Yesterday was the moment of truth, initiation, and execution. She faced it like a champ and let the cancer know who's the boss.
Week 5
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Words to Live By: Week 5
My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.
Yesterday was the moment of truth, initiation, and execution. She faced it like a champ and let the cancer know who's the boss.
Yesterday was the moment of truth, initiation, and execution. She faced it like a champ and let the cancer know who's the boss.
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Year Goes By So Fast
My niece, Lennox, will be celebrating her first birthday next weekend. Her first birthday.... I can't believe it. A year has actually gone by since this little angel came into our lives.
I can still remember the day of her birth. I waited anxiously in the waiting room with my dad until someone came to tell us that we could go in to see my sister and the baby. As I entered the room, I heard the littlest cry coming from my sister's arms. As I moved closer to her, this is what I saw:
I just burst into tears. I couldn't explain why. At that moment, everything I knew about love had changed. I was overcome for the love I had for Lennox from the moment I laid eyes on her. And soon after she was born, my sister asked me to be the god mother for Lennox. I was honored.
I have had the privilege to watch her grow into the most beautiful, hilarious little girl.
So you can imagine how excited I am to be celebrating her first year of life. To prepare for this momentous of occasions, I offered to help my sister with the party planning and preparation by creating the birthday invitations to send out to guests. My sister and her husband are going to throw a pig pickin' for their daughter at their home by the beach -- a true Southern, summer party.
Barbara provided me with the poem and the concept for the invitation, but she let me have free reign for the actual design. I hope she likes them. I put them in the mail late last night. I can't wait to celebrate and kiss that lovely niece of mine next weekend.
I can still remember the day of her birth. I waited anxiously in the waiting room with my dad until someone came to tell us that we could go in to see my sister and the baby. As I entered the room, I heard the littlest cry coming from my sister's arms. As I moved closer to her, this is what I saw:
Lennox Tome Dauberman
July 26, 2008
July 26, 2008
I just burst into tears. I couldn't explain why. At that moment, everything I knew about love had changed. I was overcome for the love I had for Lennox from the moment I laid eyes on her. And soon after she was born, my sister asked me to be the god mother for Lennox. I was honored.
I have had the privilege to watch her grow into the most beautiful, hilarious little girl.
So you can imagine how excited I am to be celebrating her first year of life. To prepare for this momentous of occasions, I offered to help my sister with the party planning and preparation by creating the birthday invitations to send out to guests. My sister and her husband are going to throw a pig pickin' for their daughter at their home by the beach -- a true Southern, summer party.
Front of the Card
Inside of the Card
Barbara provided me with the poem and the concept for the invitation, but she let me have free reign for the actual design. I hope she likes them. I put them in the mail late last night. I can't wait to celebrate and kiss that lovely niece of mine next weekend.
"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."
- Carl Sandburg
- Carl Sandburg
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Words to Live By: Week 4
My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.
One victory down this week. Certainly a reason to celebrate.
One victory down this week. Certainly a reason to celebrate.
Week 4
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The 30th Annual Eno River Festival
For this year's Independence Day, Jason and I spent the day with our friends, Amanda and John, in Durham. They invited us to join them for the Eno River Festival. I have heard Amanda speak of the festival before, but I had never actually attended the event. When the opportunity came to go this year, I thought, "Why not?"
The festival, which began July 4, 1980, was a vision of Margaret Nygard. She wanted to protect the river and teach the local community about the importance of preserving the river and protecting the it's precious resources. Over twenty years later, her vision has grown into a successful annual celebration that many in the community have grown to support and appreciate.
Even with the environmentally friendly theme that was prevalent throughout the event, I was happy to find that art was a big part of the celebration as well. For every year that the festival has existed, a promotional poster has been created to promote the Eno River Festival. Since the festival's inception, the posters have been created by the same talented artist, Jenny Nygard. However, around 2002, other artists have been commissioned each year to create the promotional poster for the event. The result is an exquisite gallery of posters that are also available as prints for purchase. (To see some of these beautiful prints, click here.)
There were also many booths open with local artists' wares for purchase. From pottery to metal work to hand carved wood, artistry could be appreciated everywhere.
My favorite part of the festival was the parade. Men, women, and children, donning colorful costumes constructed from cloth, wood, and paper-mâché, represented the various elements of nature and the beautiful creatures that inhabit the earth. The unique and creative costumes made me want to start a paper-mâché project of my own.
All in all, it was a beautiful day well spent by the Eno, surrounded by art and inspired by nature. And we have the freedom to enjoy it all. Isn't it sweet?
Me and Jason soaking in the sun
at the Eno Festival
John, Amanda, and Nate cooling off
by the Eno River
The festival, which began July 4, 1980, was a vision of Margaret Nygard. She wanted to protect the river and teach the local community about the importance of preserving the river and protecting the it's precious resources. Over twenty years later, her vision has grown into a successful annual celebration that many in the community have grown to support and appreciate.
Festival attendees enjoying the cooling
waters of the Eno
Even with the environmentally friendly theme that was prevalent throughout the event, I was happy to find that art was a big part of the celebration as well. For every year that the festival has existed, a promotional poster has been created to promote the Eno River Festival. Since the festival's inception, the posters have been created by the same talented artist, Jenny Nygard. However, around 2002, other artists have been commissioned each year to create the promotional poster for the event. The result is an exquisite gallery of posters that are also available as prints for purchase. (To see some of these beautiful prints, click here.)
There were also many booths open with local artists' wares for purchase. From pottery to metal work to hand carved wood, artistry could be appreciated everywhere.
