First and best, my favorite reason for attending Magnolia's 2003 Summer Arts Festival remains Claire Larsen's entry drawing, "My Soul," in the children's art exhibit. It stood out from all the rest.
Two faces, side-by-side and filling the page.
One - slightly larger, round and overall pale and dimmed. Eyes, nose, mouth narrowed. Tight, reserved, even timid or wary. Earrings larger, oblong, blandly beige.
And then, another girl, their bobbed haircuts touching, similar in appearance but obviously brighter. A blue flower adorns her hair; tiny round earrings match. Large, very red lips almost smile from this smaller but heart-shaped face with prominent nose. Definite eyebrows rise to accent wildly opened, sparkling eyes.
Scott Larsen, Claire's father, told me, when I phoned to express my appreciation and ask about her picture, "Well, we asked Claire what she was thinking about ... what inspired that drawing. And she didn't really have an answer. She loves drawing and does it all the time."
Claire was away at the beach with her brother Alex and mom Debbie. Scott said he'd relay my messages and especially my hopes that 5-year-old Claire (first-grader at Our Lady of Fatima) enter more of her art in this year's festival competitions. Last year "My Soul" won a medal with attached red, white and blue ribbon for Audience's Favorite in children's art.
To all children and other artists: Be encouraged. Please participate. Your works catch our eyes, add sparkles, inspirations and lasting "glows" to moments, hours and days after when we or you might least expect them. My mom's standard when feeling totally surprised, thrilled, swept up in delight was exclaiming, "Oh my goodness! Oh my soul!" For me, that is Claire's drawing.
I took several snapshots of her entry, pondered and thought about them all year. Wondered how I'd picture my own soul and passed on those ideas with photocopies of Claire's art piece to an artist friend/teacher of children's art. What a positive exercise in self-expression drawing one's soul could be for anyone.
So thank you, Claire - and also the entire Magnolia Arts Festival planners, implementers and participants. All of the events, exhibits, performances (music, etc.), foods seemed well gauged in numbers, variety. The whole atmosphere welcomed attendees without overwhelming or exhausting. And truly added positive memories and reflective inspirations over the many months since.[[In-content Ad]]
