Letter Writing Project
A colorful moth fluttering around me, taking her time drinking –
who is sending a message? Is it a letter on moth wings?
My mother’s birthday is July 21, and my father’s July 24. Both are long gone, Mama for 8 years now, Papa for 31 years. I have written in Karinaland River about my parents. I am so blessed to have been born to these unique individuals. Each July, I connect with them in spirit through small gestures. Like touching or using objects which they made with their hands, or writing in my journal, maybe a letter….
This year the ritual takes place early, out of the blue, on July 7, publicly in a museum exhibition, which my friend Fern and I are visiting upon the urgent recommendation of her marvelous artist friend Antonie Cosentino. No thinking is involved, I take off my shoes, sit down on the cushion, pick up a sheet of paper and a pencil, and start writing the words which flow like melodies from deep within my soul. Love letters. To Mama & Papa. It happens at the exhibit Rituals of Care by Lee Mingwei, at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. His Letter Writing Project is one component of it.
Dear Papa,
your yellow golden eyes still shine for me
your spirit encourages me to let myself
be transformed again and again...
With deep gratitude,
your oldest daughter,
Karina
Dear Mama, liebe Mama –
you were a stern teacher & nemesis
and this made me grow into myself –
you are an inspiration forever...
With admiration & gratitude,
your first daughter,
Karina
As visitors to the exhibit, we put our envelope onto the wall of the cubicles. If they should have an address they will be mailed, anybody can read them. Fern and I do just that, encountering multiple ways of engagement, longing, funny, abstract, contemplative, personal, endless possibilities. Putting the envelopes back in their place on the lit walls, each time I taste sweetness. Letters on wings.
In another coincidence, I had met Lee once on the street in front of my home, my neighbor Gregg introduced me to him as his very good friend (who used to live with him here in North Berkeley). Lee Mingwei is a renown and established conceptual artist. Ordinarily I am not a huge fan of conceptual art, but this part of the exhibit is tactile, simple, actively connecting our inner world with the artist’s idea and designed environment, and with other people. The setting is open, an unforced offering, allowing for mystery, smiles and quiet wonder.
What would you write in a letter to a deceased or estranged loved one?
This short film shows the breadth and depth of Lee Mingwei’s approach over the decades, like The Dining Project, The Mending Project (also here in the DeYoung exhibit which closed on July 7), and many more of his projects, all beautiful…
Thank you, Fern, for taking the picture of me!
Beautiful exhibit... what a powerful way to be together in the aftermath of the pandemic. I often journal about my Nanu, but have never written to him directly. I would tell him: The taste of dust on my lips reminds me of you, of that old place. I feel you with me these days as you help me ward off the man at the grocery store (and many others), guiding me inwards, cheering me on. I miss you, wish I could hold your hand. Thank you for your protection through so much time and space.
ReplyDeleteLove, Kaitlyn/Aysha
Such beautiful heartful letters Karina. It's very moving that engaging with this project inspired these melodious, poetic love letters to your parents ... I am struggling with my own very mixed emotions, colored by disappointment and regret, when I consider what I would write to my own long-gone father and mother. Thank you so much for sharing your loving words, and the Lee Mingwei film link, and the dear photos of you at the exhibit and the handwritten letters, and the beautiful moth photo, too!
ReplyDeleteYes! Yes! Yes! to all of your words. And to our amazing experience at this exhibit which pulled the words right out of me.
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