GLOWFifty Years, a Celebration of Life and Art
Three weeks ago, I celebrated half a century by doing something completely outside my comfort zone. I celebrated my 50th birthday with my very first art show. Although it was a celebration of 50 years, it was less about birthdays and more about the art created as a reflection of grief and loss, survival, joy, love, and the beautiful, messy, sometimes crazy journey that makes up life.
My creative journey began when I was little, but it reemerged in a big way more recently when I wanted to experience art again alongside my mom as she recovered from a stroke. What started as a way for us to reconnect through creativity eventually became something much more personal. Art became my refuge, a place of calm and peace, and a way to process the grief of watching my mom's health decline until her passing last summer. Through art, I found a way to work through emotions that were sometimes difficult to put into words. It gave me somewhere to go when the weight of everything else felt overwhelming. I chose to title the show GLOW because, for me, it's about finding light in unexpected places. It's about the joy of bringing something from deep inside your soul out into the world and discovering a kind of healing that nothing else quite touches. When you're grieving, it's easy to retreat inward. Art gave me a way to project that grief outward and transform it into something more beautiful. It didn't erase the pain, but it gave the pain somewhere to go. It gave me a way to create something meaningful from an experience that was, at times, incredibly difficult. The collections in this show reflect that journey. From landscapes and florals to abstracts and hard-edged compositions built around repetitive circles, the work explored different subjects, textures, ideas, and mediums. My art may take many different forms, but they are a piece of me and my experience. As diverse as my work may be, I like to think there's always a little element of GLOW in every piece. Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes it's subtle. And sometimes a piece may feel dark at first glance. But if you look closely enough, I believe you'll find that GLOW.
My main statement piece for the exhibition was titled SUN GLOW. Painted in acrylic on a salvaged, 54-inch solid wood tabletop, it became the centerpiece of the show and, without a doubt, the most challenging piece I've created to date. Getting the colors just right and mixing the gradients to communicate the feeling I wanted to convey took a lot of trial and error. I knew what I wanted the piece to express, but translating that feeling from my soul onto such a large surface was another challenge entirely. Eventually, everything came together. I was able to capture what I had been feeling inside and bring it to life in a way that felt true to me. And that's what this show was all about. Every piece was different, but together they were stitched into one much larger story, the story of my life, with all its beauty, challenges, unexpected turns, and moments of darkness that always have that underlying light.
Getting to share my work, my story, and this milestone with so many wonderful friends, family members, and collectors is something I'll always treasure. To everyone who purchased a piece of my soul that evening, thank you. Your support means more to me than you know. Every piece carries a little part of this journey, and I'm incredibly grateful that you've taken pieces of my story home with you.
An event like this doesn't come together without a whole lot of love, hard work, and people willing to show up in ways big and small. There are so many people I want to thank for helping make this dream a reality. First, my dear friend Kathy Ellis. I truly could not have pulled this off without you. From the countless hours of planning to the late nights and even the literal bloodshed from stretching wire for hanging, you were right there through it all. Your time, energy, dedication, and friendship mean the world to me. I'm so thankful for you.
A huge thank-you to Ashley Gilless and La Carreta Ponchatoula for the amazing bar we had. And yes, that Dolly Martini will forever be my favorite!
Thank you to Samantha at Especially for You Floral for the incredible floral arrangements, especially the beautiful Constance Rose. Choosing that rose was a heartfelt tribute to my mom, whose name was Constance, and having it included in the celebration made it all the more special.
Kelsey Garcia with Elevated Inflatables created an absolutely amazing balloon arch that helped bring the whole vision together. Thank you for adding such a beautiful touch to the evening!
Tim Anderson with Tim's Woodshop built some amazing frames for this event, thank you for your beautiful work on such a short notice and for getting them done so quickly and exactly how I needed them!
And thank you to Melissa Atkinson with the Hammond Regional Art Center for working with us to make this event a reality. The venue was everything I had hoped for, and I couldn't imagine a better setting for such a meaningful occasion.
A very special thank-you to Amanda Lott with Lola Sweets for helping keep everything together with the planning and coordination. On top of all that, you created three amazing cakes, provided a wonderful variety of food (including gluten-free options), and handled so many behind-the-scenes details. I honestly can't imagine juggling all of those responsibilities, but you did it so beautifully. I'm forever grateful for the memories you helped create.
To my brothers, Mike and Chuck Saucier; my nephews, Evan, Tyler, and Dylan Doughty; and my son, Brennan, who is responsible for this beautiful website, thank you for being part of this journey and helping make it all happen.
Most importantly, thank you to my husband, Rion Williams, and his company, R. Williams AC & Heating, for the countless hours of work, building and finishing out frames, building wooden structures, finding the people to coordinate and plan the event and the incredible financial support that helped bring this event to life. Your investment in my dream means more than I can say.
To all of my friends and family members who contributed their time, energy, resources, encouragement, and love, please know that I appreciate every single one of you. Most of all, thank you to everyone who joined us that evening, both in person and in spirit. I know many couldn't be there, but you still sent your love and warm wishes. I felt that love, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
What comes next...
I've already started working on a big new project to mark the first year of my 50s, fifty paintings in the first year of my fifties. I'll document the journey here on my website, sharing updates, progress, and the stories behind the work as the project unfolds. I'm excited to share more of my story with you along the way and see where this next chapter takes me. Each piece will include a story, a meaning behind it and share more about my life and things/people/places that have influenced who I've become. If you'd like to follow along, make sure you subscribe to the website so you won't miss new journal entries and project updates. Fifty years in, and there's still so much left to create. Here's to the next chapter, to finding the GLOW, and to a story that's far from over yet.
Thank you for being part of my journey.
