June 12th, 2026: 6 – 8 pm CT
Chicago Alliance
of Visual Artists
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to announce that my original oil painting “THIRST”, 18 X 24 on Gallery Wrapped Canvas and accompanied by poetry, has been selected for inclusion in the juried Small Works Exhibition presented by The Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) from May 30 – June 26, 2026 at the Elmhurst Art Museum with opening reception on the evening of June 12th, from 6 – 8pm in the Elmhurst Artist’s Guild Gallery. It is for sale: $2500. I am so grateful to the Gila River Indian Community who recently hosted me at Wild Horse Pass in Arizona and inspired this multimedia work. Thank you for following my artistic journey, and I hope to see you at the event. – Rina Lucas, Staff & Palette
“THIRST”
Poem and Painting by Rina Lucas
In the desert
And in life
Thirst
Is real…
Seeing it slaked
Is holy work
Feeling it in the first place
An other worldly experience
Recognizing
The Divine
Among the dust
Are vessels
Carrying much medicine
High Priests
Who feel the fullness
Of what might be mistaken
For emptiness,
They are
Wide waters
Winding their way
Through parched parcels
Like the Gila River
A mindful mirror
Reflecting all the complex hues and shades
Of honesty
Where light and darkness embrace
And become one reality
The Song of the Sonoran
Diverted
For decades
So truth could not be told
Stolen
From the ancient caretakers
Of this sun streaked Land
Lying along arid mountains
Underneath Arizona’s azure skies,
Yet what was taken
Has been returned
As justice always requires
But all too often
Cannot fully achieve
At least not in one
Lifetime,
Reparations
Have restored
The lush blooms
Of this sacred space
Filling the air
With the aroma of Acacia
And calming Creosote
Remembrances of rain
Yielding nourishment
That fills bellies
And feeds souls
Starving for memory
And meaning,
The renewed flower
Of the Gila River’s flow
Repeats the prayers
Of the people…
The Pima
The Pee-Posh
And every one of us
Who has known thirst…
Survivors of violations
Of every kind
Not yet validated
Let alone vindicated…
Until we are heard
Even if it is
A long time coming
As the sun
Is setting.
Artist Statement – Rina Lucas – Staff & Palette
Both the painting and poem seek to represent not only the stunning natural beauty of the Gila River region of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, but also to tell the story of how devastating non-native agricultural practices in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s literally cut off the life flow of the Gila River to native communities, the Pima (also known as Akimel O’otham) and the Maricopa (also known as the Pee-Posh or Piipaash) who originally cared for this sacred land and remain here to this day. Thirst, experienced often in the desert in a physical way, is expressed here as a longing for truth and for wrongs to be righted. This was the case when the US Government built Coolidge Dam and created the San Carlos Reservoir on the Upper Gila River piping water once again to the reservation to sustain farming practices, life, and hope for the people to whom the land holds most value and rightful claim. The river itself, considered holy by these tribes, is the central character of this multimedia artistic work and also has special meaning for me, literally and metaphorically, in my own personal journey. While each story is as unique as the individuals and groups they represent, the poetic idea stretches to acknowledge the thirst felt by all peoples who have suffered their own violation in some form. It describes how the remedy of the river’s symbolic voiced and visual validation of truth, a mirror to allow for just action, refreshes and alleviates this prayerful longing for the world to be repaired. Value contrast is vigorously implemented in the painting to demonstrate that truth contains complicated shades that show the light and darkness of what is. That the scene is depicted at sunset emphasizes even if restitution is a long time coming, it is never too late to see it done.
“Water is life.” – Lakota Proverb
“I am the River, The River is Me” – Maori Proverb
“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Holy Bible – Matthew 5:6
“Ho! All who thirst, go to the water…”
ה֚וֹי כָּל־צָמֵא֙ לְכ֣וּ לַמַּ֔יִם
Hebrew Bible – Isaiah 55:1
Small Works Exhibition
May 30–June 26, 2026
@ Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery
(located inside the Elmhurst Art Museum), 150 South Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, IL 60126.
June 5th, 2026: 5:30 – 7 pm CT
“LUCAS LIFE IN CHICAGO – AN EXHIBIT AT BOTTLES UP!”
Original Oil Paintings and Poetry
Featuring Artist: Rina Lucas – staffandpalette.com
Including Wine Tasting Reception
June 5th, 2026: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
BottlesUp! https://bottlesupchicago.com
3164 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
FIRST FRIDAY EVENT
Program
Staff & Palette is delighted to partner with Melissa Zeman of BottlesUp! in the heart of Lakeview East downtown to bring a unique multimedia experience “Lucas Life in Chicago – An Exhibit at BottlesUp!” featuring the paintings and poetry of artist Rina Lucas during the month of June 2026 with opening wine tasting reception June 5th from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Artist Statement
As I was curating for this exhibit, I wanted to give viewers a glimpse into my vibrant and textured life as a new Chicagoland resident: the mix of joy and sorrow that is held in my “Holly’s Garden Chicago” series telling stories of survival, recovery, love, loss, and remembrance; select pieces from the “At Home in Chicago” series which intertwines the nesting of now with the many complex strands that brought me here; and finally a taste of the “My Chicagos” series, unveiling the urban setting here as it appears to my eyes. I love the way the colors and concepts of each of these pieces work together to communicate my experiences as an artist living, working, and healing in Chicago. Welcome to “Lucas Life in Chicago – An Exhibit at BottlesUp!” – Rina Lucas, Staff & Palette
Artist Bio
Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast, here in Chicago, and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.
