M. Pia De Girolamo

Study for a Commission, Brushes program on iPad

It’s January 6, so happy Epiphany to you!  In Italy, on the eve of the Epiphany, La Befana, a magical old lady, brings gifts to the children in commemoration of the gifts of the Magi to the Christ child in the stable.

I love the word, “epiphany” as in “I’ve had an epiphany!” used to describe an “aha!” moment.  From the Greek word meaning “to reveal”, an epiphany is, in the words of Wikipedia, “the result of significant labor on the part of the discoverer …so surprising because one cannot predict when one’s labor will bear fruit”.  When epiphanies are discussed, the “significant labor” part is often forgotten! 

It’s interesting to contrast the underlying meaning of the Epiphany with the New Year’s holiday. At New Year’s we are encouraged to “make resolutions” as if we could will these goals into being by our own conscious ferocious effort alone. Epiphany instead seems to imply an act of receptivity but not in a passive way; the hard work has got to come first and you have to have faith that the “aha” moment will arrive when it’s good and ready and not necessarily when you want it to. 

It is like this in the studio.  How many times does a painting “problem” arise and only to be resolved when you “play” with it and see what happens as opposed to imposing a solution. Sometimes it’s months or years later that the solution arrives.

In wishing you Happy New Year I also wish you many great epiphanies for 2012!