Every one of us have “Counted” on some thing, or someone, at some time. Whether we like it or not, we all count.
So what does that mean? Is it a good thing, or a bad thing? I say neither. I like to think it’s wonderful.
When I was a little girl, I recall being in the kitchen with my Mother, as she was making homemade bread. She was elbow deep in flour, and ankle deep with me yattering away at her. Now this is going to sound strange, but it’s a true story so bare with me. With all seriousness, my sweet Mom said, “Patty, can you go pee for me. I can’t quit kneading the dough and I need to pee.” “Yes, Mom.” was my gleeful reply, and off I ran, out of the kitchen and out from under her feet, to do my business in the washroom. Mom told me she had to “really” go, so I stayed in there an extra long time so my Mom would be okay.
I may not have known it then, but clearly what Mom needed was for me to leave her alone for a few minutes so she could focus on the family sized batch of bread she was making. And maybe, just maybe, Mom also desired a few moments of silence. In short, Mom was counting on me to deliver what she needed. She just happened to have a fabulously creative way of asking for it. She was counting on me.
So how do you count? Perhaps when you start your car on a wintery day, you count on the engine turning over, the heater warming up, and your journey ahead to be a safe one. Or maybe, you just really need to meet that girlfriend for a coffee, to share with her what a wild day you have had. You know that you can count on her to share in your excitement, sadness, gladness, or madness. Because yes, we count on our friends, cars and the the weather. Even when we don’t clearly tell them what we want.
When I approach a blank canvas do I count on a magnificent creation to appear? Heck no. Or do I? As I write this I realize, Yes, I kind of do. If I did not have that belief deep down inside, would I approach a canvas, ever? I’m not so sure. That would be a bit scary. So what do I do instead? I show up, I smear some paint, and I unwittingly count on the creative universe to join me and show me the way. Yep. I count. Does that then not mean that to count on something or someone is to have faith? I think it does. Faith that it will all work out, faith that our friends turn up, faith that we turn up, faith, faith, faith. You can count on it.
I am most definitely counting the days to the upcoming “HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS” art show to be held on November 19th, 2022. But I am not the only one counting. Our dearly departed friend, Garry Benson, was counting on hosting this show himself, but that was not to be. Garry wanted to fill his home with the people of this community, with art, with passion.
As Garry’s close friends, family members and artists, we are pulling together to have this show in his memory.
This art show represents not just beautiful artwork, but most importantly, it represents the community that Garry lived in, Kelowna, Rutland, his friendships and his family. A community you can count on to show up, to stand up and to be proud of. And we will do just that. We are proudly filling Garry’s home with art, with arms wide open to everyone that enters the front door, with great joy in supporting the wonderful Kelowna Art Gallery Youth Programs and with pride to have called Garry our friend. Yes, we are counting.
