An Evolving Life. Shining Thru — thehummingbirdpost.com

Jan 27

Jan 27 An Evolving Life. Shining Thru

An Evolving Life, Art Plus Conversation, Life Ramblings, Meryl Spiegel

Shining Thru

With all that has been written this momentous week, I find myself searching for something to add. What comes to mind is a question: Why must there be so much darkness for us to see the light?

A few years ago, while watching a film in a Manhattan theatre (remember those days), white streaks flashed from the corner of my right eye. Frightened, I rushed to the ophthalmologist the next morning and discovered that I had a torn retina. Fortunately, I was immediately sent to a specialist for laser treatment, which so far (knock on wood) has prevented a retinal detachment.

Then a few months ago, flashes, yellow this time, appeared in the corner of my left eye also while watching a movie in the dark. But this time, I was sitting on my couch sheltering in place.

Again I rushed to the doctor. Fortunately, I found out that it’s not torn. However there have been some “changes.” he said, which we must monitor with more frequent visits.

Now each morning when I wake up, I’m grateful to see the light even when it’s hidden behind the clouds. So I can’t help but compare that sensation to the one I have had since the Inauguration. It feels like the darkness has finally lifted and we can begin to see the light.

Here’s a painting completed just before noon on January 20th called Shining Thru. Minutes later, I heard these words spoken on the steps of the Capitol by Amanda Gorman, the youngest Inaugural poet in U.S history: There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.

Please click on the image to enlarge.

2021 Posts

Heartsick
Shining Thru (This One)

2020 Posts
Click here for Meryl’s amazing chronicle of a year like none other.

2019 Posts
Click here to follow Meryl’s journey through 2019.

2018 Posts
Learn more about how it all began! Click here to read An Evolving Life posts from 2018.

Link here to galleries of Meryl Spiegel's work on her website and on instagram.

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Meryl Spiegel

Meryl Spiegel is a photographic artist, whose work reflects her relentless curiosity whether she is on the street, in the fields or by the water. A former journalist for The New York Times with an MFA in Creative Writing, she now focuses primarily on her artwork, but is thrilled to share her thoughts here about how her creative life continues to evolve and expand.

“I picked up a camera years ago thinking it was the only way I could render humanity and its wonders,” she recalls. “Then three years ago, I began to draw and ultimately paint, not knowing I could.”

Also an educator, Meryl teaches photography as well as yoga, a passion that fuels her creativity off the mat. Regularly, she conducts photographic workshops at East End Arts. Last year the Center Moriches Library was awarded a grant from the NY State Council on the Arts to fund a Composition class conducted by Meryl and offered free to its patrons. This summer and fall, she will be conducting more classes at the library.

Meryl lives with her husband, Steven, and her hound dog, Copper, in East Quogue —where she raised her two daughters, Lauren, a Westhampton real estate agent, and Jaclyn, a financial analyst in Manhattan.

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