Hi I’m Mike, Jody’s nephew.
Jody was always listening more than she was speaking. But the more I got to know her, the more I wanted to be the one listening. Over the last few years, Jody and I grew closer together than we’d been at any point in our lives. Talking on a regular basis. I had gone all this time in my life without realizing there was a lifetime artist close in my family. I didn’t know she had done art as a child, went to school for it, and continued to do it for the rest of her life - working on her craft. I had been growing into myself as an artist, and she took a special interest in what I was doing. She would ask me questions and have conversations I don’t usually get to have. So I then told her I’d love to see her personal art. So she started sending me emails with her paintings, sketches, and personal art.
At first I was impressed with the quality of her work. She had such a unique style and wide ranging set of skills. It had an incredible depth to it. It was evocative. She was telling some kind of story, or sharing a specific emotion, or making a statement. This was not the work of somebody who is simply a hobbyist. This was the conscious work of someone who has spent a lifetime working on a craft and expression. An expression that I had never heard her speak through words. It was honest. It was bold. It was unapologetic. It was beautiful.
I was so impressed. I was seeing a side of my aunt that I had never seen before.
And then she kept sending me more. And at this point I realized that there is not just quality to her art. There was quantity. I couldn’t believe it when I’d open up my email and see that she had made several more paintings, and seemingly dozens of various sketches, graphics, and art pieces since her last email. I remember thinking, “How in the world has she reached this level of productivity?” “How does she have the time and patience to do so many projects?” For me as an artist, the most difficult part is to be consistent. It feels like a battle sometimes. When opening her emails I would see that impressively she was doing more quantities of personal art in her 70s than I was doing in my 20s. And it took some time for me to realize that she was doing all this whilst being sick. Her work was truly the air she breathes. She couldn’t not do it. And that is an inspiration.
But Jody was more than just her art.
There was a seemingly unspoken consciousness to her actions. An angelic level of patience and the definition of think before you speak. The way she carried herself and her approach to life deserves to be praised, celebrated, and repeated. She had incredible grace in the face of stress. She never blamed others, never made excuses, never raised her voice, and always took responsibility upon herself. Family oriented and a bridge between family. A passionate hard worker who was honest with her work, who created boldly and independently of others’ opinions.
She was taken too early. And so suddenly. Our relationship was growing, and I wish we could continue our conversations and for her to continue to watch me grow. I’m sad. I’m slightly traumatized. I’m deeply in grief. And I’ll miss her forever.
In our last text conversation I got to tell her “you’re an inspiration to me.” And she got to tell me how impressed she was with me. But to me, she is the one that is impressive. Her approach to family was impressive. Her approach to work was impressive. Her approach to life was impressive. I will always cherish her, and everything that she stood for, and everything she represented and will continue to represent for me.
Jody was always listening more than she was speaking. But the more I got to know her, the more I wanted to be the one listening.
Thank you.