"despite" or "in spite"

First of all, did you know that "despite" and "in spite" are essentially synonyms and can be used interchangeably? who knew? well these people did. and so did my husband the English teacher. I like to look these things up ... "every so once in a while" (i say this all the time according to my husband, who thinks its hilarious ... its "once in awhile" or "ever so often" ... allegedly).

I digress ... even before I have had anything to digress from. The whole reason for that little discussion above is because I bought this piece of "art" (i use the term loosely here) despite of or in spite of the actual picture. But I LOVE the frame. Take a look at this beauty:


Oh did you need a close up of that crying child???? Here you go ... now you can see the tears and horror on his face. FRIGHTENING if you ask me.


Sadly I have had it in this horrifying state for many months ... waiting for the perfect painting to take its rightful place in the beautifully detailed frame. After some deconstructing - namely the removal of the horrid picture and the black velvet inner mat (not as bad as it sounds) ... i had it in its most vulnerable and minimalist state.


I love the chunky gold detailing. It looks hand carved in a kind of art deco way. It reminds me of Mayan art and hieroglyphs and I kept imagining a beautiful painting framed by the cream and gold. I love love love this frame. Its bigger than any frame I have ever owned (and I own a lot of picture frames people).


This fall I decided that it was time for us to invest in a decent piece of art - one that we would have in all of the apartments or houses that we would call home. I was also reflecting on my lack of ... let's say ... religious art in our home. Sure we have the Family Proclamation (a beautifully framed wedding gift - we love it) a watercolor of the Newport Beach Temple (painted by a woman in my parent's ward and given to me by my dad) and our wedding pictures around the house. But I really wanted something of The Living Christ in our home to reflect how important both He and His gospel is in our lives.

As I was contemplating this and worrying about it meshing with my "style" (as if I have a defined style) I was remembering my internship at the BYU Museum of Art in 2004/5 and recalling my first introduction to the artist Minerva Teichert ("She gave paintings to Brigham Young University to pay tuition so that children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other young people could attend college".) I am mesmerized by her style - the softness of watercolor impressionism with a hint of defined outlines and a modern aesthetic. One of my most favorite paintings is her painting of Esther. You can bet that if we are to ever have a female child, this print will be in her room. It is in the Women's changing room in the temple and I love to take a moment and take in its beauty.


I think all of my favorite paintings found in church buildings or temples are by her. I particularly love her Book of Mormon scenes, although her Pioneer paintings are splendid as well. Her paintings can be found in both the Newport Beach and Portland temples - the temples I have most frequented in my life. The picture below, Christ in a Red Robe is the first picture you see when you enter the foyer of the Portland Temple. After pondering and searching I decided that this is the picture that would be perfect for our home. Its a soft and tender scene of Christ and his love for us all. Teicherts style is also perfect for the frame. I feel like her paintings (especially the Book of Mormon ones) have a very native, new world feel to them ... just like my frame!


It will be on prominent display in the Soelberg home thanks to my wonderful husband who bought it for me MONTHS in advance of Christmas. So far in advance that I wasn't 100% sure he actually bought it for me.

Today I finally took it in to a frame shop to have it mounted and a custom mat cut and archival glass fitted. It wasn't cheap (although the frame cost me only $7 at goodwill) but I think its well worth the investment. We will have this in our home, no matter where that might be.

This beauty:

will be united with this beauty:

in less than a week!

I am so excited!