On Saturday, I had the opportunity to be part of a group sponsored by the West Chester Writing Project exploring place-based writing at the James Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA. Our facilitator for the day, Kaitlyn, shared a quote from the museum’s website introducing the exhibit.
“When Eric Carle was a boy, his father took him on walks in nature, peeled back the bark of a tree to show him the tiny creatures who lived underneath. “I think in my books, I honor my father by writing about small living things,” Eric Carle said. Animals and insects were a central theme in Eric Carle’s long career as a Picture Writer, a title given to him by a young reader. “To me pictures need writing and writing needs pictures. A child once called me a picture writer, and that’s a good way to describe me,” Carle wrote.”
Kaitlyn shared Eric Carle matching game pieces and postcards as inspiration for our writing and then asked us to write about the bark peelers in our lives. Even though I am afraid of being too close to birds in real life, the bird drawings stood out to me.
I wrote about several people who have inspired me to go deeper into specific areas of my life. As I wrote on Saturday in my notebook, the bark peelers in my life believed in me and encouraged me to dig deeper and spread my wings.
As I enter this new chapter of life as a widow searching for joy, I am going to keep peeling back the bark to find it. On Saturday, I found joy in slowing down and looking at the art. Perhaps one day, the collective joy will give me the strength and courage to spread my wings again.
SOLSC#26
DAY 2
Rita DiCarne 
Hi, there. We have somethings in common, the title of widow and the love of art. I love your touch of wisdom in your slice: “Search for joy and keep peeling back the bark to find it”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bark peelers! I’m taking that away with me today! I write a gratitude (almost) every night and focus on all the small little ‘bark peeling’ moments throughout the day — it helps keep me afloat and helps me remember there’s lots of little treasures everywhere. What a special day you had, thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing Eric Carle’s words. I like the thought of “bark peeler” and “picture writer.” Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Bark peelers.” Love that!
I saw those pics on Instagram and immediately followed the museum since it was new to me. Doylestown is a bit of a hike from here (I think), but a worthy trip in the summertime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a great museum and only 30 minutes from my home. Although I hadn’t been there in years!
LikeLike
This is such a wonderful idea, it could be healing, inspiring, or just the beginning of a journey unexpected. I love it! And I was just planning on coming to the museum in the next few weeks, so I will certainly look for this exhibit if it’s still there. Precious notes of joy, mixed in with notes of all parts of life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
”Bark peelers” and “picture writer” are two fun phrases brought to us by Eric Carle. I was surprised to read “spread your wings”- it was in my slice today, too. We have several museums here in Indy. A friend and I used to meet at the Art Museum to write (we often ended up talking too much!) It is the home of Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture and has a Georgia O’Keefe canvas oil painting, Jimson Weed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may be spending more time in museums when I retire in June!
LikeLike
Love this post! I am also from a Writing Project site and doing some place based writing during this challenge. Impressed that you are taking risks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like the idea of bark peelers in our lives. We don’t often think about or give credit to those who help us dig deep into ourselves and become more than we thought we could.
LikeLiked by 1 person