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Reflections on a Pool



What is home? And what does it evoke? I’ve always been drawn to homes – my childhood one especially. The book The Poetics of Space, by philosopher Gaston Bachelard, helped me better understand the hold our Baltimore rowhouse continues to have on me.

 

Our first home, Bachelard writes, is “our first universe” and “physically inscribed in us.” His words sharpened my memories of where I lived my first eight years: The windows to the street out front and alley out back. The living room chair where I daydreamed, and kitchen table where we gathered for meals. The inflatable pool in our yard ….

 

A house with a swimming pool – the inground kind – was my top choice for a family vacation rental last summer. A pool seemed like a fun outdoor space for us and our daughters and sons-in-law. And it was. But even better? The house itself immediately felt like home.

 

What makes a place feel like home? For me, as Bachelard describes, those childhood sensory memories still resonate. Windows front and back that let daylight stream inside. Quiet corners to dream in, and rooms filled with family voices.

 

One afternoon during our stay, I sat on the pool’s edge and saw the house reflected on the water’s surface. I knew I had to paint that scene, but it wasn't just about the pool. Though I loved swimming in it, the weather didn’t always cooperate, and family schedules and health issues intervened. But our expanded family could always come together in the house we all called home that week. And this was the best thing of all.


More about home:

 

The Poetics of Space, by Gaston Bachelard, explores how dwellings, especially our childhood homes, influence our memories, dreams, and daydreams. It’s not an easy read, but I keep coming back to the many sticky-noted pages with my penciled notes. This evocative book helps me understand why the bones of my first house are still in my bones, and explains some of the fascination I’ve always had with homes of all kinds.

 

Coincidentally, as I was thinking about “Pool House” and what it means to me, I learned about a fascinating new exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. It focuses on children’s literature and its relationship to architecture, design, related fields, and the concept of home. Here’s an excerpt from an excellent Washington Post article about the exhibition:

 

 “ . . . Home is the key theme in children’s literature,” said Leonard Marcus, the exhibit’s visiting curator. “‘Goodnight Moon’ is about having one place that is really their own,” with clothing, food, shelter and, importantly, a place where a child can dream. The concept of home, and what that looks like, pops up in . . . ”The Wizard of Oz” and more modern books, like Tonya Lippert’s “Home,” a realistic look at children affected by homelessness.

 

Check out the  list of the many children's books that appear throughout the exhibition.

 

That Smudge of Smoke, by Edie Hemingway, is another book about home – but on a Chesapeake Bay steamboat in 1929. This compelling, beautifully written middle-grade novel is about two 12-year-olds separated by nearly a century but connected by change, hope, and a surprising third main character.

 

Finally, because so many people do not have a place to call home, I support and recommend the National Alliance to End Homelessness. They work to find policy solutions to homelessness through technical assistance, training, advocacy, and research. 

6 comments

6 Comments


Guest
Feb 17

Paula, Your first blog post brought back memories of my first home in Pimlico. The radiator which warmed my feet while I snuggled under the covers. It's the little things, and you Paula help us appreciate them with your art and your heart ❤. 

Marlene

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Oh Marlene, I'm so happy my post brought back those memories! Thank you so much for reading my post, and for your very beautiful words. ❤️

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Guest
Feb 17

I enjoyed your blog Paula! Nicely done! 😀

Karen Merkin

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Karen, many thanks for reading my blog and for your kind comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this post. It was fun to write!

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Guest
Feb 17

What a marvelous and interesting blog post, Paula! And what a surprise to find the mention of THAT SMUDGE OF SMOKE! Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so happy it resonated with you. "Reflections on a Pool" is a stunningly beautiful painting!

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Edie, thank you so much. Your comments about my post and painting mean a lot to me! It's a thrill to be able to share your very special, evocative book in my blog.

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