Moments Shared

REMEMBERING WHEN     acrylic on masonite   24” x 60”      J. Plesh        private collection

The artist, especially the contemporary expressionistic painter, relies heavily on memories and moments in his life for inspiration and direction in his work. Within all of us there are deep impressions caused by such memories and moments.

And indeed there can be a difference between a memory and a moment. A memory may not consist of a particular time, but rather it can be a continuous, timeless thread running through our past, something that had always hovered near us or somewhere in the distance. A moment, on the other hand, is one unique happening, bounded by time. It may be something extraordinary, or it may be something very ordinary, yet specially remembered and cherished all the same.

Memories or moments in time have no standard, no exact representation. They are personal to the beholder. To hold in our mind and heart a time which once was but no longer exists is like having a bank of blessings to be called on at our choosing. Quite often these memories are triggered by a chance happening—walking past a bakery and the scent reminding us of mom’s homemade pie and a time gone by. Or hearing an old tune which reminds us of our first date or someone we had a crush on long ago. Our bank of memories is an open account from which we draw and to which we, without realization, contribute regularly.

Let us cherish those impressionistic images that we have unconsciously painted in our brain. And let us too appreciate the artist who can bring such images into materialization—who has been inspired by that vision in his head, in his heart—and has chosen to share it through his art. We all have felt a delicate sense of importance descend upon the moment when a person chooses to share a memory with us. Let that feeling descend upon us when we gaze at the artist’s work. We too will be inspired. 

                                                                                       Kimberly Landenberg