Davidson College memorial, With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited

Lindsay Martell— Less time scrolling on social media. No caffeine after noon. Less candy, more fruit. I always start the year with the best of intentions; making elaborate lists of things to cut out of my life. And then the inevitable 2pm slump rolls around and my (espresso) cup runneth over. And not in a good way.

Martell

But this year, I’m adopting a more positive, mindful spin on change and celebrating adding things to my life. Not just the usual stuff, either, like more plants on my plate and steps in a day. I’m actively seeking out joy, reflection, and things that make me go ahhhh.

Davidson College is one of those places that always feels welcoming in a calm, reflective way. On a recent walk through the paths, I was awestruck by the vast beauty of With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited, a stunning monument recognizing the lives of the people who helped build the campus in 1837. The memorial – a bronze sculpture of two work-worn hands reaching toward the sky – was designed and built by artist Hank Willis Thomas, in collaboration with Perkins & Will. I found myself transfixed by the stories behind it (found on Davidson College’s website), the craftsmanship, and how it transforms the already inviting campus to a place of quiet introspection.

Other works by Hank Willis Thomas are on display at the Van Every/Smith Galleries. Using a variety of mediums, Thomas examines themes related to identity, commodity, media, and popular culture. The gallery is a gem and adds so much to the creative fabric of Davidson College.

After I left the cocoon of inspired art, I stopped at Caffeto Specialty Coffee in Cornelius, where I couldn’t pass up a Drunk Pily – a specialty coffee drink topped with whipped cream cheese (!), rum essence (!) and vanilla. Bliss. It was just the thing to cut through the misty drizzle giving me a wicked halo frizz.

And since I can’t say no to a heady art bender, I didn’t want to miss the final days of the American Watercolor Society Travel Exhibit at Mooresville Arts. Tucked inside an old train depot, I wandered through an array of award-winning paintings from artists all over the world. The depth of the pieces astounded me, and I was both a) annoyed with myself for not checking it out sooner and b) inspired! Art always makes me feel like I can tackle any creative project with gusto.

As does a good musical. The more over the top, the better. So, yeah, that means Wicked, For Good. We don’t see many movies in the theater, but we were super jazzed to see the second part of the wildly popular Elphaba/Glinda complicated friendship fest. It did not disappoint. My husband and daughter have listened to me singing the songs on repeat for weeks, but I firmly believe we can learn something from the witches and those who love them: change is good.

Milling About is a column about life around Lake Norman, written by Lindsay Martell. The column name is a nod to life around the lake and our town’s mill history. Lindsay Martell lives in Birkdale with her husband, daughter, and a scruffy mini mutt named Dug.