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Village Voices
Village Voices is the showcase of creativity by the members and volunteers of The Village Common of Rhode Island. We welcome submissions in all media: 2- and 3-dimensional art, creative writing, transformative ideas, crafting, and art collections. As important is the personal stories that accompany each submission.

Saundy Patrick

Saundy Patrick
I eat, sleep and breathe science and nature....and the art I see in it.
Biography
I have loved science and nature my whole life, a fact which guided many decisions through the years. Beginning with childhood collections of rocks to my first year at NYU’s nursing program, then to becoming a respiratory therapist working at Stanford University, Pawtucket Memorial, and Rhode Island Hospitals, it was my love of science that always drove my career decisions. This path culminated with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from RI College in 1987. During those years, I pursued many aspects of science, finally shifting my career in 1989 to basic research with a specialty in neuroscience. I worked in this field at Brown University in the Psychology and Neuroscience departments from 1989 through 2022.

When my husband, Bob, finished his postdoc experience working in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Barcus at Stanford University, it was time for him to establish his research interests in a lab of his own. After several interviews he (we) settled on Brown University where he accepted a position on the faculty in the Biomed Department. With my serious background in science and medicine, I had earned my degree from Foothill College, Los Altos, CA, and found work at Rhode Island Hospital as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Artist's Statment
Through the years that I worked in science, my interest in art never diminished. Along with publishing 28 peer-reviewed scientific publications, I also submitted artistic entries for possible covers for the Journal Neuroscience. In September 2015, The Journal of Neuroscience chose my submission for its cover.
The Society for Neuroscience chose this same image as its logo for the 2015 Society’s yearly convention in Chicago, displaying this photograph in many versions in bits and pieces throughout the entire convention area. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing some portion of this picture! (Editor’s note: See below for a description of how this image was made.)
Over the years, I dabbled at painting but it was not until I was an adult that I returned to painting in earnest. It is now a significant pastime in my retirement. I also turned my attention to gardening, and painting those lovelies that I see returning each year.
From career choices that influenced my art to blissful moments in my garden, the overwhelming motivation for all these endeavors has been my absolute love of nature in all her forms.
What The Village Common means to us
My husband, Bob, had a massive stroke 2½ years ago which left him with severe aphasia. This event changed our lives completely. I became Bob’s caregiver while continuing to work. When Bob recovered enough for outpatient therapies, he still needed twice weekly occupational, physical and speech therapies. I would take him to all six commitments each week, plus several doctor visits each month as well. I had become a full-time driver and was approaching caregiver burnout at a rapid pace.
Bob and Saundy
Then I discovered The Village Common, the lifeline I depend on today. We use volunteers in the Village Common to give Bob rides when needed. If that was not enough, Bob continues to improve his speech due to his interactions with the folks who drive him. We are so grateful to everyone associated with The Village Common. There are no words for how much it means to us to be involved with people who are so generous with their time.
Artworks
Place your cursor over any picture, below, to enlarge it.
Journal of Neuroscience
This cover of the September 2015 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience represents a highly magnified (63X) picture of axons coursing through the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) of the mouse brain. The TRN structure is found in all mammals and is known to process incoming sensory (except olfaction) information. One could call it a relay station for perception. The red color represents increasing intensity.

My picture received a lot of recognition that year, which is why our lab director framed it for me. A large copy is even on a wall of one of the science labs at Brown.
Bluebird, Branch, and Leaves
Microscopic view of neurons of the TRN, applied color using an antibody procedure. I turned the image on its side, rendering a bird that I saw in the structure. I see art everywhere in science.
Layer 6, Spiny Pyramidal Brain Cell,
A Neuron
At the center is an example of a neuron filled with dye to show its shape. I wildly embellished the surroundings to show the complexity of its environment in the brain. In reality, neurons are packed tightly, and one does not see lonely neurons except under high magnification.
The English Country Garden
While on a sabbatical leave from Brown University, my husband and I lived near the campus of the University of Reading, England. The garden in this painting is the view from our small graduate-student apartment. Yes, it is painted without the sunshine because the sun rarely made an appearance from behind the clouds wherever we went in England!
Pom Pom and Geraniums
These lovely plants on my deck brought me so much pleasure one summer, I had to immortalize them in a painting, which hangs in my living room. This painting is also included in one of my notecard garden packs.
The White Irises
This small grouping of white irises emerged from a spot planted with purple iris years earlier. I couldn't believe it. How could this happen? Of course, I had to capture this phenomenon by painting them to remind me of the wonders of nature.
Great Falls in Virginia, VA.
And, YES, they are magnificent falls! I had been to see my best friend, Jean Bishop, for the last time as she was terminally ill. Jean wanted to share this wonderful spot with me. While there, I pulled out my small blank notebook and, over many hours, made a detailed drawing of the falls. At home, I transposed the very small drawing to a large canvas and painted it. My dear, dear friend passed away shortly afterward. This painting of remembrance is hung in a prominent location in my house to recollect that wonderful, touching last afternoon spent with my best friend.
Lambs Ears and Salvia Rock Garden
While lying in bed during a storm, and upon hearing a big CRACKING sound, I told my husband, "Wow, Bob, I think someone lost a tree!" It was our beloved Cherry. Now my prized Lambs Ears and Salvia Rock Garden has happily taken its place.
African Violets
I am a compulsive gardener and lover of all flowers; I see beauty even in weeds! This pot of African Violets is now one of my oldest house plants and going strong, blooming often.
The Night Sky
On my way home from work one evening, I noticed a magnificent scene in the sky. When I went to paint this from memory, I thought it deserved a more natural environment. Hence, the illuminated river below.
Fickle Flowers
A wildly imaginative rendition of flowers blooming against the night sky.
Kelp Gardens
Finely torn acid-free paper grouped on four canvases. They are separate, highly imagined examples of the kelp forests I snorkeled through on one of my trips to warm waters. I am attracted to unusual natural environments and so tried to capture the tangled but beautiful display of these special underwater plants.
Sunroom Furniture
This sunroom in my house. Most of my artistic and literary creativity emerges from the views seen through a very large picture window at different times of the year.
Untitled
My husband, Bob, quietly reading at a peaceful setting in the Berkshires, a destination to which we traveled every summer for many years. It is a painting made from a drawing.
Fisherman Bob
Bob, again, wearing rain gear on The Maid of the Mist, a boat that visitors take for exceptional views of Niagara Falls. It was painted from a photograph.
Self Portrait
Self Portrait
Self Portraits
One represents a sailboat ride in Newport, RI and the other was done when I first started painting many years ago.
Melissa
Melissa