“LUCAS LIFE IN CHICAGO – AN EXHIBIT AT BOTTLES UP!”
HOLLY’S GARDEN CHICAGO
An Oil Series depicting scenes and themes from the sacred garden of remembrance named for our first Collie and comprised of plantings lovingly brought with us from Virginia to Charleston, SC and now lovingly tended here in Chicago, IL
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW
12×12 Framed Oil on Canvas
$250
“A Bird’s Eye View”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Some things are best seen
From above
Where lines and colors blur and blend
To reveal the main idea for a moment
Minus the details.
CICADA SONG
16×12 Framed Oil on Canvas
$750
“Cicada Song” is inspired by actual events but is also a powerful metaphor for how the culture of abuse crushes spirits, silences voices, and severs relationships. The antidote to this is found in the strength of our songs that, like the Cicada’s, persevere to survive and speak truth transforming the world along with us as we have the courage to change into the most authentic version of ourselves.
“Cicada Song”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
I stood with a fair haired child
Many summers ago,
She spoke with a voice like mine…
People told me
She favored me,
But on this day
She was frightened
Screaming and crying
Terrified
And I knew that feeling well,
In this instance
The scary sensations came from
Being overwhelmed
By creeping things
Chirping Cicadas
Emerging from their seventeen year slumber
Underground
To meet the sun and one another
For a short while,
But these strange creatures
Seemed like monsters
To a small girl
Who had never observed them before,
She needed experienced eyes
To help her see herself
In these insects
As fellow living beings
With a precious purpose
And a voice…
“Sweet Angel
Don’t be afraid!
These little animals
Are our friends,”
I carefully picked one up
To show her
And he began to sing,
“See?
He’s singing!
Just like me!
That’s what they do!
They rest for a long time
Remaining quiet
Under the surface,
And when they wake
They break free from their shell
Becoming totally new
And all they want to do is
Share their songs,
They look unusual to us
But they are gentle
And even beautiful in their way,
If we take a minute
To hear their voice
We see it is like ours,”
Her face lit up
With understanding
And natural empathy,
She was smiling
Seeing past the alien visage
And the leggy limbs
To the sleek silvery wings
And proud vocals,
Hearing the combined songs
From many locusts
Singing in the trees
Along with this one
In my hand,
Her fear was gone
Her eyes like mine
Filled with wonder
My heart brimming over
With songs of my own
I set the fragile bug
Back where I found him,
But suddenly there were
Loud footsteps
A large shadow loomed
Blocking the light of the sun
He was there…
The one who looked like
Both of us,
Before I knew it
His heavy boot
Came crushing down
On the helpless life
In anger
In disgust
In hatred of much
He did not understand…
For the inexplicable pleasure
Of hurting something
That could not
Fight back…
There on the ground
Lay in pieces
The broken body
Of the blameless Cicada
Whose song had been silenced
For no reason at all…
And innocent eyes once filled with joy
Turned dark with tears
Confused
Searching mine
But I had no words of comfort
To give her
Or myself…
That was several seasons ago
In a time when I too
Felt the Cicada’s anguish
Under a forceful foot,
I cannot bring back the song
I heard on that day
Nor the childlike fascination
That replaced fear
On the face
Of that little girl I always remember
And love…
But as I recline among the arbors
In this new place
Bursting with new life
And new songs
From brave Cicadas
Whose essence survived
And sojourned on
From that day
To this one
I find my own voice and spirit
Lifted
In harmony with the tenacious truth
Of their masterful melody
The very key to their
Survival…
“Sing on little ones all
Who have been pressed down
Let your voice ring out
As powerful medicine
The arias of those
Who have overcome.”
DRAGONFLY DREAMS
12×16 Framed Oil on Canvas
$750
“Dragonfly Dreams”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Change is never easy…
Yet as we traverse
Trying trails
It is certain
Something to accept
To embrace
To even envelop
Ourselves in
As a reminder that
We are living
Breathing
Growing
Learning
Loving
Dreaming…
Of all that
Yet may be
Because we are
Lighter than air
Letting go of
Past pain
And
Present preoccupations
Taking delight
In our flexible flight
The pulsing power
Propelling us
Up and over
And through
This transformative transition
And onto
The next one
With all of its color
Sound and energy
Whipping in our wings.
