…from the work in progress.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day 🍀
We walked in the Pacific Spirit Park today after listening to President Zelenskyy’s impassioned address to the Canadian Parliament in which we learnt that ninety seven children have been tragically killed in his beloved country together with so many of the country’s brave men and women and now including three brave journalists. Our condolences and thoughts are with all the families, friends and colleagues grieving today.
This drawing is from a larger piece from 2017 drawn in protest at that time to an event that had produced the same sense of heartbreak and outrage that I know we all feel today. Some of you may remember the full piece can be seen here: “From Spirit Park to Spirit Dark”
These sunflowers are a message of love and support as we continue to Stand with Ukraine.
💙💛
A golden day for Team Canada in women’s long track speed skating. Congratulations to Ivanie Blondin, Valerie Maltais and Isabelle Weidemann on winning gold in women’s team pursuit. This is Isabelle Weidemann’s third Olympic medal, joining her silver and bronze, and making her the third Canadian speed skater to win at least three medals at a single Olympic Games. Do we perhaps have our closing ceremony flag bearer, he asks?
Congratulations also to Canada’s Max Parrot on his bronze medal in men’s snowboard big air, to join his gold medal in men’s Slopestyle.
Olympic Moments XII – 15.2.22
Olympic Moments XI – 2.14.22
Congratulations to Christine de Bruin on her Valentines Day Bronze medal in the Olympic debut of women’s monobob, and congratulations to our wonderful Team Canada ice dancers whose inspiring artistry has been such a treat to watch and enjoy.
Happy Valentines Day ❤️
Olympic Moments IX – 12.2.22
Congratulations to Team Canada’s Eliot Grodin and Meryeta O’Dine on their bronze medals in the first ever Olympic mixed team snowboard cross event.
As we begin the New Year, in this 2021 Review – Part One I have chosen eight of my posts from last year with which to remember some of its highs and lows, all of which moved me to respond in the best way I know how.
I
The last leaf
On February 15th I added the last leaf to 851 leaves that I had begun drawing in October 2020 to remember all of the children so cruelly separated from their parents by both the United States Government under the last administration and by the Canadian Government over generations as described in my post Shame and Prejudice that was inspired by a visit to an exhibition of that name by the artist Kent Monkman at the Museum of Anthropology.
666+186 Day LIV – Journey’s End.
II
On March 15th, Yo Yo Ma playing Bach’s Cello Suite No 1 for those waiting to receive their vaccinations in Pittsfield Massachusetts after he had received his, was a truly inspiring moment of grace and beauty amidst the fear and despair felt by so many. If you open the original post “Thank you Yo Yo” you can listen to his playing the prelude from the suite and be moved by his mastery and humanity.
III
On April 12th I was honoured to see my tribute to the Vancouver General Hospital’s ECMO team,”The Meeting Point,” being hung in the ICU at VGH.
The drawing is also a tribute to all our health care heroes for whom the words “Thank You” can never be said enough as I expressed in the description that accompanies the piece:
When the Science of Medicine meets the Art of Medicine to save lives in the COVID unit at Vancouver General Hospital. I would like to suggest that ECMO, which stands for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, could also stand for Ever Compassionate Medical Optimism, thanks to the dedication and bravery of our frontline healthcare workers epitomized by the caring nurse-specialist portrayed in my drawing.
The Meeting Point
IV
On September 2nd I completed my painting of 6 year old Suzy Eshkuntana being rescued from the rubble of her bombed out family home in Gaza that took place In the early hours of the 16th of May. She had been buried alive for seven hours after it was hit by an Israeli rocket that killed her mother and four of her siblings. Just a few days later I began the painting of her rescue, based on a photograph by the Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem, which as I wrote in my post The Rescue would “celebrate her life being saved, and in memory of the family she has lost.”
V
On Labour Day the often violent protest against our health care heroes was, and sadly continues to be, a shameful reflection of elements of our society that certainly can never be considered civilized. Whatever happened to reason, grace and gratitude? Read the heartbreaking words from one of our nurse heroes, which I quoted in full in the post.
“A miserable rabble of unworthy citizenry.”
VI
30th September, Orange Shirt Day, was Canada’s 1st National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The findings of the unmarked graves of so many children at the sites of the Indian Residential Schools brought us all together as a country in a state of national grief, shame and remembrance.
Every child matters
VII
November 11th, Remembrance Day, always one of the most important days of the year and this year The Royal Canadian Legion celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Poppy in Canada
VIII
December 31st, New Year’s Eve, could not be a more fitting end to this look back to 2021, with the magic and beauty of the snow in the Pacific Spirit Park, a place of sanctuary and peace for us throughout the year and which gives us all hope for whatever the year ahead may bring.
Pacific Spirit Park, December 31st 2021
Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year
Happy Holidays everyone from “Santa’s Workshop” once again. If you see a card you like please feel free to download it and print it out. My gift to you, knowing that you have all been donating to your favourite charities, with so many needing our help more than ever this year. Best wishes and stay well during the holiday season. ❤️