The Magnolia Series
A collection of paintings that go beyond pretty flowers—they’re rooted in memory, strength, and symbolism.
Each individual bloom in this collection is named after a classic Southern woman—the kind of lady who never misses a Sunday, brews the sweetest tea, and makes the meanest deviled eggs. She’s got a drawl and all the town gossip.
In a way, this series is an ode to Southern womanhood —grit, grace, and deep roots.
A Poem for Magnolias
It’s an emergency: I need to climb a tree.
To climb a tree is the medicine
for taking oneself too seriously
And a magnolia tree is the perfect penicillin
for stick-up-the-ass.
I make my way to my favorite lady.
Her big arms, dipping and reaching
Shaped by storms but steady still.
Sturdy enough to withstand hurricanes
And the weight of me, climbing to the tippy top.
I climb up
And up
And up
And pass buds the size of baseballs,
Leaves like lifeboats,
Not afraid of how high I climb because
I think of when I first felt brave enough
To climb to the top of a magnolia tree.
I was 11 in Isabel’s backyard
(It was technically her neighbor’s yard,
But I doubt he minded).
We made believe we were the last ones left
In our perfectly disastrous world.
We ate roasted chicken with our bare hands–
Greasy and scrappy–
Like real conquerors of something.
I had a magnolia tree in my own backyard,
The house I grew up in.
She wasn’t quite as good for climbing,
But she was just right for burying my first pet–
A fish named Flo. Rest in Peace.
I recline amidst the flowers of my friend,
And I think about my Nana’s wedding bouquet.
Nana and Papa were poor and
Magnolias were in bloom at the time.
They celebrated their 65th anniversary last week.
Up here,
the world feels less like mine to manage.
My favorite lady cradles me
the way a mother does,
And I let myself be small again.
I have gallery representation at The Gallery at Sweetgrass on Isle of Palms, South Carolina, where you can find additional paintings by me and 29 other local artists!
The Gallery at Sweetgrass
Sweetgrass Plaza, Wild Dunes Resort
5757 Palm Blvd.
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Open Daily: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
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