*Hope
Cloud Burst oil by Tracy Felix
Little Hummer acrylic on panel by Sushe Felix
Hope
Day 19 & 20 — February 28 & 29
2020 was a leap year, thus this “double post” a year later
Her neurologist had said that Elizabeth’s recovery from a stroke in 2008 was nothing short of spectacular, the result of extraordinary medical intervention at Swedish Medical Center in Denver.
As her 50th birthday loomed over the horizon in 2010, Elizabeth imagined a celebration that would express gratitude and hope, and Elizabeth—in her extrovertedness—loved a great party!
She decided on an art silent auction that would benefit the Rocky Mountain Foundation of Hope, a non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to persons with cancer and other medical conditions. She named the event Art for Hope, and she singlehandedly acquired 30 donations of art. As we attended art festivals, her gregariousness made it easy for her to engage artists in conversation and to ask for donations.
Elizabeth also had a certain boldness about her. She had no compunction about contacting major artists to seek a donation, including Tracy and Sushe Felix, a husband and wife artist duo whose works are in the Denver Art Museum collection.
Elizabeth loved their signature styles. Tracy paints marshmallow-like clouds and unexpected angles that are adventurous and whimsical, even as they nod to Colorado landscapes. His wife, Sushe, paints in warm, flowing colors that embrace nature’s balance and harmony by combining geometric and organic forms. They were both delighted to donate a painting.
When it came to the silent auction bidding at this gala event, Elizabeth had one goal and one goal only: to make sure she outbid anyone else and acquire those two Felix pieces of art to add to our collection.
As I now gaze upon those paintings every day, I am reminded of Elizabeth’s zeal for this event that wove together so much of who she was and what brought her joy: learning about artists and seeking donations, gathering friends and family together, savoring delectable food and drink, enjoying music by an a cappella women’s choir, appreciating the beauty and creativity of the art itself, inviting the generosity of others, and—ultimately—caring for others who were facing their own medical hardships, even as she endured her own for twelve years.
Quite significantly, art really was transformed into $10,000 worth of hope thanks to Elizabeth’s vision and compassion.
Day 19 & 20: the art of love and loss
view all posts at kentmueller.com
February 10, 2020, was the day my wife, Elizabeth Izant, entered the hospital. She and I were on a hopeful journey following her heart transplant five months prior. On March 1, she entered hospice and died March 11. This series is not about her medical journey. This is about sharing stories and reflections about our life together. In our 29 years of marriage, we collected a piece of art or two each year, often in celebration of our marriage anniversary. Each day from February 10 to March 11, I will be sharing an image of that art. And a story.