 Pleasures in Paradise by David Matthews | WINDOWS ON PLEASURES IN PARADISE Have I mentioned we call our new home Paradise? Paradise—our happy place for finding pleasures and delights. Over our salon mantel in Paradise hangs my large painting shown at my artCentral solo exhibition soon after my arrival in Carthage. On the canvas “plaisir” is scripted across a cerulean, sequin-embellished sky above a mountainscape worked in textiles. “Plaisir” is the French for pleasure. Pleasure for us is our Paradise. We have lots of windows here in Paradise. They let |
in lots of pleasure and lots of light—sunlight, moonlight, starlight, the hazily defused light of a cloud softened day. We are happy in the light of Paradise.
We’re happy for having lots of windows with lots of new views. They’re all decorated with the silhouettes of tree trunks and tree limbs we love, especially those we call candle trees. They’re the ones with top branches growing straight up like the candles on a birthday cake. We think their reaching up is special. We think they call in goodness, and they light the way for the arrival.
We were sad to leave behind the candle trees beyond the windows at our last homes, but now we have more—many, many more. As we settle into Paradise our pleasures and goodnesses keep manifesting and multiplying.
They are like miracles great and small, as abundant as the trees and limbs outside our windows. They seem to drop from heaven like perfectly ripened fruit appearing in perfect synchronicity, bringing just what we need at just the right time.
The Baxter family—father, mother and two sons—appear just when we need them most. For two days they generously give us their time, muscle and moving expertise without any expectation of recompense. They’re a miracle. They’re amazing, for they’ve just moved to Barton County from the Great Northwest and are still unpacking their own belongings.
With great care Amanda helps me wrap and pack and tote crystal and china and all things delicate. Like a finely choreographed team, father, Phil, and sons, Mike and Jonathan, help David carry and load everything that requires heavy lifting—including the massive primitive oak hutch now in place in our dining room beside David’s whimsically painted side chair, wash board and ukulele—expressions of his artistic and musical talents.
While we’re settling in and delighting with our windows on Paradise, the view of artCentral’s new exhibition year is stunning! “Love Languages” opens with a Reception, Friday, February 3, 6-8 pm, featuring the multi-media creations by members of Joplin Regional Artists Coalition. Cherry’s and KOKA’s galleries of Carthage are the exhibition’s generous underwriters. Cleo Copeland of Joplin will serve as Juror. “Love Languages” will be on view through February 19th.
We’re happy for having lots of windows with lots of new views. They’re all decorated with the silhouettes of tree trunks and tree limbs we love, especially those we call candle trees. They’re the ones with top branches growing straight up like the candles on a birthday cake. We think their reaching up is special. We think they call in goodness, and they light the way for the arrival.
We were sad to leave behind the candle trees beyond the windows at our last homes, but now we have more—many, many more. As we settle into Paradise our pleasures and goodnesses keep manifesting and multiplying.
They are like miracles great and small, as abundant as the trees and limbs outside our windows. They seem to drop from heaven like perfectly ripened fruit appearing in perfect synchronicity, bringing just what we need at just the right time.
The Baxter family—father, mother and two sons—appear just when we need them most. For two days they generously give us their time, muscle and moving expertise without any expectation of recompense. They’re a miracle. They’re amazing, for they’ve just moved to Barton County from the Great Northwest and are still unpacking their own belongings.
With great care Amanda helps me wrap and pack and tote crystal and china and all things delicate. Like a finely choreographed team, father, Phil, and sons, Mike and Jonathan, help David carry and load everything that requires heavy lifting—including the massive primitive oak hutch now in place in our dining room beside David’s whimsically painted side chair, wash board and ukulele—expressions of his artistic and musical talents.
While we’re settling in and delighting with our windows on Paradise, the view of artCentral’s new exhibition year is stunning! “Love Languages” opens with a Reception, Friday, February 3, 6-8 pm, featuring the multi-media creations by members of Joplin Regional Artists Coalition. Cherry’s and KOKA’s galleries of Carthage are the exhibition’s generous underwriters. Cleo Copeland of Joplin will serve as Juror. “Love Languages” will be on view through February 19th.
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