ELI
14×11 Framed Oil on Canvas – NFS
Giclee available upon request
“Eli”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
For our Eli
November 3rd, 2012 – October 23rd, 2024
From the first moment
I saw you
It was
Through rose colored glasses
So in love
I fell…
And like a shooting star in summer
Filled with fire and fury
And sunlight
That both brightens and burns
You landed
In my lap,
And since that second
Life took on a Pink hue…
In a flash
We learned together
That even utter adoration
Is often complicated
Especially when
It’s been injured,
So we found
Our own meter
To match the musical meteor show
That brought you
And what a bond
We forged
Like no other
You were an Enigma
Since rarely does
A luminary
Allow an earthly embrace,
Our journey carried us
Through many more solstices
Along oceans and
Over mountains
To the edges of
Great Lakes,
And each experience
Trusting our travels
Increased my certainty
That you were as much
My teacher
As pupil,
Celestial lessons were
Kindled with
Wisdom and
Healing
Crafted by
Our connection
Paw in hand…
And oh how we laughed!
And yes, we cried…
Especially on that dark day
Your brilliant glow
Streaked across the sky
For what seemed like
The final fall…
And I thought my arms
Would never stop aching
From the inability to catch you
To keep holding you
Here…
But you
Our Beloved Mystery
Came from the Heavens
Where human hearts dream
And many times you meet me there…
As I cradle you close
Your fur
Against my face
Once again
I know
You are always with me
Your ethereal illumination
So evident
Still…
Even more so
Little Sunshine
As you watch over us
From above,
Our family fell for you
When you became ours
And forever we
Have that feeling…
Knowing this tumble
Through space and time
And tenderness…
Will always lead us
To you.
PEEP SHOW
12×24 Framed Oil on Canvas
$850
“Peep Show”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Nature’s naughty
Is sometimes nice,
The pure joy of abandonment
As feathers flutter and flap
Watering weary wings
With breathless beak and breast,
An otherwise shy Robin
Now a bathing beauty
Unaware she is being admired from afar,
Her delicious delight contagious
Her earnest jubilation worthy of emulation
Her love lavished on herself a lesson
In how to fully cherish this gift of life
So precious and fleeting
With the rapture of splashes and smiles
Among many other moments of
Satisfied glee.
ZACHIAS’S BIRD BATH
24×18 Framed Oil on Canvas
$2500
“Zachias’s Bird Bath”
Holly’s Garden Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
How cherished
Is the memory
Of our Little Man
With fullest heart
Cultivated continually
In this precious garden
To nurture souls
Nourish nature
And comfort the caretakers
Just as he did in life
And ever more
Will do.
AT HOME IN CHICAGO
An Oil Series intertwining the nesting of now with the many complex strands that brought me here to Chicago
HOSPITALITY’S HARVEST
14×11 Framed Oil on Canvas
$750
“Hospitality’s Harvest”
At Home in Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
The fine fragrance
Of generosity
Lingers in the air
And on the palate
Reminding us
Though everything is new…
Surroundings
Sights
Sounds
Significance
Amid the dizzying array
Of changes
A big move
To city life brings
Hospitality remains host
A harvest of kindness key.
THE GRANDMOTHER GIFT
20×16 Framed Oil on Canvas
Selected for Publication in Artistonish Magazine – May 2026
$2500
“The Grandmother Gift”
At Home in Chicago
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Everything
That gave her strength
I inherited,
Along with her fears
And faults
I was given grace
And grit,
Because she lived
And learned
I am lavished
With her love,
Because her roots
Took hold
In granite
I can stand
Tall
On her firm foundation,
Because her hands
Were worn
With hard work
I know how to cultivate things
And clean things
And feed my family,
Because her voice
Rang high
Over the hollows and hills
Soprano from the south
Alto from the north
I can sing my truth in both registers,
Every time I stand on stage
Or hum a tune at the kitchen sink
She is with me,
Because her life was
An authentic expression
Her creative spirit also
Lives on
In the words I write
And canvases I paint
Even in the gardens I grow…
Rich soil is such a part of
My heritage
On both sides,
Contradictions too
As Union and Confederate Soldiers
Hebrews and Brethren
Cherokee and Europeans
Eventually held hands,
Because of her laughter
Through it all
I experienced joy
And learned how to heal
Through humor,
Because she suffered much
I know empathy
Gentleness
And compassion,
There are stories of shadow
That dance in her light
And darken the heart of her family
Even today
But whether from my mother’s side
Or my father’s
In her way
She overcame
All of it
So that I could too
That’s her gift to me
To all of us,
And though I pass
Her legacy
Through art
Rather than DNA
The flowers of her life
And mine
Ever bloom.
MY CHICAGOS
An Oil Series unveiling the urban setting here in Chicago as it appears to my eyes
CHICAGO TRAFFIC
11×14 Framed Oil on Canvas
$500
“Chicago Traffic”
My Chicagos
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Breathless beauty
Through and through
Surrounds us…
Color and light
Shapes and sounds
Fragrance and fresh air
Flora and fauna
People of every persuasion
Always peace
Even in the pattern
Of the city’s chaos
And I think
The frustrating obstacles
To our ongoing inching
Forward…
Endless crowds and cars
Downtown delays
Deadlines and desires unmet
Accolades unsung…
Are what allow us
To pause and notice
Long enough
To let sublimity land.
