Wyoming Unveiling of 3 Gov Portraits

[Michele Rushworth]

Here's what the newspapers wrote about this portrait:

"When former Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer arrived for his official portrait sitting, he was carrying one of his best suits -- but he secretly hoped the artist would let him wear what he had on: his trademark vest, cowboy hat and bolo tie.

The artist, Michele Rushworth of Sammamish, Wash., was more than accommodating.

"I didn't want this to look like a portrait of a businessman from Connecticut, I wanted this to look like a Wyoming governor," said Rushworth, who insisted Geringer stay true to his western roots for the portrait.

"He came to the sitting in what I imagine as the perfect Wyoming governor attire," Rushworth added.

[Michele Rushworth]

This governor was in office in the 1960's and is now 95 years old. The portrait sitting was done with him in his favorite living room chair. I had him looking off to the left, out a nearby window, to capture the feeling that he's "looking back" over his years in office. This gentleman was also a United States Senator. He doesn't travel much any more and so was not at the unveiling.

His grandson read a speech that he wrote though, which included this quote from Benjamin Franklin: "We must all hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately."

[Michele Rushworth]

This governor was known for his trademark beige cowboy hat. He was also the United States Ambassador to Ireland after his time as governor, and at official functions in Ireland he would wear this hat, he said, so people would know he was the American.

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Wow!!!

What eslse can I say?

Congrats. They are so beautiful.

[Carlos Ygoa]

Very big congratulations, Michele! Very impressive work and well deserved praise.
You

[Terri Ficenec]

Beautifully done -- so much character in each!
Congratulations Michele!

[SB Wang]

Congratulation!

The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number "6" was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number "9" was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means "double." Also, as double ninth was pronounced the same as the word to signify "forever", both are "Jiu Jiu," the Chinese ancestors considered it an auspicious day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.

The custom of ascending a height to avoid epidemics was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called "Height Ascending Festival". The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems depicting the activity. Even today, people still swarm to famous or little known mountains on this day.

On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for


the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.

The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum blooms. China boasts diversified species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.

In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors' Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to suburban areas or send gifts to them on this day.

[Julie Deane]

Congratulations, Michele ! What a feat, and very nice portraits, too. You've definitely got a distinguished personal style.

[Michele Rushworth]

Thanks everybody!

You've definitely got a distinguished personal style.

Really? What is it? (I guess, like a fish surrounded by water and who therefore doesn't notice it, I'm so immersed in my painting that I can't see if it has a certain "look" or "style" the way others might be able to.)

[Julie Deane]

Michelle, it's hard to put into words. Part of it has to do with a smoothness to the painting of the skin. Some of it has to do with a sort of translucent quality. Sorry I can't articulate it much better than that.