September 7th has five National Days attached to it so we’ll have a little fun, then learn that it’s never too late to start.
It’s Neither Snow, Nor Rain Day referring to having our mail delivered in all sorts of weather. Be appreciative! After a long cold, rainy day your mail carrier might go to his/her local bar to warm up with some hot Acorn Squash (Day) soup, order a Salami (Day) sandwich, then cool the tongue with a Beer (Lover’s Day). I know, silly, but you have to admit, it works! Sort of! And I know Facebook will probably only recognize the Beer part; maybe the mail carrier.
So let’s look at Grandma Moses;
Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961) is an example to us all of an individual who successfully began a career in the arts at an advanced age. A renowned American folk artist, Grandma Moses first started painting in her 70s after arthritis made it difficult to embroider, her original medium.
Grandma Moses’ exhibitions were so popular during the 1950s that they broke attendance records all over the world.
“A cultural icon, the spry, productive nonagenarian was continually cited as an inspiration for housewives, widows, and retirees. Her images of America’s rural past were transferred to curtains, dresses, cookie jars, and dinnerware, and used to pitch cigarettes, cameras, lipstick and instant coffee.”
- 1950 – Cited as one of the five most newsworthy women.
- 1951 – Honored as Woman of the Year by the National Association of House Dress Manufacturers.
- Age 88 – Mademoiselle Magazine named her “Young Woman of the Year.”
- Awarded the first honorary doctorate from Philadelphia’s Moore College of Art.
- 1969 – A United States commemorative stamp was issued in her honor.
- 2006 – Her work Sugaring Off (1943) became her highest selling work at US $1.2 million. Sugaring Off was a prime example of the simple rural scenes for which she was well-known.
- Grandma Moses’ painting, Fourth of July, was given, by Otto Kallir, to the White House where it still hangs today.
Did you catch that? She started painting at age 70, and was “Young Woman of the Year” at age 88. We should be so lucky!
I admire the bloggers I have contact with, some of them are under 30. I didn’t have enough life experience to write at that age. Like I said above, it’s never too late to start.
Sue Spitulnik 