One would expect that as artists prepare to display their creations in public spaces, they would focus more on how much money they expect to make from their efforts. While that is not a crime, there are artists who are quite naturally oriented to being and doing much more than that.
I speak of special connections and the meshing of like-mindedness which on such occasions send thoughts of financial gratification to the back seat.
Better Than Silver & Gold
Some might ask, “Who goes to participate as a vendor at a festival and leaves the scene giving props to humanity as expressed by people she was meeting for the first time?”
I do, quite unapologetically! As one who strongly believes that the benefits of expressions of humanity take precedence over platinum, gold, silver, diamonds and money; I cannot help but make this observation by expressing appreciation and gratitude to the various humanity-based gestures that the artists I interacted with at this event shared with me and my husband two weekends ago.
(Please note that my original draft read “last weekend”!)
A Giant Embrace of Appreciation
A giant hug and much gratitude is in order to all the wonderful spirits we encountered at the North Meets South Festival! Since it is my suspicion that they did not give of themselves so that they could be publicly heralded, I shall resist the temptation of naming names. I will instead state their affiliation as East End Arts Members, and characterize them in the following manner:
1. Members of the Surprise Welcome Wagon
2. Providers of meaningful conversations
3. Empathizers – God’s Angels at car-loading time
* I will be remiss if I did not include Potential Customers and “Connection-Makers”
When I consider the countless legitimate reasons why we ought not have made it to that event, I cannot help but conclude that when God-sanctioned lessons of life’s experiences await, nothing can stop one from receiving it.
A Message of Hope
These wonderful people I allude to know who they are, and I am most thankful to them for unwittingly underscoring hope that humanity is here to stay. It is my hope that this ‘trend’ of acknowledgement of that which is so easy to overlook, will be ignited in others.
Madona Cole-Lacy, M.A.Ed.Program Director/Facilitatorwww.mytimehascome.orgwww.Iconnectthedotsofcreativity.org
Art Accompanied by Abundant Humanity at North Meets South Festival
My Time 4 Talk by Madona Cole-Lacy 
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