Mother's Day May 14 2023 with Artist Flora May W. Nyland: Magic & Loss

May 2021

Mom in her favorite spot! She's watching, always. Holy mackerel do I have to be on my best behavior like never before. Am taking a cue from Yoda's lesson to Luke Skywalker - She is in the rock, the tree, the squirrels and deer who make our grounds their own. The Force binds us all in a way that transcends mortality. We will always remain connected.

Collaging with mom, dated on the back June 1974. Hangs on the wall in my room; Note early indication of Lunar Module obsession, using photographs, and appreciation of plastic figures. That football helmet in pajamas rocks, and the monochrome baby picture is believed to be Flora herself. Just incredible.

Some music for mom below, obscure early Genesis single with Peter Gabriel. Flora always loved the sound of acoustic guitars, made sure I had one to learn to play well enough for her to listen from downstairs. This is one I'd have figured out how to play along with any day, rain or shine, up or down. Flute part too.

"Happy the Man", Genesis 1972.
Apologies for any forced ads!

Garden Party, Flora Nyland 2021, 32 x 24 inches, acrylics and pastel on canvas. 

Mom's last completed painting, in the collection of the Artist's son. Flora was more active as a silkscreen printmaker and later photographer but always had a renowned gift for painting, line, color and texture. Our house is tastefully filled with marvelous pantings, prints, photographs and collage works she created dating back to the 1950s. If you sift through prior blog entries over to the right there's coverage of her artworks, our magical visit to the Golden Foundation summer 2014, and other items related to mom's lively creative spirit.

Figure Study, Flora Nyland 1963, 8 x 20 inches, oil on canvas.

Collection of the Family

Detail from the above. Figure to the left believed to be a self portrait image.

Mary Poppins, Flora Nyland 1964, 23 x 50 inches, oil with collage on wood.

Oneonta, Flora Nyland 1965 32 x 60 inches, oil on canvas.

Flora was also an accomplished academician, directing the SUNY ESF Archives at F. Franklin Moon Library for almost thirty years. She earned a Master's in Information Sciences and curating the Fletcher Steel collection of materials related to the SUNY relationship with industrialists Anna and Archer Huntington. Their marvelous 1900s era wildlife preserve now serves as SUNY ESF's Adirondack field campus where my father conducted his research work. I got to see the dedication she poured into project firsthand, incredible photographs and print works dating back prior to 1900. Mom was a badass when it came to information studies.

Rabbits, Flora Nyland 1975, 12 x 26 overall, 8x10 silkscreen block with print.

Shelf #2, Flora Nyland 2013, 3 x 3 inches, pen and watercolor on canvas.

Flora taught art in the early 1970s at what was then Syracuse's Central Tech downtown on East Adams Street, and worked as a volunteer at the Everson Museum on Harrison St. for many years. She always felt right at home visiting our gallery at The Tech Garden, knew exactly where she was. Mom made sure I had a chance to at least try to pursue a career in the visual arts, and my Forever vow to her was to continue with the work she helped me to begin.

Commencement, Syracuse University Carrier Dome, Mother's Day 1991. Pix by my dad using a disposable camera, love how the flowers are in focus. 

Kirkland Art Center, Clinton NY January 11 2016

The artwork from above, one of my "Dutch Interior" series at 27 x 60 inches, acrylics and pastel on luan door. Made as her Mother's Day card for May 2016. Tried to fill it with items she could peer at and think about in a human scale. Having her get to see it in a spectacular gallery exhibit in Kirkland (with artists Tony Thompson and Timothy Rand) was a wish delivered -- Mom got to see it on the big wall.

Photobombing Flora on her birthday, July 2019. Flora was born on July 7th 1937, and one of my favorite memories is how she took us to the little post office in Newcomb NY on her birthday in 1977. While growing up the family would visit SUNY ESF's Newcomb Campus a couple times every summer, where my father Ralph Nyland maintained his research plots. So on July 7 1977 she piles us three bratty boys into the family Volkswagen bus to drive into town to sit in the driveway of their little Post Office, which at that time was about the size of the Frozen Custard stand next door.

We all went into the post office and each of the three boys were allowed to pick out four or five postcards to mail to various family or friends from afar. All of which would be datestamped 7/7/77 (or 7 7 1977) when canceled, and the genius of it struck home. How absolutely cool. Would give anything to track down one of those cards.

That's actually Aunt Holly's Thanksgiving bouquet from 2020, but it's a gorgeous enough arrangement to give it up again as a virtual Mother's Day Special. Love ya, Mom!!

April 2021

<3