Once I Built My Nest Of

April 2008 Ohio Arts Council Residency
Kate Kern, visual artist, works with Ursuline Academy students,
teachers and community to create a multi-media installation.

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The residency began with a visit to

Chatfield College in Brown County, Ohio.

Senior Ursuline sisters shared their

thoughts and the images of their hands

holding nests and eggs.

 

Somewhere there is an end.

Finding it is the challenge.

Life is a challenge.

Where and when will it end?

Life is a mystery brought together

in an interesting pattern or puzzle.

Cracks, in the shells and in our lives,

in our relationships - cracks

between the ideals and the reality of our living.

Cracks that bridge and support

the growth of life – cracks

aren't breaks - just interesting

lines and crevices in our shells,

the shells of our lives and loves.

The weight and coldness of

the marble eggs in my

hands are such a contrast

to the fragility and warmth

of the goose egg shell.

Yet the longer I held the

marble eggs the warmer they became.

And so it is with my life.

When life seems heavy and

cold, without feeling, the

care and concern of others

helps to lift the burden and

warm my cold heart.

Some creature, probably a

wasp, carefully gathered the

materials to construct a home,

a living place. So simple,

yet beautiful in color and

shape - delicate yet sturdy.

I feel a kinship with this

wasp because my living

space is important to me as well.

The shapes and colors

of where I live and

work have an effect on

my state of mind.

During the residency Ursuline students

responded to the title “Once I built My Nest

Of…” through writing and by making nests

using their hands as the supporting structure.

 

Once I built my nest of

Sheltering innocence,

helpful guides, hoping

to grow really tall,

endless possibilities,

smiles under the bed,

my hope of flying and

learning to forgive.

Then I built my nest of

awkward situations,

shy glances,

annoyance, reaching for

the stars,

canyons full of air, my

sister's friendship,

friendly jokes and

drowsy eyelids at

church.

Now my nest is made of

Bright orange skies, a

sculptor's hand forming

clay, random laughter

over nothing,

shadows, unexpected

compliments, second

thoughts:

fate or choice?, love or

lust?, and regrets that

came too late.

Once I built my nest of

Floaties, books all over

the floor, orange cream

push pops from the ice

cream truck

and orange cream push

pops from the

ice cream truck

fancy white dresses and frog legs

knotted grass blades

and a soaring tree

swing

purple dinosaurs and pogo sticks

Hide and seek and dirty paw prints

Cinnamon Life cereal

and pointless car rides

Lies and gossip filled drama

Once I built my nest of

Tire swings, mud and

baby shampoo

Of wooden spoons,

granola bars and

all three comforters on

my bed

Once I built my nest of

black dancing shoes

squeezing my feet and

Nancy Drew's red

flipped hair

Once it was made of

trampoline jumping in

the backyard

Sometimes made of

Koolaid, shell collecting

and untucked shirts.

Once I built my nest of

peanuts with the fudge

picked off

And the torn plastic tips of shoelaces

Once I built my nest of

Blackhawk wings flying

through the sky

Once I built my nest of grandma's cancer,

Helping my mom with

dinner

and lullabies

Reminders from my twin

brother to laugh

once in a while and

Insults that mean

“I love you”

Once I built my nest of

curly blonde hair, dog

slobber and bright

Friday night lights.

Once I built my nest of

basketball games,

A coach who wants you to do

your best with all your heart

and a sport that requires

focus and skill

Once I built my nest of

things that disappeared:

Abandoned diary pages, the

smell of oatmeal on Sunday

mornings, a friend who can

make anything fun, and two

dimples deeper than the hole

she put in my wall.

Then I built my nest of

The pain of moving away,

lanyards and Popsicle stick

people for a long distance

relationship.

Once I built my nest of me, myself and I.

Once I built my nest of

chasing ducks, trapping

daddy long legs,

dancing in the rain and

breaking the rules

Once I built my nest of

anticipating what is

soon to be.

Once I built my nest of a

full house, my brother's

dumb comments and

my sister's angry

eyebrow face

Once I built my nest of

what Beth did, curing

cancer and celebrating

birthdays.

Once I built my nest of

homework, microwaving

plastic and the mystery

of Atlantis

Once I built my nest of

wondering about the

cause of autism and

thoughts about the

afterlife.

Once I built my nest

following the path you

walked on first, feeling a

sense of security and

rebellion

Once I built my nest of

the rays of golden sun

that you watched set in

the vibrant orange

pink sky

Once I built my nest of your feet sinking

into muddy sand.

Once I built my nest of

Christmas lights shining

on freshly fallen snow

Once I built my nest of the

crisp blue sky you saw as

we went down the slope,

feeling blistering cold and

tranquility

Once I built my nest of breathtaking

white sand and white water

Once I built my nest of sand

from the sandbar on which you

lay, a shallow bed of damp

sediment supporting your body,

surrounded by vast depths of

turquoise water.

Once I built my nest of the

long blades of grass that

you navigated with me

Once I built my nest of the

movement of clouds

Once I built my nest of

the peacefulness of the

late night wind whirling

around us

Once I built my nest of

feelings of curiosity

about an unexplored

creek teeming with life

Once I built my nest of hidden treasure

only you know about

Once I built my nest of rugged stone steps

that you walked before me.

Once I built my nest of warm

sunlight soaking your skin

Once I built my nest of

colorful sunsets that you

would wait for every

clear evening

Once I built my nest of icy water

splashing your feet

Once I built my nest of the foggy stars

that made me miss you