A Work of Art

This blog is the first one of the New Year, so Happy New Year to all of you who are reading this! Having my son as the editor in chief of these blogs (ramblings as Brandon might refer to them) is both good and not-so-good. He tirelessly performs all of these tasks that his mother and I have convinced ourselves that we can’t do because of the technology involved (Thank you, Kristen, for being the fingers to his drive). Trying to complete this task is a struggle for Jeannie and me. She feels like she is imparting a part of her soul when she is writing these. And, being the private person that she is, she finds it hard to put the words to paper that satisfy her. Those of us who have read all of her blogs find them completely refreshing and fun. I, on the other hand, have the problem of being too long-winded. So, thank you, Brandon and Kristen, for accepting the task of editing my “task.”

What do you see in a pile of random stuff that in and of itself appears to be of little use or value? Things like a bucket of mud, a batch of assorted sized sticks, scraps of wood too small to build something with, measures of cloth that remain from multiple usages—all these things and more in the hands of someone with vision and understanding become works of art. These works become valued by others for their beauty that originated from that very vision and understanding.

I have had the life-long blessing of being married to Jeannie—an artist of remarkable talent. From the beginning of our relationship, her ability to transform the ordinary into a masterpiece has always been amazing to me. Like most people, I have my own concept of art. That’s all well and good, except that it takes a dramatic amount of time for the image in my mind to become reality. This is in contrast to my wife’s incredible ability to almost instantly see and create that work of art.

I love the beauty my wife creates, both in life and in her artwork. It’s amazing to see what Jeannie can do for dinner when she looks in the pantry and pulls out just a few items to make a grand dinner for the family. This talent undeniably translates to her use of paint and fabric and all of the other mediums that she works with. Having been with her since we were teenagers, I’ve had the pleasure of being witness to many projects throughout the years.

My memories of her first pieces of art go back to us working with young people in the churches we’ve attended. Getting a young person to exhibit what they feel by utilizing the materials given to them is most gratifying when they complete that shoe-shine box out of mere scraps of wood or turn a sand dollar into a beautiful Christmas ornament after having dyed it in tea or coffee or present their parents with a very special painting that is “hand-done” on a simple piece of cloth.

I cannot remember what got us into the very first shop, but one of our acquaintances saw something that Jeannie had created and asked her if she couldn’t replicate those things for her boutique. This led to our involvement with many art shops and stores. And thus, Designs from Our House (and our ceramics venture) was birthed.

She took sewing during middle and high school and developed a deep love for her own designs and sported them throughout her formative years. When John and Brandon came along, she continued this craft, making beautiful smocks to lederhosen, Halloween costumes, and everything in between. Jeannie continued creating clothes and costumes for all of the church productions.

The first time that I can remember a costume other than for church was for Little Shop of Horrors when she painted a bloodied tooth on the back of my dentist’s smock. She also did my costumes for the other

5 characters that I played in that show which led to her involvement with Midtown Theater as the Costume Designer/Wardrobe Mistress at Footlight Players. She’s created so many dazzling and colorful arrays of clothing fit for any Broadway production, I can’t even remember them all (Into the Woods, RENT, Forever Plaid, Charleston Southern University’s lyric theater productions, the College of Charleston Madrigal Dinners, and all of Brandon’s shows; productions from just a one-man show to a stage full of 50 plus performers).

There was one time a request was made for an extravagant 60th birthday celebration for a much “Larger Than Life” birthday present (12x12x8 feet). Not to mention the Living Models for various events around Charleston, for the Charleston Food & Wine Festivals-- a table girl with Seashells, a Fountain Dress girl with Cocktails, among others-- A Martini Boy bathtub, a living installation of the Son of Man for an event at the Gibbes Museum of Art, and many more.

I can go on and on about my wife’s floral arranging abilities which have flourished for many years not only in the church but also at many weddings in and out of town as well as demonstrating her talents at The Greenery Florist downtown. One cannot look around our home without seeing her fingerprints in literally everything in our house, from table cloths and drapes to pillows and chairs and plates and glasses and ornaments galore.

And so, Such & Such was the natural progression of sharing her talents, her designs, her ideas, and her art with the entire world via the internet. I love her art so much, as do her family and friends, that we couldn’t just keep it to ourselves. And she loves to share it with everyone. From Los Angeles to Chicago, Ohio to Kentucky, Washington State to Florida. Her art is enjoyed by all of U.S.

Our very first meeting was far too short, but the most satisfying part of that meeting was looking into her green eyes and watching them sparkle. That has never changed. You hear all the platitudes about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. Couple that with the eyes are the window to the soul. I think that’s what thrills me when I see something that she has finished for the first time or the hundredth time. Every single piece is a hand-painted, new and beautiful creation. The ability to translate what she sees to the gift that you might receive is the key to why I not only love her art but also why I love her. If you ever have the chance to engage her in conversation about what she does, you’ll find that same thrill that I did from that very first moment.

~ David Joyner