MY KIND OF TOWN
10×8 Framed Oil on Canvas
$250
“My Kind Of Town”
My Chicagos
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
It’s the swift swirl
Of the city saunter
Scenes shifting
Energy all around
The jazzy jet set
People pass with purpose
Planning or playing
Along urban avenues
Graced with green gardens
Buttressed by buildings
Bantering with blowing breezes
All are ever aware
Since sidewalks see such smiles
That this town
Tended by tides
From the blue horizon
And the wide world over
Is a proud place
To call home.
Many thanks for sharing this preview of the exhibit with me! I look forward to seeing you at the opening reception!
“LUCAS LIFE IN CHICAGO – AN EXHIBIT AT BOTTLES UP!”
Original Oil Paintings and Poetry
Featuring Artist: Rina Lucas – staffandpalette.com
Including Wine Tasting Reception
June 5th, 2026: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
BottlesUp! https://bottlesupchicago.com
3164 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657
FIRST FRIDAY EVENT
If you are interested in purchasing any of these original oil paintings, each accompanied by poetry, please contact me at:
June 21st, 2025: 7 pm CT
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING” – OFFICIAL VIDEO RELEASE
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2025, 7 PM CT
Original Oil Paintings, Accompanying Poetry, Classical Vocal Performance
Featuring Artist in Paint, Poetry, and Voice: Rina Lucas – staffandpalette.com
With Virtual Piano by Composer: Arshak Sirunyan – www.arshaksirunyan.com
Saturday, June 21, 2025: 7 pm CT
Filmed at: Artsy Heart – theartsyheart.com
Photography and Videography by –Kathleen Hinkel
Program:
Welcome/Artist Introduction: Renee Edmondson, Owner of Artsy Heart
“Becoming: Lessons From Spring” Multimedia Performance by Rina Lucas
Prelude:
“Alleluia” from Exultate, Jubilate, K. 165 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Prologue:
The Velveteen Rabbit (Excerpt) Margery Williams Bianco (1881 – 1944)
Act I: Blossom – The Strength of Softness
“Wild Iris in bloom on the Palmetto Trail” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“Die Lotosblume” Robert Schumann (1810 -1856)
Act II: Metamorphosis – The Synergy with Stillness
“Becoming” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“Simple Song #3” from YOUTH David Lang (1957)
Act III: Flight – The Songs that Soar
“Swallowtail in flight atop Mt. Elbert” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“Love Went A-Riding” Frank Bridge (1879 -1941)
Artist Statement
“At each stage of life we continue to evolve into the person we are meant to be, the best version of our authentic selves. I’ve learned in Spring to find my strength in softness and stillness, as do the blossoms and butterflies. Their wisdom endures through the plenty of Summer and the want of Winter. As Autumn’s splendor provides reason to reflect where we have come thus far, so the soaring song of Spring’s renewal reminds us of where we want to go. Spring shows us who we are becoming as new blooms burst forth.” – Rina Lucas, Staff & Palette
Artist Bio
Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING” – OFFICIAL PROGRAM NOTES
Artist Introduction: Renee Edmondson
Prelude:
“Alleluia” from Exsultate, jubilate – Amadeus Mozart
Prologue:
GREETINGS EVERYONE!
I wanted to open tonight’s program with a joyful song that would usher in the essence of Spring and literally exult in the lessons that she has to teach us with all of her hues and fragrances and feelings. Spring is not just about the time of year we find ourselves on the calendar. For me personally, it’s a season to celebrate that we never stop becoming who we are meant to be. The renewal process is ongoing. We keep evolving and growing and changing…There is a wonderful quote from “The Velveteen Rabbit” that will help illustrate what I mean:
With this program, “Becoming: Lessons from Spring”, using my paintings, poetry, and voice, I want to look at three stages of my own journey, still in process, to becoming…
Act I: Blossom – The Strength of Softness
We begin by celebrating the seemingly fragile blossom…but when I think of the life force found in flowers…it becomes clear how powerful they actually are…to stimulate the senses…to offer hope and nourishment to body and soul…to literally sustain the planet…but their immense, authentic action is spoken softly…and if we let them…they become our gentle and generous teachers…
Wild Iris in bloom on the Palmetto Trail
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
What persistence and strength
Such energy and courage
Ah the exquisite vulnerability and faith
It takes
To bloom.
Die Lotosblume
Robert Schumann
Regarded among the greatest composers of the Romantic era, Schumann, born in the Rhine Province of Prussia, set to music in 1840 a poem written by Heinrich Heine, of German-Jewish heritage. He speaks of the blooming lotus flower, who hides from the sun, and only reveals herself to her lover, the moon, at night. There is wisdom and bravery in waiting for the right time to offer one’s most fragrant bloom.
