Above High Amana

About an hour before, a woman named Alice of 92 years young, from the San Diego area of California, was taking in the painting, Above High Amana. This work was on display at the new Gallery on Main in Amana, Iowa.

We were on our way to a Sabbath meeting, when my wife, Tamra, received a text from Kristie Yoder, Amana Arts Guild Board president. Well, I wasn’t in the best of moods that early afternoon. But that was about to change. As Tamra began to read the text aloud, the content revealed a kindred connection most artists hope to inspire through their work.

To me, this is more of a human interest story as it relates to a work of art. So the text went on to say that the woman (they did not know her name at that point), had been moved to tears. She indicated to the staff that she planned to return the next day to purchase the painting and that she would like to meet the artist in person. We kept the text message to ourselves until then.

You never know if someone will return, yet our hopes were high that she would, even on a rainy day. Tamra was scheduled to volunteer that day at the gallery. It was great to have her there to share in the meet and greet and to facilitate the important transaction.

Across to the Ox Yoke Inn I went, to sit behind a mug of ale while we waited. Two or three hours had passed, it seemed that she may not be coming back due to the weather. I drove home (we live about 15 minutes away), still not giving up hope.

It wasn’t long until Tamra called and said, “There is a family here waiting to meet you.” Yes, she did return!

Upon my arrival, I opened the door to the gallery to see Alice, her husband, two daughters and her son-in-law. I held my hand out to Alice and we exchanged greetings, and then to her family. It was as if there was a ceremonial feeling in the room. Alice and I visited about the painting, we were both so genuinely happy. It was October 10^th, 2021.

As we said goodbyes, one of Alice’s daughters who was present the day before, gave us a little insight into Alice’s initial viewing of Above High Amana. “That’s it!”, Alice knew right then. “She has been looking for years, all over the country, in galleries and online, for a painting that reminded her of the place she grew up.”