Patience
Brewster Krinkles Nativity.
"My mother
made us a nativity from clay that came out to sit on our mantle at
Christmas. When it appeared if felt like a hushed moment and so
perfect to me. I loved that we could take the baby Jesus out of the
manger and he could go into the arms of Mary and of Joseph. That
baby was very well loved. I made a nativity for my children in the
same tradition from clay when they were very young. I added an
animal here and there, either ones I sculpted or animals I found.
Years later I was asked repeatedly to make a nativity. I enjoyed
making the kings and their rides, a camel an elephant and a donkey
thinking of the carol We Three Kings. But the holy family seemed
very daunting. So many religions to think of.. so many traditions to
respect. I worried about halos or no halos. I worried about colors.
I worried about interpretations. Finally, after a trip to Italy
looking at hundreds of frescoes where lavenders and blues, pinks and
tangerines abound, where gilt and winged heads were as prevalent as
gray somber haloless heads, I thought I would just draw what seemed
right to me. I did what artists have always done and painted what
felt true to the story of the first Christmas." PATIENCE BREWSTER
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