Beautiful butterflies constructed from metal
Annual sand sculpture
My favorite part of the festival was the parade. Men, women, and children, donning colorful costumes constructed from cloth, wood, and paper-mâché, represented the various elements of nature and the beautiful creatures that inhabit the earth. The unique and creative costumes made me want to start a paper-mâché project of my own.
Eno River Festival Parade
My favorite costume in the parade - she was amazing.
All in all, it was a beautiful day well spent by the Eno, surrounded by art and inspired by nature. And we have the freedom to enjoy it all. Isn't it sweet?
"Is freedom anything else than the right
to live as we wish? Nothing else."
- Epictetus
to live as we wish? Nothing else."
- Epictetus
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Words to Live By: Week 3
My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.
Her journey is beginning and is becoming more defined every day. Despite the details that have been laid before her, she is strong.
Week 3
Her journey is beginning and is becoming more defined every day. Despite the details that have been laid before her, she is strong.
Week 3
Monday, June 22, 2009
Project Words to Live By: Weeks 1 & 2
My friend, Jeanine, once asked me, "What is your gift, and how are you using it?" Such a big question to answer about oneself. How does one answer that? It's hard to answer without feeling bragadocious or arrogant.
The more I thought about it, the more I found myself answering that question about other people. Last year, I made Jeanine a picture answering that question about her. And as she read all of the things I found amazing about her, she was overcome with emotion. I was able to make her aware of the gifts she gives daily to her friends and family, and how much we appreciate her for that. The list contained gifts both significant and seemingly insignificant - but all - invaluable to those who are closest to her and love her most.
Almost a year later, Jeanine and I spoke about that very question again, this time, in a different context. And through our conversation I realized that my gift is my ability to nurture those I care about in my life. This next year is going to be a challenge, but she has the support of family and friends to help her get through what life has decided to throw at her.
Inspired by Jeanine, I've decided to begin a new project. Each week, I will send her a painting inspired by words that evoke empowerment, positivity, and hope. Each painting will represent one week she has overcome breast cancer. For me, it my way of supporting her and investing in the gifts she possesses.
Week 2
The more I thought about it, the more I found myself answering that question about other people. Last year, I made Jeanine a picture answering that question about her. And as she read all of the things I found amazing about her, she was overcome with emotion. I was able to make her aware of the gifts she gives daily to her friends and family, and how much we appreciate her for that. The list contained gifts both significant and seemingly insignificant - but all - invaluable to those who are closest to her and love her most.
Almost a year later, Jeanine and I spoke about that very question again, this time, in a different context. And through our conversation I realized that my gift is my ability to nurture those I care about in my life. This next year is going to be a challenge, but she has the support of family and friends to help her get through what life has decided to throw at her.
Inspired by Jeanine, I've decided to begin a new project. Each week, I will send her a painting inspired by words that evoke empowerment, positivity, and hope. Each painting will represent one week she has overcome breast cancer. For me, it my way of supporting her and investing in the gifts she possesses.
Week 1
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monkey Business
Of all the animals on the planet, I would have to say that I find the monkey the most intriguing. After all, I have one named after me. Aside from the fact that they are relatively close to being human, their mix of humanity masked in fur and mischievousness make monkeys undeniably captivating. There is a strange connection one feels with a monkey because of its human-like qualities, yet there is a sense of apprehension, too, because, well, it's a wild animal.
Despite the fact that they are wild animals, monkeys are a symbol of our own humanity as well. Case in point - the San-saru that reside at the Toshogu Shrine in Japan teach us that one should hear, see, and speak no evil. And think about all of the ways we use monkeys to describe our own shortcomings and pitfalls:
In my line of work, I bare witness to the shenanigans of the corporate jungle on a daily basis. Such inner workings of corporate America has even inspired a book. It is the subject of this book that inspired these series of monkey paintings I did for my friend, Alfonso (a.k.a. "T-Bone"), back in 2006. With "Who's Got the Monkey?" on my brain, I created these paintings for him as a reminder that when people pass their "monkeys" to him to handle, he can eat a banana and do his monkey dance, or, alternatively, fling poop at someone's head. Lucky for me, he doesn't fling the poop when I pass the monkey (well, not all of the time). Thanks, T-Bone.
Despite the fact that they are wild animals, monkeys are a symbol of our own humanity as well. Case in point - the San-saru that reside at the Toshogu Shrine in Japan teach us that one should hear, see, and speak no evil. And think about all of the ways we use monkeys to describe our own shortcomings and pitfalls:
- Monkey on my back
- Monkeying around
- Monkey see, monkey do
- Funny as a barrel of monkeys
- I'll be a monkey's uncle!
- If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys
- Monkey business
- Make a monkey of me
In my line of work, I bare witness to the shenanigans of the corporate jungle on a daily basis. Such inner workings of corporate America has even inspired a book. It is the subject of this book that inspired these series of monkey paintings I did for my friend, Alfonso (a.k.a. "T-Bone"), back in 2006. With "Who's Got the Monkey?" on my brain, I created these paintings for him as a reminder that when people pass their "monkeys" to him to handle, he can eat a banana and do his monkey dance, or, alternatively, fling poop at someone's head. Lucky for me, he doesn't fling the poop when I pass the monkey (well, not all of the time). Thanks, T-Bone.
"I am not nearly so interested in what monkey man was derived from
as I am in what kind of monkey he is to become."
- Loren Eisley
as I am in what kind of monkey he is to become."
- Loren Eisley
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