A Season for Everything

But decidedly NOT everything all in one season.

Something I've been thinking about recently is how we celebrate milestones in our lives. We really do a great job of marking important moments -- when baby takes her first steps, each "first day of school", birthdays, graduations, getting married, landing that dream job, anniversaries, retirements, and the list goes on.

But I don't feel the same "holding space" exists for transitions. Perhaps other people do a better job of navigating times of transition in their lives, but I have a hunch we tend to look at the happy milestones and try to rush through the uncomfortable feelings. Still, I'm at another transition point and am determined to take note of the discomfort, angst, and the window into possibilities that this new season holds.

Ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Kocen Arts Center in Prince Frederick, MD | June 10, 2025

I've transitioned out of my role as director for the Arts Council of Calvert County and passed the baton to the next person to take the organization to new and creative heights.

This year has been a realization that "just because you're good at something, doesn't mean you have to do it". I am proud of the accomplishments we've had at the Arts Council over the past year as I've led the organization as Executive Director, and I acknowledge my strengths in leading an arts organization (while also better identifying my weaknesses and things for self-improvement). I also realize I'm interested in too many things, and there aren't enough hours in the day to do them all.

I'm narrowing my focus to my art and leading Prosthetic Promises in His Name (exciting things in development with PPIHN!), plus the "just nearly finished!" online master's degree that I'll complete in December.

Story time...

It was a sad photo to see.

Though social media has its list of negatives, I do enjoy being able to keep up with friends and "what's going on" back in Texas. In May, I was shocked to see on social media that a storm had caused the roof to collapse on the Tierra Real Estate garage in Gainesville, TX. Thankfully, no one was hurt! This was a photo sent to me before the wall was taken down with the mural I painted in 2022.

Though it is sad, not to mention the headache and disruption I'm sure the damage caused, I thought "well, at least we have photos to remember the mural". Hopefully it made people smile as they passed by it, which is my small goal for my murals. Life if tough, and little things to make you smile are important.

It was a mural for a season, and that is ok.

The theme of "for a season" has continued with a new mural project I have.

The Calvert County Courthouse in Prince Frederick, MD has featured a mural in the courtroom since 1971, depicting the Battle of St. Leonard Creek during the War of 1812. My project is a new mural highlighting this important battle with emphasis on the ships. A lengthy discussion ensued on what to do about the existing mural.

Meeting with the contractor in the courtroom.

After exploring several options, including preservation research of a mural on canvas adhered to a wall and talking with the historical society, it was decided to preserve the mural behind a floating wall that would give me a blank wall to paint. *Side note: a goal of mine now is to approach a project with the confidence and nonchalance of Jose, the amazing contractor who constructed the floating wall and made something I had been stressing about seem super easy.

Amazing! It's like the contractor took an eraser to the wall to remove the mural. You can't even tell that a new wall was built!

The old mural had a 50-year season. When asked if I would be painting on a new canvas to adhere to the wall in case it should be relocated at some point, my answer was "no, I just paint directly on the wall. If you get tired of it, just paint over it". I'm not particularly sentimental, and I actually think it's important to keep these things in perspective. Yes, murals are painted on walls -- seemingly more permanent than a painting on canvas, but things change, life continues on, and murals are sometimes just for a season -- that is ok.

This mural project is in progress at the time of writing this! Tune in to my social media to see progress photos and videos.

Facebook or Instagram

So, what have I learned so far during this season? I've learned that seasons continue to change, and we do as well. Transitions are tough but necessary to grow. I know these things. I've known these things. But we have to experience them on that cyclic basis to remind ourselves, and that is ok.