World of Wilskas

Greetings Family,

Those of you at Family Christmas will recall that this year's charity is for the organization that is providing no cost trips for World War II vets to be honored with a visit to the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. I have been in contact with someone locally who attended as a guardian for a vet who attended a previous trip and he indicated that this is indeed a first class operation that provides for all the needs of the attendees, many of whom have limited mobility, medical needs, etc., while providing them a most memorable experience. Each one day trip is limited to 100 WWII vets and about 25 guardians (one per 2-3 vets).

The organization is called American Warrior and has a website Americanwarrior.us which gives information about not only the veterans trips but also about the other services provided to vets. Although there is no cost to the veterans for these trips, guardians are asked to pay the $300 expense for airfare, etc. The Wilska siblings have agreed to provide this expense and one of us is willing serve as a guardian if needed. Uncle Ralph has enthusiastically indicated a desire to go, has completed an application and is currently on the waiting list. Trips are arranged during the warm weather months whenever the organization obtains enough funds to cover their costs which is about $20,000 (for charter flight, tour buses, food, etc.). The funds we collect will be to help provide for another such trip.

To date I have received $705 in donations. To those who sent checks, thank you; to those who would like to contribute please make tax deductible checks payable to American Warrior and mail them to me by the end of January so that I may present our Family contribution as one large gift.

As always, thanks so much for the generous love and support,

Jack

The DiPaolos braved the rain to shuttle between Mo Beach and Boxboro for two celebrations, one with Char and Bob, one with Joanne and family.

Thanksgiving Day in Connecticut began with the Wilskas participating in a very, very rainy Turkey Trot at the local YMCA. (The McQueens, Sara's parents and aunt, opted to stay warm and dry inside.) Then we all spent the rest of the day enjoying turkey (for most), Tofurky (for Em), and bounties of pie.

Wondering how your fellow Fam members spent Thanksgiving? These photos will give you a sense.

First up: photos from Eric and Ev and Co., the originators of this photo-sharing idea. It seemed to be True Confessions time in Old Chatham this year.

Special Presentation at the Lower Road Movie Shed at 8:45 PM: “The Thomas Crown Affair”
Special Kids' Presentation at 11:30AM on Saturday: “Painting Your Very Own Atarah”

The Atarah Naylor Collection
You are proudly invited to attend the largest assembled ever private collection of Atarah Naylor originals. Combing the far flung reaches of the east coast from Palm Beach to Monument Beach, a private investor has gone to great lengths perfecting this critically acclaimed collection. However, due to a real estate investment gone bad in Sandwich MA, he has been forced to liquidate. His misfortune is your greatest opportunity to indulge yourself by purchasing fine art by one of the most overlooked talents of her time.

Featured works key:

European Hotel
In this, one of her earliest works, Naylor incorporated her frequent European travel as a practice ground for developing a mastery over classic geometric shapes. Although her works ultimately veered from the symmetrical and uniform to the more chaotic and frenetic, this work is a fine example Naylor’s melding of disparate visions into one. The hotel structure itself, for example, blends Big Ben, a Parisian café and a Bavarian village into an inextricably woven tapestry.

Crazy-Eyed Horse
Perhaps one of Naylor’s best known works, this piece captures a sense of auspicious turbulence lurking ahead- perhaps intimating to Naylor’s own rumored bouts of mood swings. Whereas on the right side of the canvas light sand reflects back towards the airy blue skies, the left simultaneously reveals a darkening and menancing approach. And apropos to the title, the horse’s eyes do seem obviously disturbed- the angry blood shot and somewhat askew eyes and erect ears put the world on notice that no amount of sugar cubes will appease this soul. This work went missing in 2005 and was thought to be lost.



Matador and Crazy-Eyed Bull
Reportedly stolen from a Wilska family function, this exceedingly popular work represents another dark period in the turbulent life of Atarah Naylor. The Matador, or “The Man” as known in popular African American culture seeks to subdue the defiant nature of a magnificent beast. Erect, perfect posture, straightened and buoyed by the vestiges of patrician wealth, the matador is always firmly in control in this battle. The end pre-ordained, the struggle becomes farcical, as the matador is never in real danger. The scene poignantly turns the bull into tragic hero, never being empowered to have a chance. As the blood runs out of the beast, a classic tip of the hat to menstruation, we are left to contemplate womankind’s place in Naylor’s view of society. Again, Naylor’s telltale crazed red eyes signal a latent passion.



Sperm Whale in Surf
Little known to most Naylor aficionados, this ode to conception captures the literal and figurative reproductive surge to the calm in an otherwise turbulent sea. As the sperm whale drives onward towards a single patch of blue, a hope for new life buoys the audience as the backdrop of clear blue sky promises happiness to be realized. Water, harkening to its historical significance as purifier and cleanser, is employed to further heighten the promise of new life. While the whale’s eyes are not depicted in this painting, there have been many discussions as to whether or not they would possess Naylor’s telltale red and cross eyes.



5. Everest Hut in Spring (Himalayan Side)
This Everest Hut incorporates Naylor’s oft-used technical juxtaposition of disparate objects- in this case a rustic Swiss ski chalet at the foot of Mount Everest. The sheer starkness and ominous foreboding of Everest in the background of Julie Andrewesqe pastoral landscape typify Naylor’s recurring touchtone theme that violence emotional eruptions are an omnipresent threat.



