[Spotlight Post] Cynthia Dickinson – We’ll Miss You
It’s Friday. I should be writing a spotlight. I don’t know that I have it in me today. After I wrote the memorial for Jo Pesheck last week, I learned about the loss of Cynthia Dickinson.
Cynthia Dickinson was a regional artist who was an inspiration. I mentioned her on Facebook. She was not only a fixture in the art show, but also in the reading room. You see, Cynthia was blind. But in the stories I heard at her memorial last Saturday evening, that didn’t stop her from doing…anything. In fact, I think it made her fearless.
Cynthia designed jewelry art. Mostly natural stone wrapped in silver wire. Many pieces with cat themes. Though what she created wasn’t my style, I admired the effort and artistry it took to create these pieces. And she displayed them on block quilt so she could easily set and tear down while keeping everything in place. Which… if you deal with artists and art at all… is a challenge for someone WITH all their senses.
Cynthia was such a gracious person that she brought it out in others. The other jewelry vendors and artists all let her touch their art – she always asked politely and graciously – so she could enjoy other people’s art. I don’t know a single artist who said no to her. Especially the sculptors. It’ll probably still be a bit automatic for the next few conventions for some of them to have some stuff ready for her when she comes by…except… yeah.
She was also a favorite among us writers. Why? Because she would come to our readings. Sometimes she might be the only one in the reading room – which put a lot of us over to that next professional rung. It’s true, you start out having a reading and being sad, “Darn, no one came to my reading†– usually because it’s a bad time. Then you hit a mark (and you usually don’t notice WHEN it happens) where you still have the same bad time, but “Darn, there are people, I have to do my reading.†I did a lot more readings because of Cynthia.
Cynthia – and a handful of other friends and supports – are the reason I keep writing short stuff and pushing through the publication grind. Because there comes a point when you look at them and say, “I don’t have anything they haven’t heard…†Fortunately, I take that as “I need to write moreâ€. Cynthia was part of that group that always made me want to write more so there was something new for her hear, and now… well, she’s going to be sorely missed.
So, if you have a favorite writer, artist, or fan…let them know how much they mean to you. We didn’t realize she was sick, either. Godspeed Cynthia. Enjoy all the books, paintings, and sculptures. And for those who knew her, there’s one more chance to see her work. She had a spot in the WorldCon Art Show at LoneStar Con3 in San Antonio next week. Her husband is bringing her art down for one last show. Bid early. Bid often .