coping strategies

What To Say When Words Are Not Enough

This piece was first published on The Weekly Service website, where Rose is an artist in residence.

"Shining", vibrant joyous abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

"Shining", vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

Words are convenient containers, but sometimes they aren’t big enough.

What to say, when words are not enough?


Sometimes, deciding not to speak, but showing “I am thinking of you, you are not forgotten” is the biggest gift of all:

  • Leaving a surprise block of chocolate, or some veggies from your garden on their doorstep.

  • Posting some seeds from the hollyhocks you grew last spring.

  • Posting that perfect white feather and the leaf curving around on itself in a perfect circle that you found on your walk.

  • Leaving a surprise chalk drawing on their footpath.

  • Sharing photos of a painting you made the last time you were together, of the colours you saw and felt from their smiles, whilst listening to their stories of lonely neighbours connecting after decades spent alone.

I am thinking of you.

You are not forgotten.

I made this painting thinking of you, shining.

Behind the scenes, artist studio view of Rose Wintergreen creating painting "Shining", artist in residence for The Weekly Service 2021

Behind the scenes of creating "Shining" live online (vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021)

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting made live at The Weekly Service by artist in residence, Rose Wintergreen, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting made live at The Weekly Service by artist in residence, Rose Wintergreen, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting made live at The Weekly Service by artist in residence, Rose Wintergreen, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting made live at The Weekly Service by artist in residence, Rose Wintergreen, 2021

Close up of "Shining", vibrant abstract painting by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service, 2021

Love,

Rose Wintergreen

x
(one of the artists in residence this season)

We Can Still Drink Tea Together: new painting & poem

This piece was first published on The Weekly Service website, where Rose is an artist in residence.

What can you say when you are separated by distance from your loved ones, and they are grieving? Migrant grief was the theme of our most recent service with Farah Beaini.

I made this painting, called “We can still drink tea together”, whilst listening to her story, and I wrote the poem before hand.

I brewed some tea and I used the tea in the painting.

Can you spot the tea?

What to say, when…

What to say when I can’t be there with you?

 

So much space between us two

But I can feel you

I can feel you here in my heart

 

When I fill my cup

I think of you

I think of you

 

We are still connected

Maybe you can drink the same tea as me?

Each holding our own cups across the sea

 

What to say when I can’t be there with you?

Make this cup of tea

I am drinking it with you

We are drinking it together

We are drinking it together

Can you feel it?

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art by Rose Wintergreen 2021

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art created by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service 2021

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art created by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service 2021

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art created by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service 2021

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art created by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service 2021

Close up of painting "We Can Still Drink Tea Together", vibrant abstract expressionist art created by Rose Wintergreen, artist in residence at The Weekly Service 2021

Love,

Rose Wintergreen

x
(one of the artists in residence this season)