Melinda’s Room, I’ve Always Considered Myself A Lucky Person

I was thinking about Dierdre and she was also thinking about me. She tried to get hold of me and invite me to the Melinda’s Room opening reception evening on May 2nd, 2013 at the Aurora Cultural Centre. At the same time I was planning as well to visit Melinda’s Room exhibition that evening, but a bit later.

I also wanted to see Dierdre as I have not seen her since last fall. After all, it was a pleasure to meet smiling Dierdre and David again.



The exhibition was assembled to celebrate Melinda’s life who lost her battle to extreme Bi-polar disorder. Dierdre and David Tomlinson’s showcased Melinda’s intriguing artwork and writings. I was privileged to receive from Dierdre her speech notes quoting this:

“Her subjects were often the disadvantaged, the bullied, poor or handicapped; bag ladies and strippers. Eccentric paintings, framed by several tiny written lines of text, cast a compassionate eye on people trapped in unenviable lives. She knew that well – for almost all her adult life she displayed dignity and courage in an incremental battle with extreme Bi-polar Disorder.“


It was such a beautiful and peaceful evening, an evening of closure, and I got an opportunity to observe almost all through my lens. Amazing level of engagement from visitors looking at Melinda’s artwork and reading Melinda’s writings that were posted on the walls and also assembled into binders.


In the early days when I was just getting to know Dierdre she always told me stories. She also told me a bit about Melinda. More so she sent me home with material to read. She never explicitly told me about her daughter then, but she did give me pages of words that told stories about Melinda’s life.

“I’ve Always Considered Myself A Lucky Person“, these were the words written to Dierdre by Melinda, and she always will be lucky to have such inspiring parents.


Melinda’s Room exhibition is open to public at the Aurora Cultural Centre until mid June and I encourage you to visit if you can.