Under a Private Sky

Vincent Van Gogh used paint differently from other painters of his day. The colors and strokes were odd to some, yet they were perfect for him. He was not meant to paint any other way. From his soul to his brain, through his hands to the canvas, he saw the world his way and helped us understand what it is to be alive.

Henry Moore was skilled in making the human form. He was able to sculpt like Michelangelo. He understood relationships and the interior of man. Oddly shaped forms that told stories of love, life, and struggle from the inside out. He took our normal human form and saw a view of the figure looking inward. He taught us how to see ourselves fully.

Julie Adrian writes like how Van Gogh painted and Moore sculpted. When I first read her manuscript, I admitted to only reading a short section in one sitting. I took it in slowly like it was espresso or a best wine; it was standing in front of the David sculpture for hours.

Julie is sharing something extraordinary, words that resonate, a heart and mind that is open. The words may fall into crevices that may have not had much exposure to daylight. The pieces are full of introspection and calm, wonder, and seeking, sometimes hard to digest, other times beyond what you imagine. At the heart of this struggle is love, love for the children and greater acknowledgment that it's the children, through their natural love and imagination, who know how to live. Under a Private Sky is beautifully heart-breaking; it is full of suffering and beauty that we share, as a common experience living in this world. To be along this rich, strong, and profound journey, comes with deep gratitude.

-Dan Wolbert