Love of Light

by Beth Dugan 

Why would I donate a piece of art that I love dearly to an auction to be held at Good Sam at the end of this month?  Partly because it is too beautiful to hang on walls anywhere in my condo—there is not enough light on any wall in any room to display the fine quality that defines rays pouring from behind a dark cloud through a wave breaking on a Hawaiian beach.
My own vision is of the sun breaking through after a storm is over, but the artist, Scott Munzig, titled it GATHERING STORM. When I first saw the picture hanging inside a gallery as I passed the store’s open door, I was struck by a quality of light that seemed to emanate from the picture itself, filling their space, inviting me inside.  Returning home I asked my husband Russell about buying it, but he wasn’t interested in having a seascape such as I described.

Passing by the gallery again the next week, and struck once more by the depiction of light by the artist, I decided to buy it anyhow if I could get it for half of the $4,000 quoted price. The gallery owner and I then tried hanging it, but it didn’t show well anywhere in my home.  I hung it in a corner where I hoped Russell, might not notice it—a darker corner than any other wall.   I still loved my painting, but it really didn’t show well there. During the next seven months while my husband remained away, working on the east coast, I totally enjoyed my purchase.  I also appreciated the excitement of hoping that Russell would accept it.  He didn’t.  But like parenting a difficult child or caring for an ill and grumpy parent, once the beauty that is possible has been experienced, it is always present in our mind’s eye.

When my daughter came with me to the church office to deliver the painting, we showed it to Kieu who received it.  Standing there together under the skylight in the office, the image was brilliant and stunning.  My daughter was amazed—she had never seen the painting’s beauty when it hung in my home.  She exclaimed, “Now I can see why you love it!"

I hope that through the auction this image will find a loving and well-lighted home.  I myself know that love is eternal, people change, and circumstances change, but the memory of all  love endures forever even after separation.