Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts

Friday, April 24, 2020

April 24, 2020

On April 24, Barbara Mary Sisko Capobianco, artist, nurse, mom and grandmother, died. A victim of both Alzheimer's and ultimately Covid-19. She was 78. Mom, was a great and wonderful person. A nurse, she would go out of her way to help people. People she didn’t even know that well. She certainly would have been on the frontline today during the pandemic, even at 78.  Everyone who knew her considered her one of those rare people around us -  An angel on Earth. She was also an artist as this blog attests to who dreamed of retiring and dedicating herself to painting. Sadly it was all robbed from her by Alzheimer’s. And now at least she is free of that.  She is a fixed star that I and my siblings guide our lives by and we’ve all missed her for some time now. To honor her, I could post so many different paintings that mom did, many of them quiet and beautiful, much like her. I've settled on this one that hangs in my office, above the door. I pass beneath it as I come an go. A watercolor, her media of choice from 1977 onward,  it speaks to me as an image of freedom, soaring into that gigantic sky. However, that tiny house, it seems so alone but resilient, lost and forgotten but sweet and kind, a refuge, safe, a symbol of home. All elements I would apply to my Mom. There was a day in the late 70's, maybe 80, that this image spoke to her enough that she would paint it. And now she speaks to me through it.  - love you mom. Jimmy.

the painting 
( click on to view larger )


detail 

detail 
 love how she handled the grass in this one

detail 
when mom got loose you could can tell she was enjoying painting.


detail 
Her signature is her full Barbara Sisko Capobianco

Monday, April 6, 2015

A Tribute to my mom - Barbara Sisko Capobianco and her Art

Welcome to the tribute blog of Barbara Sisko Capobianco. Today she is 73 years old. Barbara was an artist who specialized in watercolor. Her subjects were often landscapes;  old barns and seascapes mainly. She also gravitated toward flower still life painting. An RN nurse, she always dreamed of pursuing her art full time when she retired but unfortunately at the age of 55 she was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's and eventually could not continue.  In this gallery you will see an evolving artist, someone who struggled with her abilities and time.  Someone who continued to explore her craft. Was she a great artist?  I don't know, but she loved painting and she didn't stop until she had to. Nothing brought her more joy and I hope it brings some to you as well.

Self Portrait of Barbara Sisko Capobianco probably around the age of 55 - conte pencil and watercolor wash, found in her sketchbook.