Mead, Colorado
I visited Colorado to see my art teacher last March. She used to be my art academy every Saturday when I was in Tulsa. I don’t remember how, but with mutual friends I ended up learning and exploring paint on canvas with such freedom she gave me. Hana and I would drive together in Saturday mornings to her house all the way on 220st st which was about 20 mins on highway, and her little one year old Peter will be waiting for us in front of the house, yelling “Emo! Emo!” meaning aunt, in Korean. This all started way before I knew I wanted to study photography or art. I wasn’t sure but that unnamed desire inside me wanted to find a place where I could do art. And EJ’s place was the perfect place. She would give us dried-lemon tea, korean crackers, and her white Maltese Chloe would always put her butt next to my feet. Now Peter is 10 years old, and during that time I changed my major twice to Fine art, decided to go to London to study Fashion Photography, and currently studying MFA Photography in Georgia. EJ always carefully listened to my change of shifts going closer to my dreams and encouraged me that I am fully capable.
EJ and her family moved to Colorado almost two years ago, and I decided to make a visit to visit her again, not necessarily to do art, but to feel safe somehow that I am on the right track. The room I was staying in had old, dark wood furnitures that seemed like it came from Korea, and the bright afternoon light came in from the window and touched the Zizi plant on the shelf. Outside there was snow still in the backyard as it snowed the first day. And surprisingly, on the bathroom door there was this jacket hanging. Her painting of a girl wearing Hanbok was hung next to the door, that she started in Tulsa. EJ told me she bought the jacket at Target but thought I would suit it better than her. I was surprised because I already had two jackets of those style, and wanted to get the third one but didn’t. It seemed like God knew what I wanted to pursue and go all for it, without hesitation or giving up.
Which everytime I wear the jacket it reminds me of Colorado, Mead, where I stayed for almost a week. I told EJ how I want to switch my MFA program towards painting so I could focus more on Mixed Media work. Again, she was more than an encouragement for me; she trusted my instincts and talents than I knew. Time with Peter and Esther (his younger sister!) was so memorable, playing overcook until midnight, was a gift for me.