I'm not talking about the 1942 Humphrey Bogart film Across the Pacific. I have my own amazing story that culminated just recently. It began ten years ago and it took place… Across the Pacific.
A little back story… I grew up in the Polynesian islands of Tonga and moved back to Australia 18 years ago. A lot of my art is very Polynesian inspired and, with my parents still living there, I have a strong connection with the Kingdom of Tonga . I often paint watercolour scenes from my childhood memories; splashy close-ups of Polynesian dancers; tropical fish; stone totems… all with my signature paint splatter to add life and movement. My parents have a gift shop in Tonga called Blue Banana Studios that sells our family's art. In 2008 i had my paintings printed onto gift cards to sell at Blue Banana.
Now, back in Sydney… I have a lovely friend named Norma, she turned 90 last year. I met her 5 years ago. She likes to give me hand-me-down things (she is from the waste not, want not generation). Things like old art books, pots and pans, some awesomely kitsch dinner plates, and in return I would occasionally take her a hot meal or invite her to my crazy costume parties or just over for a cup of tea. Four years ago she gave me a pile of old post cards from Italy, France and Germany. She thought I might like to use them for craft. And there was a card in there with one of my Tongan watercolours printed on it. I figured Norma must have gotten it from me and didn’t realise she was giving it back. I kept the pile of old cards and I use them as gift tags for birthday presents and my Etsy jewellery sales.
Just recently I visited Norma in the hospital. We were chatting about her niece who does a bit of travelling. She mentioned her niece had been to Tonga 10 years ago. Then it clicked and as soon as I got home I dug out the pile of cards and opened the Tongan one. It was a birthday card for Norma from her niece. Her niece had been to my mums shop in Tonga, bought the card, given it to Norma in Sydney years before I'd even met her. Four years ago Norma accidentally gave the card back to me and it's been sitting in my stationary draw ever since. What an unbelievable connection.
Its also not the first time some Egan art has made its way to Norma. My daughter made an Easter basket which was donated to Meals on Wheels along with 200 other baskets made by students at her primary school. Norma receives Meals on Wheels and believe it or not… she got Elvis’s Easter basket at Easter time!
Pictured below: Myself, Norma, her niece, and the card that made its way back to me after 10 years.
