HOME     ABOUT   PAINTINGS    PROJECTS   EXHIBITIONS    NEWS     CONTACT

Patty's Story: Page 1 2 3 4 5 6
Patty's Early Years Excerpt from Patty's Story Artist Comments -Bonnie Van Moorlehem

(click on thumbnails for larger view)

Painting 1 - Patty’s Story
A Child Is Born
30” x 40”, acrylic on canvas

In 1952 a little girl is born, full of potential and perfect in the world’s eyes.

 Painting No. 1, A Child Is Born ----The pure white stiff flower represents Patty as an infant.  I felt the stiffness in the petals represents the uncoordinated way a baby’s movements are when they are learning to gain coordination with their muscles and movements.  The slight off color shades in the white petals represent inherited sin.  The color of pink was used as being symbolic for a female.  Purple is Patty’s favorite color and represents her own personal uniqueness.  The center of the flower represents Patty as an infant and her bright wide eyes, full of innocence and perfect in the eyes of the world.

Painting 2 - Patty’s Story
Patty & The Mosquito Become One
40” x 30”, acrylic on canvas

At 11 months, Patty and the mosquito become one.
  “ I was immediately taken to the local hospital.  After three or four days of test, they sent me to a Minneapolis hospital for more testing.  They finally concluded I was suffering from encephalitis.”

--excerpt from Patty's story

Painting No. 2, The Mosquito and Patty Become One --- Hindsight taught me I should have painted the mosquito (carrying encephalitis) a darker color.  I came to realize if I had painted the mosquito darker it would of given the mosquito more strength and power.  I found myself unable to give the mosquito the power that it contained after giving such a horrible blow to Patty.  It was my way of taking back some of the power that mosquito had over Patty.
     I demonstrated the power of this painting with the diagonal lines of the mosquito and flower.  The flower is starting to take a new shape from the results of the mosquito bite.  The flower shape has more gray included showing that the mosquito is becoming part of Patty and there is shades of pink in the mosquito that reveals that Patty’s blood is in the mosquito thus they become one.

Painting 3 - Patty’s Story
Can I Play With You?
40” x 30”, acrylic on canvas

“I do not recall much about my early school days.  In second grade, some boys found a snake and chased me around the playground and put it on my skin.  Kids would not play with me, they acted like I was contagious and would catch my cerebral palsy.  I usually swung on the swings by myself.”

--excerpt from Patty's story

 Painting No. 3, Can I Play With You?  ---was the last painting I did for this project.  I originally had 12 paintings for this project.  Christmas of 2006, my brother Michael viewed the paintings and told me that he thought that I should have one more painting that represented Patty in her elementary years.  I asked Patty questions about her elementary days in school.  She has little recall of that period in her life. 
      Children being mean and playing alone are Patty’s only memories of her elementary years.  My sister Becky and I are able to identify with Patty’s feelings of others treating her like she had some contagious disease, since often other children treated us the same way since we had a sister who was challenged.  My sister Becky who is closer in age to Patty often would stay by Patty's side in the playground and they both would be alone.     
      The three figures on the left of this painting represent the other children playing on the playground interacting and physically touching each other.  The blue figure on the right hand side is alone with her arms reaching towards the other children to no avail.  The blue color represents the loneliness and rejection Patty felt.  The blue figure blends in more in the background representing that she is easily lost in society and at social events

 

Page1 2 3 4 5 6

 

e-mail: bonnievm@mvtvwireless.com © Bonnie Van Moorlehem 2006