27 Apr “The Grandmother Gift” – An Original Oil Painting and Poem – From “Lucas Life in Chicago – An Exhibit at Bottles Up!” – JUNE 2026
Welcome to a Little Preview of Each Oil Painting and Poem in:
“LUCAS LIFE IN CHICAGO – AN EXHIBIT AT BOTTLES UP!” – JUNE 2026
AT HOME IN CHICAGO
An Oil Series intertwining the nesting of now with the many complex strands that brought me here to Chicago
THE GRANDMOTHER GIFT
20×16 Framed Oil on Canvas
“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.
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: