Holly Cusumano

For some reason, the theme music for the TV show, “ Who Do You Think You Are ?” makes me cry. I suppose I’m the Pavlov’s dog of genealogy. Every single time, hearing just a few musical notes elicits the same response -- tears! Sniff, sniff. There’s no denying that I am a sentimental slob for peoples’ family histories. Since the TV show isn't currently being broadcast on TLC, I've taken to watching the British version of the show which has been running since 2006. Many of the episodes are available for free on You Tube. You just search for “BBC Who Do You Think You Are?” And bingo, there are a ton of them. The British version features celebrities who might be well-known over there, but here in the U.S. we've never heard of most of them. So for me, they are “regular people” and I identify with them. Whether it’s a famous American or a Brit whose family tree is being researched, the reactions of the “star” resonate with me. They always say things like, “This in...

Our son Sammy and daughter-in-law Katie gave me a handful of vintage photographs of unknown people for Christmas this year. They came with this note “We hope these snapshots prove inspiring for your work.” They are. Found photo of unidentified family I’ve been known to stand for hours at flea market stalls and silently flip through boxes and boxes of old photos. What am I looking for? I don’t know. Well, yes, I guess I do. It’s connection. When I was 10, our parents divorced. My brother, sister, and I called it “the war.”  Before the war, with three of us kids at home, our household was bustling. We lived on Summer Street in Royersford where our many friends were just next door. I can still hear the venetian blinds on the front door clang as it was opened and closed a hundred times a day. After the war, it was devastatingly quiet. I was alone much of the time. I can see now exactly what I did about it. I became exceedingly charming, ridiculously helpful...

I’ve been hanging around with artists lately. This is not something new. I’ve always enjoyed the company of creative people -- writers, crafters, gardeners, painters ... They’re not exactly normal, which is how I like it. One thing an artist does is write an “artist statement.” It’s a proclamation, really, and it takes considerable thought. It’s kind of sickening to be so self-focused. But you know what? Without pausing to think through these questions, there is no clear artist behind the artwork. If I don’t know what I’m trying to express, who does? And so, I ponder... What’s my purpose? Why do I make my art? What does it represent? What is special about how I make it? What does it mean to me? Here’s my first-ever artist’s statement; see what you think. Artist Statement Creativity has always been very highly valued in our family. When it came to play, my brother, sister, and I were allowed to go anywhere and do whatever we wanted. So we danced outside in the pou...