19 Comments
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marybeth bradbury's avatar

"It is flowering so much because it is dying." thank you for that.

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Diane V. Mulligan's avatar

Beautiful, Helen! Thank you for sharing Rita’s story (I’m in the USA and was not familiar) and for this thoughtful reflection. A lovely meditation with which to start my day.

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Helen Reynolds's avatar

Rita Angus’s work was just about to have a major, post humous international exhibition but it got cancelled with covid, so she remains pretty much unknown outside of New Zealand. and I read all about your autumn leaves as the blossoms burst here!

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Libor Soural's avatar

Indeed! I overhauled Vendetta with love ... https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/re-inventing-vendetta

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Michela Griffith's avatar

‘This is it, there is no future except through the flowers.’ Beautifully written Helen.

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Helen Reynolds's avatar

Thanks so much Michela

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Miranda - Root Stories's avatar

This is beautiful, Helen. I wandered over from the Substack Soirée and and so glad I did. I kind of know that part of Wellington, near the Botanic Garden, as my family are from that area. Your post has reminded made me quite nostalgic for Wellington. Thank you for that and for your thoughtful reflections on life, growth and death.

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Amrita Roy's avatar

What a beautiful post!

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Helen Arthur's avatar

This is a beautiful considered piece. I feel absolutely certain we make art because if death too. I started in my forties and strangely enough in the midst of giving life - my two children were born either side of 40. Learning I could create life and a strong death fear coalesced... Thank you for sharing Rita and your gardening - I also think gardening is part of our art btw.

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Helen Reynolds's avatar

I think something happens when we have children that can change us so profoundly - and so often leads to much more art, much more creativity. And much more awareness of death, too!

Thanks so much for your comments (isn't substack a good place for these!)

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Helen Arthur's avatar

Yes and yes. I think particularly women. I think there’s empowerment in having kids, if the circumstances are right. X

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Libor Soural's avatar

When I attend funerals, I notice the dead always get flowers. As a man, I prefer to give flowers to living women ... to iron my past sins, perhaps? https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/empyre-of-shades

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dee kawai tang's avatar

may we all flower with reckless hysterical abandon before we cross over :) thank you for this. d x x

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