(trans. Arthur Westbrook)
The Lotus flower doth languish under the sun’s fierce light;
With drooping head she waits, She dreamily waits for the night.
The moon is her true lover, He wakes her with fond embrace;
For him she gladly unveils her sweet and flower like face.
She blooms and glows and brightens, and mutely gazes above;
She weeps and exhales and trembles with love and the sorrows of love,
With love and the sorrows of love.
Act II: Metamorphosis – The Synergy with Stillness
This flexibility, strength that is also soft, takes a long time to form, therefore patience in the process…some seasons spent sitting in stillness…is part of it. For blossoms, butterflies, and people alike, perhaps some of our greatest transformations begin while waiting for them to happen…
“Becoming” – Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Simple Song #3 from YOUTH
David Lang
This deceptively difficult modern classical piece, fictionally performed for Queen Elizabeth at the completion of Paolo Sorrentino’s 2015 Film YOUTH by soprano Sumi Jo accompanied by violinist Viktoria Mullova, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Berlin Radio Choir, was written by American composer David Lang and nominated for multiple awards. In the film it is the culmination of the life’s work of a retired composer/conductor whose wife, once a celebrated soprano but now ill with dementia, was his muse and always the soloist for his masterpieces until she was no longer able to physically sing. Though he is reluctant to have any other soprano sing in her place, somehow the ongoing performance of this piece written especially for her frees his heart from grief and allows the song of her spirit to continue to soar.
I feel complete
I lose all control
I lose all control
I respond
I feel chills
I break
I know on those lonely nights
I know on those lonely nights
I know everything
I lose all control
I get a chill
I know on those lonely nights
I die
I hear all that is left to be heard
I wish you would never stop
I’ve got a feeling
I’ll be right there
I’ll never forget you
I will leave lessons behind
I feel complete
I’ve got a feeling
I wish your body like rain
I’ll be there
I’ll be there
I lose all control
When you whisper my name…
Act III: Flight – The Songs that Soar
I have been on a healing journey with my art for some time now…and I am finding…as I become…allowing my strength to be soft…to be still…with practice it sets the stage for my song to soar…But I am still recovering…like most of us…from a lifetime of learning painful lessons…at times folded within myself, not in control, and wondering if I was ever even meant to fly…and when standing on stage…its tempting to try to hide the fact that…I don’t have everything together…maybe none of us do? Yet…as I wait…embracing authenticity…vulnerability…patience…even in the struggle…all these things begin to take shape in my voice…in my presence…its not perfection…even when I wish it would be…its just real…or at least that’s what I’m going for…and though sometimes society tries to convince us that these raw things about us…are somehow unseemly…remember the Velveteen Rabbit…when we have the courage to become…the very things we think may be ugly about ourselves…are actually beautiful…they help us to find our wings…
“Swallowtail in flight atop Mt. Elbert” – Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Love Went A-Riding
Frank Bridge
Frank Bridge was an English composer, violinist, and conductor who had strong pacifist convictions after having been deeply disturbed by the First World War. He seemed to find solace in creating compositions that would evoke spiritual and pastoral imagery such as this powerful selection where winter melts into spring as Providence rides through the countryside bringing new life. But in this piece composed in May 1914, the Divine asks us to have courage and faith to bloom, even when He seemingly departs for a time. (Text by Mary Coleridge)
Love went a riding
Love went a riding over the earth
On Pegasus he rode
The flowers before him sprang to birth
And the frozen rivers flowed
Then all the youths and the maidens cried
“Stay here with us, stay here with us King of kings!”
But Love said “No! For the horse I ride, for the horse I ride has wings!”
Love went a riding
Love went a riding over the earth
On Pegasus
He rode!
There is power that elevates in a gentle action…I want to leave you with an example that I hope will tie together everything that we’ve touched on in the program…something I saw my Grandmother do repeatedly in my youth…whenever she would find little insects inside where they shouldn’t be…small and helpless…often misunderstood yet innocent…rather than using her size…or her fear…to conveniently crush them…She instead chose to carefully take them outside…helping them on their journey as they took flight from her tender hands…there is dignity here…there is grace…there is love…These are the things I want informing my might. Strength like my Grandmother had. So with Spring as my guide, surrounded by her images of brave blooms and delicate winged things…I will keep choosing to express my strength in softness…in stillness…trusting this awakening to authenticity…this pure patience…will produce the wings I am waiting for…and while waiting, it just may be that I find those wings are already in forward flight…
I hope you enjoyed this evening’s artistic journey through Spring. I want to take a moment to thank our gracious hosts, Renee and Matt Edmondson of Artsy Heart, whose time, efforts, and resources have made tonight’s event possible. They are simply amazing people who do so much for local artists on a regular basis. Would you join me in showing appreciation for all they do? I would love to meet each of you if I have not already and answer any questions you might have about my work. There are original oil paintings, prints, and CD’s available for purchase if you are interested in taking home a piece of what you experienced this evening. The CD’s feature my voice, both classical and jazz/blues, along with the accompaniment of brilliant composer and pianist, Arshak Sirunyan, whom you heard virtually tonight during this show. Again I thank you for being here with us. I know there are a lot of places to be on a Friday night in Chicagoland, and I am so honored and grateful that you spent it here at Artsy Heart with me.
