Mitch LYONS STUDIO

The Price of Love

It’s been three years.  March 5th was the third anniversary of Mitch’s passing. Funny how I still can’t say his “death” — too hard for some reason. I spent that day with Mitch’s best friend and my close friend, whom I have breakfast with every week. When we spoke of the day, she told me she had touched every piece of Mitch’s artwork in her home that morning.  I was so moved by this gesture, and I know Mitch would have been as well.

The first year I came across a poem that truly spoke to my feelings of grief. I know that anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one will be able to relate.

’Tis a Fearful Thing

- Judah Halevi

’Tis a fearful thing

to love what death can touch.

A fearful thing

to love, to hope, to dream, to be -

to be,

And oh, to lose.

A thing for fools, this,

And a holy thing

to love.

For your life has lived in me,

your laugh once lifted me,

your word was gift to me.

To remember this brings painful joy.

’Tis a human thing, love,

a holy thing, to love

what death has touched.

This is the price we pay for loving someone, but it's all worth it to have had that time with your loved one. 

In my last newsletter, I talked about introducing children to art at an early age.  I was surprised the next day when I received an email from a mother asking if she and her friend could bring their five children, ranging in age from 1st grade to 6th grade, for a studio visit. Of course I said YES!

Mitch had a similar experience a number of years ago that did not go as well.  A teacher brought her summer school class to the studio. They were young, and Mitch was concerned about that.  In any case, he allowed them to each print a small clayprint from his lab.  We gave them 5x7 templates and let them choose any part of the slab. Well, you know how children that age can have a very short attention span, and soon some of them were banging on Mitch’s slab with their pony rollers.  I saw Mitch’ eyes grow wide and quickly stepped in by moving children who had already printed their piece to another table. It was the one and only time Mitch gave a tour of the studio to children. Poor thing!

The children that visited the studio last week inspired me to start offering two-hour clayprinting experiences to students from 3rd through 6th grade, with the thought to perhaps offer at a later date students from 7th through 12th grade.  It will be a step-by-step procedure, but the children will be able to pick out the colors and textures they want to use on their clay slab for their print.  I've designated a space in the studio with many of Mitch’s smaller clay monoprints that the students can choose from to take home to start collecting art.  Plus, they’ll have their own print/prints that they produced in the workshop experience!

If you or anyone you know is interested, please contact me.

Mitch Lyons Studio is dedicated to keeping Mitch's legacy alive through his artwork and teachings.