Pearle Northrop

Artist Statement
It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started taking what I do seriously and it took even longer to consider myself an artist. I love to paint whatever I can get my hands on from things as small as a Scrabble® piece to as big as a dresser and hopefully even bigger someday. Whatever it is I will paint it. I love transforming trash into treasure literally. Imagine that a chair that came from a dumpster (2006) made it into a museum (2009). It blows me away to think that something I did creates a sense of awe in a viewer’s eye.
I was talking to a friend a few years back about my love for furniture, my relationship with chairs in particular. There was a chair that I found discarded and ultimately forgotten. I came upon this chair accidentally. I wasn't looking for a relationship. Anyway, the chair was a very handsome chair with so many things to look at. His back was decorative; his arms were long and lean. His legs...I have never seen such beautiful legs. But he was beaten down. His self-esteem had long been worn out. His seat, which was repeatedly upholstered over years, was torn and faded. His stuffing was busting out revealing his age and loss of pride. Me, being a care taker and rescuer of sorts....picked up the chair and brought it home. He sat at the top of the stairs for a few weeks in a corner. My friends however saw this chair and commented on how ugly he was. They wondered why I had him in my home commenting on how dirty he was and how unattractive he was due to the years of neglect. I ignored them and kept him around. Finally one day I decided to put him on my coffee table and take the layers of cloth and wool stuffing off of his seat. Then I cleaned him, primed him and painted him black. Three months later I sat back and looked at him and this is what I saw.....A chair, a man restored...but not only restored but given a whole new purpose. He was beautiful again. He was unique and wonderful....The same chair that my friends were grossed out by....is now a chair that they ask permission to touch. Amazing.....One thing is for certain...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME! Change is inevitable and what is ugly or dirty or discarded as trash can be saved, can be rescued and can be made shinier than new!
Taking discarded forgotten pieces and giving them their self-esteem back is a passion for me. Living in a world where we discard things so easily I’d like to think I am making an itty bitty difference.
Pearle Northrop

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Above all Else I am Reagan's Mother First

For the past 9 years I have been a single mother...single in every sense of the word. Years ago I cut my "family" loose. I haven't spoken to my "mother" in many years and I have no intention of speaking to her any time soon. It gets really tough being in the world all alone with a child. I sometimes dream of having a family...people who want to love my child as I do. I am not even sure what the support of a family would feel like. I imagine it to be so nice...
Sometimes Reagan gets really sad because she doesn't have Grandparents to dote over her. It makes me sad as well...but what can I do? Perhaps run an ad in Craigslist..."Seeking doting Grandparents for awesome kid"!? That seems terribly dangerous in today's day and age! We have to learn to just accept that our family is small and we must support eachother the best we can.
I have been struggling recently...For whatever reason I haven't received any child support in over two years...with the exception of a week here and there...NOTHING! It is growing more and more difficult for me to keep up.

Reagan is a growing child and soon she will be an adult...in the blink of an eye! I need to make these years matter to help mold her into an AWESOME adult! She has been taking dance for 4 years now and we really want to continue...and if I can raise the money I can make it so she does dance 4 times a week and is part of the company! That will be awesome and Reagan's heart is set on it. Over the summer she can begin pre-pointe. How exciting! I so don't want to say no...she has such a natural ability for dance. Ugh!
She has been playing clarinet for two years now. I was able to work out a deal for the Clarinet with a friend. I am painting their kitchen cabinets (frame, drawers and doors) in exchange. I am hoping to finish the kitchen this week(finally). She gets her lessons at school.  Now Reagan wants to take lessons during the summer and add Saxophone.
Reagan has also shown a natural ability to swim and would like to perhaps join a swim team in the future. To prepare I have her taking swim lessons at the Y.We will see...she has the body and the strength. The swimming is also a great way to strengthen her core for dancing..♥
UGH!
I am really trying to fulfill this child's desires. I feel they are perfectly reasonable.
I believe with my entire being that as a single parent absent the support of a family that I need to keep this child active. I don't feel that my situation is any different than other single mothers in that my child can get lost in the shuffle if I don't keep her mind and body busy.
Last night Reagan's 5th grade band performed their spring concert. It was wonderful!
Another dance performance is coming up...
Reagan is keeping up w/ it and I am so proud!
Life is not always easy...as a matter of fact it is quite hard...but oh so rewarding especially when my child lets me see that all my hard work is paying off. I don't know...
This is the hand we have been dealt...I think we are playing it alright considering.

Rea with some of her girlfriends♥




I just wanted to take a moment and acknowledge the grooviness I have been working so hard for. I was never taught to be a mother or even a parent... this whole gig is a guessing game. I do so hope that all that I am doing will reflect in her foreverhood. She is the light of my life...everything I do I do for her!
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 24, 2011 at 2:05 PM

    First, gotta say I love Reagan's haircut. It's ADORABLE! :)

    And from the sounds of it, you're doing a pretty good job as a mother. :) Don't be too hard on yourself!

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  2. jessNovember 20, 2011 at 10:08 PM

    You seem to be doing a pretty amazing job of it. I'm so sorry you are having to do it alone. My fiance was a single parent for four years before i met him and though he did an amazing job it's so nice to be a family together now. I hope you find some great "family" members who will love on & take care of you & Reagan! In the meantime know that you are doing an incredibly difficult (even when you do have support) all on your own and doing a bang up job of it. <3

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