My life journey with art took shape while I was a student here, at Hesston College. I took oil painting, intro to design, and art appreciation with John Blosser. The actual oil paints used on my latest works are still my original oil paints from the Hesston College bookstore. The brushes are the ones that I used as a student here. I realize the meaning that is involved with using the paints and brushes that I used here while I look to beginning a new phase in my life, and embrace my new role at Hesston College. Life seems to come around in circles….
Hesston is my place of peace.
I realized that after spending part of every summer of my life here visiting my grandparents, Ivan and Doris Diller. I realized that it is my place of peace after my two years as a student here, making life long friends and really starting to discover who I am as an individual. I realized it again when my husband and I started to consider moving here from living right outside of Washington, D.C. We were very comfortable in our roles in northern Virginia, but we kept thinking about moving to Hesston.
We both felt like we needed to be here. And after two years, we both still felt that way.
So we took a risk and moved.
Every year, my grandparents seem to become more special to me.
I see in them what I hope to be.
I see between them true love.
They show me what love is, what kindness is.
They lead by example, and they teach me.
They teach me, so that I may teach and share with others.
My artwork has always been inspired by the feeling that I get from the relationship I have with my grandparents.
Nanny is a quilter. She bakes the best cinnamon rolls, sour cream enchiladas and anise peppernuts around. While I was a student at Hesston College, she made sure that I had a never-ending supply of homemade caramel corn to share with friends in the dorm.
Grandpa is a master carpenter. He's known for the houses he has built in Hesston. He's the kindest, most gentle person I know. He's a great listener. He has made me and my cousins meaningful gifts from wood that we all cherish. We all have fond memories of working with Grandpa in his wood shop when we were growing up.
Sawdust and Stitches signifies a transition in my life--living in Hesston at this moment in time. I took sawdust from Grandpa’s shop, sprinkled it on the canvas before mixing it into the gesso, which serves as the base layer of the paintings. My subject matter is abstract, with bright contrasting colors. The organic circle shapes represent inner souls. The color captures movement, energy, emotions and inspiration. The stitches of thread connect the bands of color, and is symbolic of how Nanny connects our family. She creates and maintains relationships, and “stitches” us together.
Family creates meaning in life.
~ Stephanie Harvey Danker, January 2007
