I love to read Runner’s World magazine because it has great stories about people’s passion for life, health and running. I liked what contributor and illustrator Jeffrey Decoster said about himself in the current issue: “when I was six, I told myself I wanted to be an artist, and it’s been my only career”.
After reading it, I began to think about the time when I first realized I wanted to be an artist. I grew up in a small town and never had an example of an artist in my life. But I was always interested in creative things – especially fashion. I grew up helping out at my mother’s clothing store surrounded by loving, strong, and intelligent women. My mother and three sisters are the best examples!
I remember when I made what I refer to as my first and best conceptual piece of art. It was a math quiz in first grade. I answered all of the equations, but only some of them correctly, because I used the number 5 for every answer on the whole quiz.
The teacher called my parents and my mother had to come to school to discuss my “number 5″ issues. We were standing in the classroom when the teacher showed the quiz to my mother. My mother looked at me and asked why I used the number 5 to answer the entire quiz. I was a shy girl and was probably holding on to my mom’s skirt for support. My answer was that I recently learned that I was born on the 5th so the number 5 was important to me. Hilarious!
On that day, I spent my lunch break in suspension inside the classroom. I can still see myself looking through the window at the other kids playing outside, but feeling proud of my statement.
I love that my mom didn’t make a big deal about it. I also don’t remember having to go through the family’s “kitchen/court” with my father. My tough on the outside, but sweet on the inside, dad – a lawyer and former judge – always made us think twice about getting in trouble. I avoided trouble just so I didn’t have to go through (what I now see as an adult) his trial of very fair and logical questions.
My parents were both probably so busy with their jobs and everyday worries that they didn’t have time to get upset about my silly quiz. And I will be eternally grateful to them for allowing me to be that creative (and a bit crazy) kid in first grade!
Charles Demuth
The Figure 5 in Gold, 1928
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection
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