Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Merry Christmas from the Bosbyshells!


MERRY CHRISTMAS

from Wil & Maura Bosbyshell



Dear Family and Friends:

2024 was an exciting year for the Bosbyshells. To quote Charles Dickens from A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Let's begin with the best! Our son, Allen, married Ember Aiken on November 16th! They became engaged on Tybee Island near Savannah in January at the same place where Ember's parents were engaged. It was wonderfully good fortune that Ember was able to spend Christmas of 2023 with Allen’s grandmother Caroline Bosbyshell.

Ember and Allen live in Midtown, Atlanta. Ember is a yoga influencer; you can take one of her yoga challenges by following her on Instagram @JourneytoLeisure. Allen works for the State of Georgia financing public housing and manages several Airbnbs. They love to travel and honeymooned in Hawaii, after a small marriage ceremony in Todos Santos, Mexico. Their wedding registry is at Registry/williamandchantel2024. Cheers to our new daughter-in-law!

Maura and I are now full-time professional artists. I concluded a 20+ year career of teaching Art & Design at local junior colleges. Maura wrapped up her data science contracts to concentrate on textile design for fabric and wallpaper. Visit her design site: Bosbyshell Art and Home. Maura and I both have studios in the North Davidson Arts District of Charlotte. 

This past spring, my Climate Conversation: the Language of Trees solo exhibition of drawings was a great success despite hurtles including the collapse of the Charlotte Art League, the exhibit venue and my studio. You can see the Memory Tree poster on his website: Bosbyshell Art Studio. The Climate Conversation exhibit will travel to New Yok state in 2025 for an installation and exhibit at St. Bonaventure College.

We spent most of May in Provence, France. I took an art class in the small town of San Raphael on the Mediterranean Sea while Maura explored Provence. We then traveled to Gordes, Nice, Arles, Avignon, and Nimes. Our favorite town was Vaison-la-Romaine with its extensive Roman ruins and museum.

Sadly, in April, my mother Caroline Thomas Bosbyshell died of a stroke at the age of 90. She lived an incredible life. She was one of Jack Bogles’ secretaries at Vanguard and grew up on Indian Rocks Beach during World War II when German submarines lurked offshore. She was a gregarious guiding light to all who encountered her. She will be buried at Bonaventure Cemetery in January of 2025. We all missed her terribly. Maura and I have now lost all our parents. My father, Bill Bosbyshell, died in 2019. Maura’s parents, John and Helen Kelly, died in 2018 and 2019, respectively at ages 91 and 93.

We were so fortunate and blessed to have our parents in our lives for so long. They all had wonderful relationships with their grandchildren, including our son Allen.

We loved all the visitors we hosted in Charlotte over the year. All are welcome at the Bosbyshell home.

May the love of God shine upon you and your family this Christmas and into 2025.

With love, yours:

Wil & Maura Bosbyshell

Caroline Bosbyshell


Caroline on her wedding day.


Climate Conversation Exhibit, note ceilings are 25 feet tall. 


Maura walks the Coliseum in Arles, France.


Midnight Sun Series of prints will be on display in 2025. 


Plaza in Todos Santo, Baha Mexico, the city was the site of Allen's and Ember's wedding. 



Wil in the Roman Museum in Vaison la Romaine, France. 

Drawing 20 in Wil's Tree series on the climate.


Both families gather before the wedding!


Pre-wedding yoga relaxation session. We needed it! 

Desert Beauty

Maura and Wil before the wedding. 

Cousins. 

Allen and his life long friend from day care. 

Wedding at the golden hour! 



Below are three of Maura's Wallpaper designs! 
Some are based on Wil's art; others are her unique creations. 

Crab Scatter - Tropical Pink

 Blossoms - Dark Teal

Hibiscus - Cameo Sage





 

 

 


5 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this account of the past year. It is a record of how full and rewarding your life is now. May it always be.

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  2. I am blessed. Life has sadness hopefully balanced by happiness.

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  3. congratulation Wil! I enjoyed reading your letter and watching the pictures. Merry Xmas, and I wish you a creative, happy New Year

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  4. Thank you so much for this. Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Bosbyshell!

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  5. Wonderful news and congrats to Allen and Ember! so glad to see art filling your lives! LMK when the Midnight Sun series is up - would love a print! BTW Montana is getting married Friday at the NYC courthouse - short notice - but we are ecstatic, we love her fiancé Abdo and they love NYC. Hope to see you in 2025!

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