Sharon-2024
We’ve been gathered for a few days to celebrate my friend Sharon’s 80th birthday. So far we’ve had a pre-birthday party for Sharon and two friends, an art day and a party preparation day. Tomorrow is the big day. I’ve had fun surveying all the treasures in her house as it is filled with first her own work and then the work of those she has done shows with over the years. She has huge books full of her photography, drawers filled with treasures gleaned from the Bone Room, the Tucson Gem and Mineral show and countless other sources. When I first met her in 1989 while doing shows, she made Universal Totems which you’ll see on the walls. Before that she was a weaver and you’ll see her throws folded neatly on a shelf in one of the photos. After doing years of shows with the totems, she turned to photography. Her photos are stunning and deserve to be in National Geographic or the National Gallery. Later she turned to incredible felt sculptures. You can see her whimsical animals on shelves below and see the over 400 felt cactus figures she made to give away at her party…and that she taught us to make. (See my earlier post.) Then there are the needlepoint pillows that display her own, not patterned artistry. They display portraits of her grandchildren and flowers and terracotta pottery and other subjects—60,000 stitches per pillow!! And they take months to design and produce. You will see Sharon, preparing one of 4 cakes for her 80th birthday celebration dinner—55 people expected! Also her husband John and three friends who came from Southern California and Mexico to help her celebrate–including me!
If you would like to explore more of Sharon’s work, you can find her online gallery HERE.
Click on Photos to Enlarge.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 