I have had cause to reflect on my life the last few days. A few things have occured that have both brought my feelings to extraordinary highs and crushing lows. Such is the ebb and flow of life. The one thing that I am positively certain about is, this: Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, a thing that can bring you to the depth of despair, like the end of a relationship or a death, can set you on a new path of life and love that you never dreamed of before.
When I personally look back, I see a path that has been devinely inspired. I lived with my grandmother when I was about 17. She had the early signs of Alzheimers and I was very close with her. Every Tuesday, the local catholic church on Ascot Avenue, would rent their space to a southern Baptist church. That place would rock out those nights; so much so, that I started to go there. I was only one of a handful of white people in the room, but some of the women, and in particular my friend, Mabel Cleary, took me under their wing and I rocked with soul and gospel right along with them. To this day, I love gospel music, r & b, and anything soulful. It gets into my belly and doesn't leave. I can cry on a dime when it's sung well.
Fast forward, life and babies and work get in the way of music and art and much goes on hold, until my soul sister, Laura calls me one day for a night of karaoke. It was as if the Gods had unleashed the fire within. We started to go on a regular basis and were fortunate to sing in some major productions in front of hundreds of people. We have kept our "real jobs" but the passion of music has never left either of us. Myself with a choir and musical productions, Laura with two bands.
And one wonders too, on this path, the what ifs? Had I stayed in drama and art in school, would my career have been on a different path, but I do remember being really young and at my great-grandmother's place in Hornings Mills (population 37, but I digress). She had a fabulous Victorian home, no central heat, hand made quilts all about and a garden that went for acres, full of lilac, cornflowers, sunflowers and periwinkle. I was four and stood outside and said, "one day, I'm going to have a place like this." I've had many places like that, full of relics from days gone by, a passion for gardening and I sell homes...just like that. When anyone can bring the passion they feel in their life, into their life, then it is a full life indeed.
One thing that keeps re-occuring in my life though is that I forget to ask for what I want. Sometimes fear gets in the way of that. I've had occasion as of late to ask for some very simple things pertaining to an art project (www.artprojectCanada.com) that I have been working on for months now. What has happened is truly miraculous...ask and you might receive! My project is now an official affiliate of WorldPride, which is happening from June 20-29. I will be curating my first show and will showcase 9 other incredibly talented Canadian artists.
You, my FB friends and real life in the flesh friends, are, of course, invited. The opening night is Friday June 27, 2014 from 6-11 p.m. It will include music, art, drinks and food. My kids at ArtHeart, where I volunteer teach, are helping me make a mosaic mural with Pride colours.
The event takes place at Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street (Bathurst and Dundas area) and is wheelchair accessible.
Cheryl Bower
