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March 16, 2005
A gift from a friend
A long time ago I became friends with a sculptor. His work mostly is meant to make a statement. He has done a lot of work related to slavery and equal rights and issues related to discrimination. When I first met my friend he was working as a security guard at my office building. Several years ago he was working on the piece that he gave to me today as a gift. I would stop by the guard desk and chat with him and see how the work was progressing. It was very interesting to see his whole process from beginning to end.
Over the years I have helped him in different ways, like photographing his work and editing his letters and grant applications, cleaning up his computer, getting his scanner to work, helping him to create brochures, helping him move his sculptures into showings, etc. And because of my friendship with him I also helped out his studio building during the St. Paul Art Crawl by volunteering as a door greeter. I’ve hung out at his studio having long discussions with him about life and family as he was working on his projects. He is a statement artist. Most of his sculptures are related to the plight of the African Americans from slavery to the present. His work has been shown in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and other prestigious places. I can really relate to him as a sculptor because I’m a sculptor at heart. Except my sculptures are done in wood as a woodcarver. I can see his vision as he is creating a piece and appreciate the composition as it’s revealed during the sculpting process.
When he gave me this gift today, I didn’t really know how to react. I am not really a good gift receiver. I love to give things to other people, but I don’t need anything. I don’t crave things or desire things for myself. I’ll buy things myself, but when someone asks me what I want or need, it’s hard to say, because I usually don’t know I want it until I see it. I’m really a poor consumer because I’m much too content with life without things and I don’t crave anything. My friend’s sculptures made me think. I appreciated the craftsmanship and vision in his designs. But I didn’t particularly have a burning need to have one. Now I received a piece I consider to be one of his best. I tried to refuse, but he said, “I know I don’t owe you this, and that you wouldn’t ask for anything in return, but you’ve helped me so much I want you to have this. I know you like this piece so I want to give it to you.” So I accepted. He wrapped it up in bubble wrap for me and I carried it back to my office. I still don’t know how to take this gift. I am thrilled to look at it, because it’s a very interesting relief sculpture that tells a good story. I like the bright color and it has a hopeful message.
On the way back to my office two people stopped me to see what I had. They were stunned to see I had one of my friend’s sculptures. This sculpture would sell for about 450 dollars. But I didn’t buy it, so I had to explain that I didn’t buy it. This compounded my guilt in receiving a gift of such value. And I certainly don’t want to incur any special favors because of things I’ve done. All I was trying to do was be a good friend to someone who needed a friend. And that’s what I did. That’s what friends are for. I listened, I helped out where needed and I gave advice when asked. I never expected anything in return. Just because friendship doesn’t really expect a return. I think that’s why I have an easy time giving gifts but a hard time accepting them. I don’t want anyone to think I have expectations of a return. In my view, friendships are about giving to and uplifting another human being, helping them to live to their potential. I believe in my friend to keep creating his artwork and doing what he’s doing to help people see a different view on life and reveal how we often treat each other as human beings. So I accepted his gift and now am wondering what I should do with it. It’s either going to hang in my cubicle at work or in my new library. My friend suggested I hang it in my library because it’s new. And this piece talks about the value of life and friendship and lifting up our friends when they are down or downtrodden.
To me, this piece of work as a collector’s item has no value, but as a gift from a friend that shows his appreciation and that he values our friendship, it’s priceless. I think before I move it to my new library at home, I’ll display it at work so everyone can see the message of hope in it. Then after a while, I’ll bring it home and keep it by my computer to help me think of my friend and his life’s mission to get people to think about racism and it’s effect on our fellow human beings. Regardless of where it hangs, his gift to me is really his declaration of friendship, which I will never forget. Here is my friend Frank J. Brown's sculpture:
Posted by carl1236 at March 16, 2005 11:17 PM | Love your Neighbor