Like A Ship On The Weathered Horizon

RIP, Sherry Southerland.

I met Sherry a couple of times before she passed away a couple weeks ago.

She was vibrant--in a Stevie Nicks sort of way. Sharp with her laughter, intelligent with her conversation, and caring with how she listened in. She kept track of the conversations I had with her, and when I got her to laugh, it was like the aunt you call when you['re in trouble with your parents--safe, unjudgemental, and a little bit crazy.

Her art was like that too.

I actually have the pleasure to own a print of her artwork (I always think art is worth the hundreds of dollars it's labeled as, but my poor little wallet can never afford some)--because it called out to me, like a ship on the weathered horizon.

It was striking.

(Okay I know this snapshot of it doesn't do the picture justice, but like. I had it special framed and I'm not going to mess that up and get a whole can of worms in the process.)

I hope you had the pleasure to meet Sherry while she was still here with us.

I like to say that there's only one way to immortality--through stories. And I hope you're able to contribute a story of Sherry when the art league meets up every now and then.

It's what she would have wanted.

I'll leave you all with this short In Memoriam, written by my mom, who asked me to share it as the next blog post (which I know has fallen to the wayside lately. I take full responsiblity for that, just because I've been in a world of beads. Sherry would be happy for me that I've found a new creative outlet, I think, and that's what I'm going to use as my excuse).

Without further ado:

We are a blessed group. The Monroe Art League attracts the most wonderful people, and they bring with them their love. Their love for nature, animals, people, and the whole world. We get to see what they see and how they see it.

Sherry left us way too soon. She wasn’t done creating, she had plans, she had people that she wanted to take care of and animals that she loved and cared for, she knew she was needed and she didn’t want to leave. She had a family that will forever miss her. Friends that she inspired. She was just getting started by artists standards and it simply just wasn’t fair that she had to go.

If you were lucky enough to meet Sherry when you joined the league, she would welcome you with open arms, a smile, and a snarky comment. A memorable welcome that set the tone for what the MAL was about. Friendship. Kindness. Acceptance and Love of Art with an easy-going playfulness that made you feel right at home.

Sherry’s work was stunning. Her scantily clad ladies got us kicked out of the library. Her depiction of a storm stopped people in their tracks. I believe she brought to the canvas her skills but also a part of who she was, her ethereal paintings made you stop and simply marvel at their beauty.

We will always have the memories of our time together and with luck we will meet her again as well as all our other loved ones. I like to think our artists friends who have passed are all together, laughing, creating, and enjoying the view.

Eve