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| Price Family Tree - Pen, Colored Pencil, Watercolor on Paper - 26x40 - 2016 |
The drawing class this semester has been fun. Lots of drawings and I decided to create a unique family tree. I've had a book detailing the Price decendants from 1584 to current but had never really studied it. This project made me dig into our family history. The journey brought John Price from Breakneck, Wales to Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and finally to Georgia. Our family has lived in Georgia for the last 162 years. Here is some detail explaining the objects and scenes in the piece.
“Family
Tree” – pen, colored pencil, watercolor on paper – Janet Price Deal – 2016
The
“Family Tree” represents the line of descendants of the Price family. My father W B Price is the eleventh
generation of Prices since 1584 when our genealogy history began in Wales. This piece of art has symbols and scenes
that represent that history.
Wales
– The map of Wales is where our family story begins. The first record of Price descendants is of
John Price born in 1584 in Brecknock, Wales.
Ribbons
– The ribbons wrapping the tree are symbolic of “remembering” the eleven
generations of Prices. All names and
birth and deaths of the eleven generations are noted on the ribbons circling
the tree.
US
History of Prices – The map in the lower left corner represents the journey of
the Price clan from Wales. Prices
settled first in Virginia and then moved to South Carolina, Alabama and
Georgia. Prices have lived in Georgia
since 1854.
Live
Oak Tree – ‘Quercus Virginiana’ is the state tree of Georgia. The live oak became the state tree in 1937.
With our long family history in Georgia it represents our roots. The Prices have 162 years living in Georgia
within a 30-mile radius.
Ivy
– ‘Hedera helix’ – Ivy is a symbol of perennial life. It was used to record the descendants of W.
B. Price. The vine is made using the
names of the four children, eight grandchildren and thirteen grandchildren of
W.B. Price.
Barn
and Farm Yard – Our family history has had close ties to farming and the
land. Even after working other jobs to
support the family, there was always a barn and a garden in our family history.
Cow
– Growing up not only did our family depend on the land for food but there were
also animals on the land. A cow was
part of that history and there are many memories of my mother churning milk and
molding butter for the family.
Peaches
– The basket of peaches are representative of our Georgia roots. The peach is the state fruit of
Georgia. It became the state fruit in
1995.
Symbols
– The symbols on the tree represent the life of W. B. Price. He was a member of the Masons, Ruritan, Lockheed
Aircraft and the United States Army.
Carnations
– The red carnations represent the favorite flower of W. B. Price. The red carnation represents a strong
enduring love. He was married for 72
years prior to his death in 2013.
Initials
– The cut out in the tree has the initials of W. B. Price and Jimmie Lou
Craft. They were married for 72 years.
Airplane
– W. B. Price retired after 35 years working for Lockheed Aircraft. With only a seventh grade education, he
worked hard and retired as an aircraft planned with Lockheed. He was part of a generation in which hard
work, a strong work ethic and persistence could lead to the American
Dream. He retired and lived out the
remainder of his life on 15 acres nestled by a lake. The month before his death he was still
‘working’, having cut the church grass.
A sign of his commitment to his religion and community and his strong
work ethics.
Bird
Nest – There were always birds around at our homes growing up, whether on a
farm or at a home by the lake. Blue
bird houses and bird feeders always encouraged birds and W. B. Price spent
hours later in his life sitting on his porch watching the life of the birds.
Straw
Hat – A straw hat was always part of the picture of W. B. Price. If he was working in the garden or just
mowing the grass it was an accessory that defined ‘his look’ and was a reminder
of his rural upbringing.
Cross
– The cross represent Christianity. W.
B. Price was active in his church and raised his family by actively
participating in the local church.
“Cow” – pen and paper – Janet Price Deal - 2016
A
cow is included in my collection of objects and things representing my family
tree. The first record of our family
tree dates to 1584 and Wales. From Wales
John Price traveled to Virginia and family descendants moved around the
southeast, finally settling in Georgia.
Farming and living off the land was common and the household usually had
a milk cow. Even as a child I can
remember a milk cow and barn on our property until I was in my teens. My family descendants did many things to
make a living but having cows and other farm animals was frequently part of
daily life.