Rina Lucas
Staff & Palette
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING” – FULL EXHIBIT
“Wild Iris in bloom on the Palmetto Trail” – 30 x 30 Oil
“Becoming” – 30 x 30 Oil
“Swallowtail in flight atop Mt. Elbert” – 36 x 48 Oil
“Dragonfly Dreams” – 12 x 16 Oil
“Cicada Song” – 16 x 12 Oil
“Zachias’s Bird Bath” – 24 x 20 Oil
“The Grandmother Gift” – 20 x 16 Oil
“A Welcome Visitor” – #1 in Oil Series “Plum Perfect” – 11 x 14
“The Buzz Around Town” – #3 in Oil Series “Plum Perfect” – 11 x14
“Center of Attention” – #2 in Oil Series “Plum Perfect” – 18 x 24
“A Closer Look” – 16 x 20 Oil
“My Season in Charleston” – 24 x 24 Oil
“A Bird’s Eye View” – 12 x 12 Abstract Oil
“Peep Show” – 12 x 24 Oil
Prices and accompanying poetry for the original oils in this exhibit are available upon request.
Many thanks for joining us for “Becoming: Lessons From Spring”!
May 2nd, 2025: 6 -8 pm CT
“BECOMING: LESSONS FROM SPRING”
Original Oil Paintings, Accompanying Poetry, Classical Vocal Performance
Featuring Artist in Paint, Poetry, and Voice: Rina Lucas – staffandpalette.com
With Virtual Piano by Composer: Arshak Sirunyan – www.arshaksirunyan.com
Including Wine and Cheese Reception
May 2nd, 2025: 6 – 8 pm
ARTSY HEART – GLEN TOWN CENTER, GLENVIEW, IL – theartsyheart.com
FIRST FRIDAY EVENT
Program
Staff & Palette is delighted to bring an original multimedia show “Becoming: Lessons From Spring” featuring the paint, poetry, and voice of Rina Lucas to Artsy Heart, an innovative, eclectic gallery shop in upscale Glen Town Center just outside Chicago in Glenview, Illinois for their First Friday 2025 event line up. On May 2nd, from 6 to 8 pm, patrons will be treated to an elegant wine and cheese reception hosted by the gallery owners while chatting with the artist before and after her live performance planned from 6:45 to 7:15 pm. Rina’s own paintings, spoken word poetry, and classical voice will engage the audience and seek to tell a story with seasonal metaphors for life transitions.
Artist Statement
“At each stage of life we continue to evolve into the person we are meant to be, the best version of our authentic selves. I’ve learned in Spring to find my strength in softness and stillness, as do the blossoms and butterflies. Their wisdom endures through the plenty of Summer and the want of Winter. As Autumn’s splendor provides reason to reflect where we have come thus far, so the soaring song of Spring’s renewal reminds us of where we want to go. Spring shows us who we are becoming as new blooms burst forth.” – Rina Lucas, Staff & Palette
Artist Bio
Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.
October 26th, 2024: 7 pm CT
Official World Premiere Video Release!!!
“Honoring Autumn at Summer’s End”
Original Oil Paintings, Accompanying Poetry, Blues/Jazz Vocal Performance
Featuring Artist in Paint, Poetry, and Voice: Rina Lucas – staffandpalette.com
With Virtual Piano by Composer Arshak Sirunyan – www.arshaksirunyan.com
Including Wine and Cheese Reception
September 26th, 2024: 6 – 8 pm
Artsy Heart – theartsyheart.com
“Throughout my career as an artist I have enjoyed exploring the relationship between the seasons of the year to those of life as metaphors. I find the transition from Summer’s radiance to Autumn’s dignified acquiescence to be one of the most profound, and it’s where I find myself in my own life journey. Change is never easy. Inevitably as one season gives way to the next there is a lamenting as we let go of what has been, but as we do so with courageous acceptance of what is we make room for the jubilant celebration of all that will be.” – Rina Lucas, Staff & Palette
PROGRAM
Wine and Cheese Reception for Patrons: Beginning at 6pm with festivities continuing until 8 pm
Welcome/Artist Introduction: Renee Edmondson, Owner of Artsy Heart – 6:30 pm
“Honoring Autumn at Summer’s End” Multimedia Performance by Rina Lucas – 6:45 – 7:15 pm
Prelude:
“Red Letter Day” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Act I: Lamentation – Letting Go
“The Height of Autumn” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“The Autumn Leaves” Song by Joseph Kosma
(1905-1969)
arr. by Arshak Sirunyan and Rina Lucas
Act II: Acceptance – Letting Be
“A Walk in Autumn” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“September Song” Song by Kurt Weill
(1900-1950)
arr. by Arshak Sirunyan and Rina Lucas
Act III: Celebration – Letting Loose
“Reflections of Autumn” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“Come Rain or Come Shine” Song by Harold Arlen
(1905-1986)
arr. by Arshak Sirunyan and Rina Lucas
Postlude:
“Autumn Wildflowers” Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
“Autumn Elevating” Poem by Rina Lucas
“Seasonal Serendipity” Painting by Rina Lucas
PROGRAM NOTES
Opening:
