MARTHA ANN MARKLINE HOPKINS 3611 Oak Glen Dr.; Tuscaloosa, Al 35406 – Harry and I now live mostly in Tuscaloosa, though continue to maintain our Birmingham house for now. The plan is for him to retire next year from the law firm in Birmingham, and then live full time in Tuscaloosa, where he hopes to continue to teach at the UA Law School. In the meantime, we travel back and forth, and see the children Peter and Caroline and grandchildren (2 are 13 – James Cole and Caleb, and one – Taylor - is 10) when we are in Birmingham. Our youngest grandchild is autistic, and is receiving good training in communication in the Mt. Brook school system.
I continue to make art, having earned a BFA in Sculpture at UA in 2004. Currently I’m working on a series of acrylic paintings on shaped canvas; a large 5’ x 5’ painting was recently hanging in the Meridian Museum of Art Juried Show. I have a wonderful new painting studio, and am beginning to return to the business of making art since I’m almost completely recovered from a hip operation (resurfacing) in September 2007. Note: If a total hip replacement is recommended for you, research resurfacing, as it gives a natural result with no bone loss.
I traveled to Italy last year, and viewed the great art that I had only studied about – an artist’s dream. I went to Paris the year before that. Since I like to learn languages, I learned Italian and brushed up on my French for these trips. You may remember that after graduating from Southern Miss, I taught English, French, and Spanish at Meridian High School. Mrs. Simpson was my mentor, and Ms. Eykelboom was the Dept. Chair. Charlie Armstrong was still Principal then.
I have a collection of antique dolls, and am President of the Birmingham Doll Club. Researching antique dolls and their costumes makes history come alive for me. A recent find is a china doll from the Civil War period, dressed in black (Confederate widow?)
Life for me since my 45th Reunion bio has included some health setbacks, but I’m still kicking, though running harder to stay in the same place. I‘ve learned that being optimistic and resilient keeps you going longer than complaining and worrying. Writing my bio makes me realize what a good life I’ve had, and I’m especially happy to have been a teenager in the 50’s. Long Live Rock n’ Roll!
2 comments:
Martha Ann, what a rich and interesting life you are living — and have lived. Keep on, keeping on is the
secret. No sense in letting the mind get old. Your pursuits give testament to this. Since 1946, we have known each other. Lost touch, but known each other since the first grade. Your zest for life is apparent in your work. It's inside baseball, but someone named Janie Minor influenced us both. Our 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade teacher at Witherspoon Elementary was a daring experiment at the time.I think it paid off for us both.
Martha,
Having spent most of my adult life concentrating on the bottom line, I have not had a great appreciation for the arts. However I have recently spent a lot of time and energy with one client that required me to delve much deeper into the art world.
I am not sure if you are familiar with his work but you might find it interesting. Check out his website (which by the way I think is poor) at www.michalopoulos.com
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