July Intermission - Art, Chocolate and Surprise
July Intermission - Art, Chocolate, and Surprise
Last Saturday was a beautiful day. It was bright and sunny and not too warm. Sylvia and I did not do a lot around the house. I tidied up my workshop a little in the morning, but for the most part it was a day dedicated to art. We went to the newly updated Aroma Mocha Cafe in town, left some of Sylvia’s new business cards beside the 4 paintings she has for sale on display, and then headed to the awards reception and ceremony for the Heart of the Valley Art Exhibit in Middleton, where Sylvia had three paintings in the show.
The Aroma Mocha Cafe has been around for a while, but with the closing of a local art gallery it has been able to expand. The updated cafe is spacious and bright, and we sat at a high table overlooking the sidewalk, beautiful Fort Anne park and the Annapolis River. I enjoyed a cappuccino while Syl enjoyed a moccachino coffee with extra chocolate and whipped cream on top. I knew her order because she must have repeated it five times, and the young server remembered Syl from the grand opening when she ordered exactly the same thing. The woman carefully overdid the chocolate, including chocolate syrup dripping over the edges of the sixteen ounce cup, for Syl’s benefit. We then took our seats and enjoyed the view and people watching.
After a relaxing respite at the cafe, we drove to the MacDonald Museum in Middleton, about thirty five minutes away, for the Heart of the Valley Art Show. We enjoyed some snacks while waiting for the People’s Choice votes to be counted. It was a nerve racking half hour and there were a lot of ballots to tally. In total, there were one hundred and twenty five works of art, mostly paintings with a few sculptures.
At one point, I got into a conversation with one of the artists. He had painted a frog wearing glasses and looking directly back at the viewer. I asked, “What was your thinking behind putting glasses on the frog? Is there a deeper meaning?” He explained that it was part of a series of paintings featuring different animals with glasses. He had been reflecting on how we observe nature and animals, but rarely stop to consider that they are also observing us. We look at them while they look back at us.
As the awards ceremony began, there was a lot of nervous energy in the room. There were four categories: young artists aged seven to twelve, emerging artists aged thirteen to seventeen, community artists, and professional artists. Each category included both a Curator Award and a People’s Choice Award.
One young child in the youngest category became so nervous that she retreated to a corner of the room and slid down the wall in what seemed like a crumpled ball. Her mother went over to comfort and encourage her.
The curator and museum board gave their speeches and then the Curator Awards were presented. The curator award presentations seemed to last half an hour, although it probably took no more than five minutes.
Finally, the People’s Choice Awards were announced. The first category was the young artists, and the little girl who had been so emotionally overwhelmed won the People’s Choice Award. Her nervousness and fear instantly turned to joy. I am fairly certain she sprouted wings and flew to the front of the room to receive her certificate and gift. I suspect she is an artist we will hear much more about in the years to come.
The next two awards were presented, and then came the final award of the day. As we stood listening, the room grew quiet. The curator announced that the 2026 People’s Choice Award in the professional artist category went to “Sylvia Pauls for her painting “Huntington Gorge.”” I thought Sylvia might collapse. Later, she told me that as she walked to the front of the room, her knees were knocking together.
It ended up being a day that left both of us feeling warm inside. More than anything, Sylvia needed encouragement. Since moving here, she has struggled to find the motivation to paint. Between the renovations, yard work, and all the responsibilities that come with maintaining a home and looking after our high maintenance retriever, she has found it difficult to find the energy left over for art. Like many artists, Sylvia paints primarily for herself. She chooses her subjects because of her love for nature and the things she has seen. She loves God’s creation and His handiwork, and her paintings reflect her interpretation of that beauty.
By the end of the day, we both came away with the same warm feeling. God loves each of us. Sylvia needed encouragement, and somehow people were drawn to vote for a piece of art that captures the beauty and power of God’s creation. It celebrated the very thing that inspires Sylvia’s passion for nature.
And my day? I felt loved too. I have been saddened watching Sylvia struggle to find the motivation to paint. Seeing her smile and the excitement on her face was all the reassurance I needed to know that God loves me too.
Have a great day!
Steve
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