Mz. Paula Barr A Word Portrait - Artist to Artist
Yesterday, I accidentally walked Into Paula Barr's beautiful sun lit studio in the heart of the Chelsea Art District around the corner from my loft. I stopped in my tracks for a moment, because I saw a soft golden aura surrounding this attractive woman before me. She looked at me with a kind warm smile, and welcomed me into her peaceful creative world. Instantly, her smooth gracious southern personality made me feel at ease, and a sharing dialogue began. Within minutes I knew Mz. Paula was a rare creative intellect to be respected and enjoyed, as she cut through the silly protective boundaries that most artists maintain upon introduction. As Paula began to speak so eloquently about her art, I heard a strong unifying connection to her rich life experience. I kept pausing and shaking my head with excitement wondering, "Who is this unusual interesting woman before me?"
Rarely do I meet such a naturally gifted person, woman, artist. Paula Barr became someone I wanted to know within a very short while. A little bell went off in my head to tell me that Mz. Paula was indeed a very unique artist, and what appeared to be a odd serendipitous meeting may not have been strange after all. Over the next two fleeting hours of an honest sharing exchange, I knew in my own artist's heart Paula Barr was just "special". I quickly realized that she is also immensely talented, quite original, and unusually visionary. As Paula showed me a small sample of her vast art the bells rang louder. Besides her clear meaningful insights successfully channeled through her art, she even has more! Paula Barr is also a very gifted inventor. She showed me some of her technical inventions melded to her photographic medium that really excited me deeply. I mean really cool things I had never seen before! I couldn't quite believe the breadth and depth of creativity I had stumbled upon by accident in Ms. Paula Barr. I was surprised, delighted, and very inspired.
We talked and laughed through a plethora of broad subjects concerning our lives. Her quick wit, light humor, and deep sensitivity was so welcomed. Later in the afternoon Mz. Paula graciously popped the cork on a wonderful bottle of champagne in the warm glow of the setting sun. Her beautiful peaceful studio had the calm seductive air of a fine southern drawing room of another time. We laughed in unison, as I sincerely toasted the unique late millennium Renaissance woman before me. The glasses clicked to ring the high pitched tone of a new friendship in the making. I felt honored by the kind gesture of the champagne, but I also knew Paula recognized something very truthful in me. I was a respectful willing receiver to her multidimensional sound. When finally we parted the bubbly champagne warmed my soul as I walked home saying, "Yep, that unforgettable Mz. Paula Barr is very special woman for damn sure! It will be a great pleasure for me to visit with her again."
RAYBERRY ©
"A Celebration of Life"
June 15, 1998, Chelsea Art District, Manhattan
photo by August John Krueger