain what to do, but she knew in her heart she must do something. She remembered the bloody war scenes depicted by the Grand Bayeux Tapestry of the 1066 Norman Conquest of England. In contrast, she wanted to create a giant peace tapestry that would inspire children to look to the future without thoughts of battle but with dreams of peace. She contacted Masters of Linen in New York City who donated 120 yards of fine linen for the project. When she became an active member of the Denver Branch NLAPW, she shared her story and idea for the tapestry and thus found the help she needed to bring the Tapestry for Peace to fruition.

When Eve described her vision, I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of her project. Using a piece of her linen and Robert Doak intense watercolors, I created "Angel of the Earth and Skies" as a contribution from Virginia Pen Women for the project.
 

"Angel of the Earth and Skies" ©MMSikes

The angel image is the dominant feature of the art work. Beneath the angel, five oak leaves, representing the earth, float. Three stars,depicting faith, hope, and love, shine in the sky.  Above the angel’s head, two doves fly with a banner of peace. The angel holds three golden and silver ties in her hands. These are the ties that could bind the hearts of people all over the world in an atmosphere of love. 

Before I sent my tapestry panel off to Denver to be part of the Tapestry for Peace project, I displayed it at Petersburg Regional Arts Center. It is on view in the photograph against the old staircase in the main gallery at PRAC. (That staircase is restored and is now a focal point in the Grand Gallery at the Ward Center for Contemporary Art.)

When the angel left me for its long journey, I missed her and decided to create another angel painting with acrylics on a large canvas. Thus, "Angel of the Marshland" was born.

"Angel of the Marshland" ©Mary Montague Sikes

This week, as I began to recall the stories and events that led to these angel paintings, I forgot about the ceramic angel that "posed" for both pieces of art. During a Tuesday night thunderstorm, I was emphatically reminded. That angel is one of three now sitting on a dresser in our bedroom. Every time, thunder sounded and lightning flashed, that angel sounded a little rumbling noise and lit up with light. The other two angels, although they are the ones with batteries and small light bulbs inside them, did not. The ceramic angel spoke to me as she had once before inside a Pennsylvania store where I knew I must purchase her. 

My panel "Angel of the Earth and Skies" is part of the 264-foot long "Tapestry for Peace". "Angel of the Marshland" is on view now at Dara LeBlanc Haynes' Mathews Country Galleria. The ceramic angel stands ready to pose for yet another painting. The new painting will probably be "Angel of the Trees" because I look out into our woods and wonder where angels might hide.

Our nation and our world is in dire need for peace. Perhaps the Tapestry for Peace will one day come out of storage and travel the world inspiring the children. That is what Eve Mackintosh planned all those years ago.

The Ward Center for Contemporary Art - A Beautiful Addition to Old Town Petersburg

"Cloud 9 Band Performs at Ward Center" ©Mary Montague Sikes

Old Towne Petersburg is booming. Just up Sycamore Street from where new episodes of "Mercy Street" were recently filmed stands the Ward Center for Contemporary Art. The renovated spaces there are impressive. As a resident artist in Petersburg Regional Art Center for the entire ten years of its existence, I am in awe of its transformation into the Ward Center.

For the July Friday Night for the Arts open house, Cloud 9 Jazz Band was playing beneath the same staircase (beautifully refurbished but no longer functional) where another music group performed in December 2012. The refinished original wooden floorboards sparkled beneath glorious new lights that show off the unique paintings to perfection.The floors fascinate me. Their beauty makes the transformation complete.

"PRAC 2012 Christmas Gala Music" ©Mary Montague Sikes

At the far end of the Grand Gallery, Pegalicious was serving some of the most delicious treats I've ever encountered at an art event. These included appetizer pastries filled with cranberry/almond chicken salad and pimento cheese. Cupcakes with luscious caramel/pecan icing highlighted their dessert table. I was surprised that a line had not formed outside on the sidewalk to enter this special event. That will surely happen in the future as word spreads about the exceptional open house events at the Ward Center.

"Pigalicious serves treats at The Ward Center First Friday open house" ©MMSikes

Two of my large seascape paintings decorate the spacious windows that front North Sycamore Street on the left. The windows, along with the historic Butterworth's sign were retained during the six million dollar renovation project completed last summer.

"Earth Rising" and "Sea Surf" Acrylic Paintings ©Mary Montague Sikes

The Ward Center for Contemporary Art has an open house every second Friday. The next open house will be Friday, August 12. The gallery and most of the artist studios are open anytime by appointment. Contact Noelle Ward, 804.252.9233.

Reorganizing My Art Studio Brings Back Memories

My art on view now at Prince George Gallery in Williamsburg. ©MMSikes

After bringing home a variety of new materials with no good place to put them, I decided to reorganize my art studio. The project has brought challenges, excitement, and memories.

For years, I have stored cards and invitations to art events from various galleries. It's enlightening to see the evolution of quality in these invitations. Many of the early ones are black and white; some are paper prints from a copy machine. Later on, the cards got slicker and much nicer. A lot of the artists are no longer with us or are no longer making art.

I've discovered lost or misplaced art supplies. And I have found little painting treasures I had forgotten I'd made.

I don't know how long this project will take, but, upon completion, I think it will be well worth the effort. Hopefully, I'll have photos to post before too long.