Happy Thanksgiving?
Is Thanksgiving really a happy day for some of us?
Thanksgiving brings back many bittersweet memories of loved ones who are no longer physically present with us.
Thanksgiving is a time for honest assessments. Without denying feelings of sadness that comes from separation, there is always much to be thankful for!
Two years ago, when a friend’s neighbour left some of his farm’s harvest on her front porch, she brought the fruits and vegetables inside her home, arranged them on her dining table and took a picture which she posted on Instagram. It was nearing Canada’s Thanksgiving Day and I could only think of Nature’s bounty and the love that brings families together for this holiday.
With my friend’s permission, I created this painting, which for me, is rich in colour and symbolism, conveying the connection between the physical and spiritual realms.
I see human characteristics to the squashes, which have both feminine and masculine qualities in their shapes. The vivid red, purple and yellow of the lush, succulent grapes and tomatoes, convey prosperity and abundance. In the Christian tradition of spirituality the apples represent temptation and God’s redemptive love. The three candles could be regarded as symbolic of the Divine Omnipresence, expressed as the Holy Trinity.
This is painting depicts the abundance of Nature’s goodness. I named the painting ‘Love and Gratitude,’ recurring themes symbolized in its subjects. The painting graces the cover of my book ‘Pastels and Prose.’
May this Thanksgiving Day be filled with love and gratitude for life’s many blessings.
To see more paintings and the stories of love and gratitude that inspired me to create them, visit my virtual art gallery www.camilleisaacsmorell.com/gallery_gallerie .
Christ in you is the hope of glory. That’s why glory matters.
Glory Matters 