Upgrade-a Cicada (154) — Beverly Rivera

Artist

Beverly Rivera (60)

Materials Used

Acrylic paint

Describe your bug and its beauty

My cicada has been in hiding for 17 years. It emerges from the earth with wonderful bright colors to represent its transformation thru life. It boldly carries the colors of orange, refreshing, sweet, and tropical like the sounds of summer in Chicago. Yellow, the warm sunshine on your face, reflecting optimism of days to come. Pink, the flush of cheeks when you think of your beloved in his/her absence. Purple, the smell of lilac bushes in your neighbor's yard and mystery of what is yet to come. Red, the taste of a strawberry shake on your tongue on a warm sunny day. Green, the fresh smell of newly cut grass. Purple, regal...the color of royalty. And blue, a magical cold day in Chicago. All these colors represent life constantly renewing, secretly transforming day by day as we know it.

How long do you think you took decorating your bug?

15 hours

Tell us your Story

The cicadas emerging this year last visited us 17 years ago. What kind of change have you seen in your city, yourself, or someone you know over the last 17 years?

My biggest change I've made is when I retired from my job of 24 years in August 2023. Prior to that, I retired from the armed forces in 2007 and in 2020, not only Covid hit, but my present job was becoming unbearable to work at. I had to attend to a family member due to ill health from October 2022 through March 2023. In November, I signed up for certification through Creative Journal Expressive Arts ™ Inc. by Dr. Lucia Capacchione. While reading one her exercises in her book "The Power of Your Other Hand", it inspired me, and it also gave me the strength to retire from job. I thought that it would better to lose some money, that to lose my mind. Since retiring, I have spent more time with family members and friends. I am taking classes online with many veteran communities, I have also taken classes in person, like acrylic painting, peace paper making and even soap making class at the local American Legion. I am more into my craft (painting on glass), and I've attended three arts and crafts shows since. I spend less money, and every quarter; I purge my household and have even donated some items. And some of the best things about retirement, no alarm clock, no traffic, no rush to go anywhere. I finally get to stop, be in silence, be in nature, be with me. I'm beginning to love myself all over again ...and that's a good feeling.

Location

Proska Park, 3001 Wisconsin Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 , near Home Avenue — Map

Would you like to include an identifiers to represent your community?

African American Woman / Retired USAR