So when I first began to think about this show “Honoring Autumn at Summer’s End”, I wanted to pull together paintings, poetry, and songs that would tell a story. Not just about the time of year we happen to be in, but also for where I am in my life…I think the transition from Summer to Autumn is especially profound, and it’s where my own journey is taking me. Change is never easy. As surely as one season becomes another it’s inevitable that the time comes for letting go of something. Just like the trees releasing their leaves. And that can be painful and frightening. But I find as I have the courage to accept what is, I actually make room for celebrating all that will be. No matter where your life lines up on the calendar, I hope that the images, words, and melodies expressed this evening will meet you personally where you are. All of my paintings on exhibit here are accompanied by poetry, some of which I will share aloud during the program…And the songs, though familiar jazz and blues classics, are arranged by my colleague Arshak Sirunyan and myself. In fact it is his virtual piano accompaniment you will be enjoying tonight as I sing. I sing these tunes to myself as much as to you…as I lament the things I must let go…accept the things I must let be…allowing me to let loose in celebration of all that I am becoming in this moment…
And with this in mind, we open the show…
Prelude:
“Red Letter Day”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Autumn Days Are an hourglass
With light and warmth pouring down
Like sands of time
Diminishing
From the equinox to the solstice,
Darker Colder
Yet Bolder
And this growing season
Is over,
But as the upper vessel empties
The lower fills
With bright blue skies of hope
Overseeing fragrant foliage falling
From reluctant limbs
Bravely becoming bare
Highlighting the hard won harvest
That sustains long Into the snow songs
That serenade until spring,
These days of awe
Experienced at earth’s edge
Are written in red
Across the forest’s calendar
Hailing their deep significance.
When I contemplate transitions, the first theme I explore is “Lamentation”…the necessary letting go of one season to make room for the next…and the normal grief that can accompany this…
Act I: Lamentation – Letting Go
“The Height of Autumn”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
As we rise to new heights
Above the details
Of every leaf and branch and twig
Suddenly we have…
Fresh perspective
To see
How our current circumstances
Uncomfortable as they may be
Fit into our marvelous journey,
Renewed courage To stand tall
Atop the mountain we have just climbed
And embrace change
Even as our path bids us forward,
Strong serenity
To know and respect
The sacrifice paid
By foliage this brilliant
But whose purpose
Will yet be remade
As dying dreams
Nurture the soil
Of new ones.
“The Autumn Leaves” – Song
I was thinking about something as I shared this song, and I wanted to ask you…have you ever missed…yourself? I mean…a version of you that you used to be? In a season that was especially joyous or prosperous? Well…me too. And I think it’s an experience that’s common to most of us. But here’s the thing. I never realized in those past moments…that I would miss myself then. I was maybe too busy missing an earlier version of myself to realize how special and significant the current one was. And you know what? One day…the me that’s right here right now…I WILL MISS…as season leads on to season. Life is like a long walk. I am learning to give due respect, love, and ACCEPTANCE to each version of myself, including the current one, that has brought me here thus far on my journey….
Act II: Acceptance – Letting Be
“A Walk in Autumn”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Autumn does not grasp
With futile efforts
Summer’s fading rays,
She gracefully allows her light
To bend
Illuminating her changing visage
From a more flattering angle,
She does not try to be
Different than she is
In this stunning moment,
She recognizes
The dignified splendor
Evolving within her
And exuding from her,
She has no need
For the dewy youth
Of Springtime
Or the sultry seductiveness
Of Summer,
She has no worry
For Winter’s impending approach,
She dwells in this
Her cathedral of color,
Her canopy of songs
Sung in rhythmic cascades
Of descending leaves
Against azure oceans in the air
Is her home,
She is ever changing
Even as she stays the same,
She is perfect in every way
Just as she is.
“September Song” – Song
These few precious days
I will spend with you
Not some other time
Right here
Right now
Just as I am
Just as WE are…
I want to be here for it
Act III: Celebration – Letting Loose
And there is something about accepting myself where I am that actually opens up space to notice all that I am still becoming! Acceptance doesn’t mean I stop growing and changing. In fact, it may be the very thing that keeps me evolving into my best self. And that is something to CELEBRATE.
“Reflections of Autumn”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
Clarity walks
Autumn’s leaf littered paths
And pauses
Beneath forests aflame with color
To reflect,
Here arbors gracefully accept
Their inevitable transformation
From green goddesses
To natural red heads,
Life is draining from their leaves,
And soon they will offer
Only the icy, barren embrace
Of grey limbs once gloriously garbed,
Yet in this short season of their splendor
How they celebrate.