6. Yosemite Water Fall
Nature’s raw force is framed in its dark glory in this early Naylor work.



7. Grand Canyon at Dusk
Dark and brooding, Naylor’s vision of Grand Canyon at dusk is reminiscent of the gates of Hell.



8. Ram’s Breath on Nativity Play
Easily one of Naylor’s most unappreciated, yet significant works, Ram’s Breath is an ode to Naylor’s conception of the Nativity. The puffy cloud resembling a beast blowing gently onto the stage signifies nature’s approbation of mankind’s modern homage the nativity. The stage, replete with studio spotlights, has garnered even more powerful lighting from above, one bright shining star carried upon magnificent rays of color. Not so subtly, a cross hanging suspended above the tableau foreshadows great sacrifice in the Messiah’s future.



9. Crazy-Eyed Jesus
The artist’s rendering of Jesus’s eyes in her tell tale “crazy eyes” shares her conception of Christ as a mixture of the God of the Old and New Testaments. While Jesus’s offers the sign of peace in what is certainly a play on God’s willingness to love his chosen people unfailingly, the eyes show that the Old Testament God of fire and Brimstone and smoting and flooding is never but a mortal sign from returning. The subject melds easily with Naylor’s oft played themes of turbulence boiling under shallow veils of calmness.



10. Everest Hut in Spring (Pakistani Side)
Similar in most regards to its sister painting, this view of fearsome Everest from the vantage of a ski village in springtime foreshadows pitting the looming brute force of nature against the ephemeral of machinations of mankind. While delicate the mountain grasses signal a truce between these two foes, their thready texture belie the tenuousness of the bartered peace.



11. Nude Temptress with Bunion
This nude, the prize of the Atarah Naylor collection, makes a rare public appearance. The crazy eyes speak of turmoil beneath and the not-so-subtle forbidden fruit harkens to the Genesis story of creation. While this exquisite work’s model’s identity has not been determined, the private investor has made the extraordinary acquisition of the red upholstered arm chair used for the pose. The chair is currently on private display in the Hyannis, MA residence of the private investor.



****Eht harata edoc.*****
****A aksliW erutnevda. *****
****Gnimoc noos ot a ylimaf ekab-malc rean uoy. *****
****S’harata skrow era a yek ot a ylimaf terces dna erusaert. *****
****Dib no reh krowtra. Emos fo reh sgnitniap niatnoc seulc ot eht erusaert ******

Now that we all (more or less, kinda, maybe) know what Greg does, it's time to move on to the next installment in our What the Hell Do They Do, Anyway? series. Our focus now turns to Michael, who many of us picture slaving away amid mazes of computers, day in and day out, doing...something.

Michael has been featured in the NGUMC online newsletter, Monday Morning in North Georgia. I'm posting his profile here so it remains for posterity, untouched by whatever might appear next Monday morning, in North Georgia or elsewhere.

-Em

Spotlight on Michael Murphy-McCarthy
by Diana Durie, NGUMC Communications Assistant

Michael Murphy-McCarthy, computer systems manager and database administrator for the North Georgia Conference, is not your typical techie–although he possesses many of the natural gifts one might expect from someone in this position. He's highly analytical, proficient, and enthusiastic about computing. He's a hands-on, problem solver who quickly troubleshoots unexpected issues that arise. And, he's never satisfied with status quo.

What's unique is that as much as he loves his job, he never entertained the thought of pursuing technology as a professional career path until he was recruited by the Conference in April 2000. Michael's undergraduate degree from Salem College is in business administration and his Master of Theological Studies is from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

“My whole goal when I went to Candler was to work in the social services field. When I was at the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, I taught myself database development and networking so I could take care of the computers and ended up liking it better than being the business manager,” Michael says. “Then I was offered this position and saw it as a chance to work in the tech field–never expecting that I would be here six years later.”

One of Michael's primary responsibilities is database and network administration. He also provides technical support for the United Methodist Center, Simpsonwood Conference Center, the district offices, and Data Services, which is the data reporting and retrieval system that allows churches, clergy, and laity to access apportionment, benefit, and other financial data such as Charge Conference Reports. Other duties include maintaining the Treasurer and Technology sections of the Web site and working closely with technology support specialist, Alan Shirley.

Regardless of the task, Michael's mission is to better enable people to do ministry. “I am not content with status quo and am constantly looking for new ways to help people do their jobs more effectively and efficiently,” he says. “This involves a certain level of complexity and the weird balancing act is providing the technology and solutions in a way that is simple to understand.”

Since coming onboard, Michael has transformed Data Services into a timesaving, year-round resource. For example, information that once had to be faxed can be found online, and those End of Year Reports now have a built-in set of checks and balances to ensure accuracy. Other accomplishments include enhancing e-mail communications for Connectional Ministries and adding a Technology section to the Conference Web site that offers a host of valuable resources.

Michael was born and raised in Elmira, New York, which serves as a gateway to the Finger Lakes Region. With his heart for social issues, it comes as no surprise he met his wife, Katelyn, while volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. Before relocating to Atlanta in 1995, they spent one year traveling cross-country and doing volunteer work for various agencies. They have been married 13 years and currently live in Norcross with their seven-year-old son. Favorite pastimes including swimming, biking, playing basketball, vacationing with family in Cape Cod, St. Simons Island, and the Outer Banks, and visiting his folks in Elmira. Michael also enjoys volunteering in his neighborhood, community, and with his church's prison visitation ministry.