We all have things that we want to get done - that one item that is our fingerprint on the world.
I have been thinking a lot recently about legacy. We hear that word used in a number of different ways, whether it’s a politician’s legacy, or the endowment or grant received from a philanthropist. Of all the commonly known uses, I believe that we are missing the true spirit of the word. According to Webster’s, it is simply a gift given through the estate from one person to another. The part that is often misunderstood is the belief that only those with money can leave a legacy. That is absolutely incorrect.
I have a fair bit of art that hangs on my walls. Some of these paintings were gifted to me, some were commissions, but all are reminders of incredibly creative moments and phenomenally talented artists. The one that has the most special spot in my heart is a painting I have of a man painting at his French easel. Most of the paintings I have are technically and compositionally better, and they certainly fit better into my personal taste. So why, you might ask, is this one the most cherished? It was painted by my great uncle, Fred Curry Jr.I never had the opportunity to meet him and my only connection to him is this painting - it’s his legacy. The painting hangs on the wall in my office, just beyond the view of my monitor, where I can look at it, ponder and reflect trying to wrap my thoughts around this small glimpse of one of my relatives.
One day, that painting will hang on one of my grandkid’s walls, and the legacy will continue. I’m sure as Uncle Fred painted that, he never imagined the value of it, or the fact that it would be so cherished, yet it is precisely for that reason that it is.
My thoughts then turn to a simple question: What legacy do you want to leave?
Perhaps that painting you’ve been dreaming about doing might just be the snapshot that is lovingly embraced for generations to come. Your fingerprint. It could be your legacy!
Let’s keep creating!
FW Curry. Oil on canvas.19--.