“Come Rain or Come Shine” – Song
Every time I sing this song, I think of my husband John who is here tonight. He is my rock…my roadie…my muse…and my biggest fan. Maybe as you were listening, there was someone you had in mind…your ride or die soul mate. But I hope you might also hear the words of this melody as a love song we can sing to ourselves…
I am gonna love you like NOBODY’s loved you
Come rain or come shine
No matter the circumstances…
Postlude:
As our performance winds down this evening, I have two last poems I would like to share with you…
“Autumn Wildflowers”
Painting and Poem by Rina Lucas
As the sun’s deluge of warmth diminishes
Responding to the Earth’s coy change
Of perspective and position
Color drains from a landscape
Once rich with a kaleidoscope
Of flirtation,
It’s as if nature seeks a drab wardrobe
To cause her suitor to lose interest
In her fading charms,
She’s content to sit quietly
Amid her greying features
And absorb the true beauty
Of graceful change,
Her passionate observer
Finds this dignified acceptance
More intriguing than ever,
Though she pulls further away
Along her pleasing path
Dancing with decadent delight
Against the pull and pursuit
Of her lover,
When the time is right
And she has had her fill
Of darkness’s cold caress,
Her orbit will once again approach
The center of her universe
And allow his light
To paint her canvas anew.
Finally, to pull everything together…
lamentation, acceptance, and celebration…past, present, and future…
“Seasonal Serendipity”
Painting by Rina Lucas
“Autumn Elevating”
Poem by Rina Lucas
Ah the calm confidence
Of towering trees
Willing to change
To gain beauty
Even as they lose it
To allow the past
To become fuel for the future
And peace for the present.
And that’s what it’s all about. I hope you enjoyed this evening’s artistic journey through Autumn. I want to take a moment to thank our gracious hosts, Renee and Matt Edmondson of Artsy Heart, whose time, efforts, and resources have made tonight’s event possible. They are simply amazing people who do so much for local artists on a regular basis. Would you join me in showing appreciation for all they do?
I would love to meet each of you if I have not already and answer any questions you might have about my work. There are original oil paintings, prints, and CD’s available for sale if you are interested in taking home a piece of what you experienced this evening. There is even jewelry and home decor products designed by my colleague, Chicago based artist Theresa Daniel of Beau Lou Designs, inspired by some of my paintings and poems here tonight. We would love to show you those treasures as well. Again I thank you for being here with us tonight. I know there are a lot of places to be on a Thursday night in Chicagoland, and I am so honored and grateful that you spent it here at Artsy Heart with me.
Rina Lucas
Staff & Palette
Artist Statement
“With the change of seasons, both in the year and in life, there can be an initial lament in the letting go of what is to make room for what will be. But as we find the courage to embrace these evolutions with acceptance and even celebration, we experience their true beauty and purpose. Lessons learned as Summer gives way to Autumn seem especially profound. It is at this time when the Fall Equinox works her magical metamorphosis on our landscapes and lives, teaching us to balance transformations within and without. Throughout my career as an artist, I have enjoyed exploring these images with my paintings, poetry, and vocal performances. I am excited to share these themes with the gracious patrons of Artsy Heart as we gather for a festive evening of artistic expression ‘Honoring Autumn at Summer’s End’.” – Rina Lucas
Artist Bio
Soprano Rina Lucas is known for her powerful instrument, effortless range, and musical versatility. Comfortable in multiple genres, she has performed as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony, with the Lowcountry Voices, during the televised Spotlight Awards, in her own multimedia Piccolo Spoleto productions in SC alongside pianist and composer Arshak Sirunyan, and in her original virtual and live shows at The Moss Center and the Floyd Center for the Arts in VA. In addition to her accomplishments as a vocalist, Rina is also a gifted poet and visual artist working in oils. All of her paintings, rich and diverse in subject and style, are accompanied by poetry and signed in Hebrew as a nod to her roots. She has been featured in numerous juried exhibitions along the East Coast and beyond. Her interdisciplinary work has also been recognized by Artistonish Magazine, Classical Singer Music Magazine, Medici International Music Competition, Music International Grand Prix, National Association of Teachers of Singing, and TERAVARNA. With a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Physical Therapy from Gannon University, Rina’s path to performance has been nontraditional, having turned to the arts full time in 2012 after a career as a Physical Therapist. Since that time, she has developed her talents with several excellent mentors including: Professors of Voice – Sandra Barnhardt, Patricia Clevenger, Dr. Jill Terhaar Lewis, and Ariana Wyatt, Artists – Michael Farrar, Z.L. Feng, Jonathan Green, and Terry Lyon, as well as the former Poet Laureate of Charleston, SC, Marcus Amaker. She owns Staff & Palette, her studio for paint, poetry, and voice in the Greater Chicago area where she has recently relocated with her husband John and their beloved pups, Ariel and Eli.
