Melody Weintraub Art Exhibition

February 9-27

On view in the Visitors Center

There will be a reception on February 15 from 2-4 pm

“It has been said that every picture tells a story. As I reflect on what I choose to paint, I have found that it's almost always connected to a story. Some of the stories are imaginary, while others are based on memories. Playing in my grandfather's barn in southeast Texas with my cousins, and later, the barn became a backdrop for a host of family reunions. The "Narcissus Waiting" was inspired when I noticed those dainty flowers growing in a line in my mother's garden, while facing different directions as if they were waiting for a city bus. A sunny day at an old market in the Cotswolds in November a year ago, set light and shadows on 400-year-old textured stones and rafters, inspiring a painting when we returned.

I am grateful to God for the role that the arts have played in shaping my life. Having spent my career in education, I have seen the arts ignite a spark in young lives, giving students a sense of purpose. That is a story within a story of light and shadows. I once asked my students to write a paragraph on "Why Art Matters to Me." One essay stood out to me the most. It was written by an 8th-grade girl. "Art matters to me because, without art, there would be no way to express myself, no way of communication. It would be like stitching my mouth together, forcing me to stay trapped in my own body, screaming out for someone to let me out...Because with art, I am free, I am safe, and I don't have to feel the weight of the world alone."

Art matters to me because art is the place I also go to reflect on the people, places, and nature around me. It is where I find solace in allowing the canvas to do the storytelling. Hopefully, you will find your own story within my story of light and shadows.”