Receiving the Gift

Today’s drawing of Mary Magdalene

In receiving Mary Magdalene’s guidance, I walk through life observing its turns. Sometimes I wonder, why do I keep going, and where am I going? Others I don’t wonder and just keep walking. Sometimes I get confused, and others I realize that I haven’t left the right path.

In my art as in my regular work life, a great part of my job is to create happiness, wellbeing and joy. And today, all day was about the culmination of the actions that led to that goal.

One of the books that have stayed with me for ever is titled The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World. It is an essay that expresses a simple concept: a gift is meant to be passed on. When we receive a gift, it is a symbol, and our gratitude and joy are the true gift. A gift is meant to be passed on to another human being.

One of the gifts I’ve been given is to be in the position to gift through my work as well as to create gifts for others to give. Art in itself is a gift, a gift made of the thoughts and inspiration of a person who passes on the gift. Food is also a precious gift. It is shared and it creates joy in people’s hearts.

Today, I fed many children some of their favorite food. The kids at our school like to eat what is called Spanish food, which is really translated to Dominican food. So my friend Fernando, of Mama Lupe Restaurant in Corona, Queens, cooked 2 amazing meals for us today, and Trisi, from Cherry Valley at Corona and Junction Avenues also sent us a magnificent meal. They both used their gifts to create beautiful food to be shared in celebration.

One of the classes that received a meal party was the Shoe Art Workshop. Four years ago the Principal had mentioned the idea of creating such a class, but it took some time to bring to reality. This year, the ideal teacher appeared and we ordered sneakers and crocs for all the kids in the class to design. Their creations were amazing! I had suggested to the teacher, our Dacxilia of Suh Art Studio who works side by side with me (literally!) that she create a few extra pairs to gift to the principal and other beloved people. And today was almost the last day of classes, so it was time to bring out the gifts. I wish I had filmed Juana’s joy when she received her pair! And the principal wore hers all day. Mailine led the way in putting hers on. The fun and joy was palpable. The shoes were a gift returned to us in the fun and joy expressed by the women who received them.

The Starry Night Art Shoe created @suh_artstudio

At the end of the day the gifts given were gifts received: the joy that art created, the gift of food shared, the welcoming of new people into a circle that is in constant creation as the school community grows and evolves. The greatest gift is knowing that in a world of fear and uncertainty, the world in which many of our students live today, we have some power to create a moment of happiness and solace that does not distinguish between adult and child, position, status, or stage.

The gift flows among those present and touches hearts, leaving sparkles of bright light. A gift flows from heart to heart, its shape changes as it is given, but its essence becomes stronger.

This is the power of art, the power of love and the power of working together.