Soon after moving to West Virginia, I became aware of Ridenour Park in Nitro. In a short time, I was walking the park trails routinely, but it was weeks before I noticed the fruit cellar located at the entrance to a nearby neighborhood. When I first saw the tomb-like structure, I immediately was reminded of paintings I had seen of Mary and Martha approaching the tomb of the risen Christ. I was totally intrigued. What was it? For what was it used? Recently, I was told by a long-time neighborhood resident that when a little girl, she remembered an old lady living in a big house (gone for years) on that lot. The lady used this cellar for her canned goods. I imagined a sweet little white-haired lady, like Aunt Bee on Andy Griffith Show. My friend burst my bubble when she recalled she and a friend walking through the yard. The old lady stepped out on the front porch and yelled, “You kids get out of this yard!” ...so much for my images of Aunt Bee. The challenge with this piece was obviously the rock work with the morning light. ...such an intriguing spot that I want to paint again in the spring.
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