These two paintings are portraits of my daughter made when she still lived at home, before leaving for college.
Juniper Scribner
My niece. She and her mother, Shelly, have visited us from California EVERY SINGLE year since we moved to RI. Juniper also pursued a career in science, working for Genentec. The love of science runs deep in our family.
Poems

2021

Warmth Seeps Through

Eyes closed gently with chin to the sun
rays melt through skin as if there was none
heat finds a home that missed it so
‘cause summer fled long ago

Now chill touches bone, seeping through
scant rags that cover as if on cue
ignite memories of a warmer past
of times with butterflies and flowers cast
the glow of summer that nature brought
to fill my heart with what I sought


1988

Carrot curls ……… A Sister’s Birthday

Carrot curls
Two little girls
Giggle and sniggle
The time away

Parachute bubbles
A mess of trouble
Sought refuge
In their play

Hide and seek
And “don’t you peek”
A Saturday morning cartoon
Records play
They danced all day
Around the living room

They jumped and screamed
And laughed a lot
And tickled till it hurt
“oh please stop - I have to pee”
The tickelee would blurt

With gulps of air they
Caught their breath
Exhausted from the fun
They didn’t know
But time would show
The two sweet souls were one
💕



March 2023

On a Cone of Light

She sits beside a cone of light
It enters softly into the room
Travels mainly from the right
Warms through glass into her gloom

Dancing dust dots flit wildly by
Particles move with amazing life
Feel them scatter, with an escaping sigh
She descends through thoughts of childhood rife
They compete with heartfelt sorrowful clatter
Consumes her soul that screams with pain
So dark and foul directed straight at her
Wonders aloud of who to blame

She dissolves quietly into that gaze
Her head, still dead
Heads through the jumbled haze
Wants no part of childhood memories so glum
That did torture this innocent little one

She feels robbed, cheated and deprived
Of happy thoughts of those early years
When kids are supposed to get their share
Of loving touches and kisses so dear
From parents who wanted a child to bestow
Affection and love while they grow

So, stop me please, let me not digress
Through particles of dust into that mess

March 2023

Like a Breeze, unfinished

Like a breeze through fingers with hardly a shape
Can’t locate the thought, can’t hold to relate
The ephemeral feeling while truly great, did slip, did fly,
Did at last escape

From a worried mind, but happy I am sure
Did leave a shadow with no one to relate
The great wisdom inherent on that very date



February 2024

The Cedars
(Ode to my Camycyparus Nucadensa Pendulas, Thank you)

Just sitting and waiting for what I don’t know …
For dark heavy clouds to regain lightness once more
To puff at the edges silver white against blue
Yes, electric edges wait on cue
To improve a state never said could ensue

The cedars ignite her spirit, she eagerly awaits
Must connect with nature (she profoundly states)
But alas, wind currents float by in a dream
Not stopping today or so it seems
No permission given, no, not allowed to sway
Dissolve I in the clouds green giants seen today

But her spirits are lifted by these giants of cedar
They sway gently, change shape from invisible currents
That deliberately course through trees so dear
In free feather-greenery delicate but strong
Whip back and forth from gusty winds which belong
With the dark heavy clouds that nature has brought
Dissolve I, this day, into what she has wrought



March 2023

The Fly’s Gift

With multiscopic eyes and hairy legs so light
She lands on steaming poop after a brief but focused flight
Perhaps smell led her to this decomposing pile still hot having just been laid
by an indiscriminate host in this lovely peaceful glade

The poop’s still hot, furry critter gone happy for his relief and so pleased
to have gifted this natural verdant spot that dwells beneath the trees
Back to the fly she now prepares to leave precious eggs on the still steaming pile
So her future babies will inherit ready food she pauses and waits awhile

She looks to the right and then to the left securing privacy for the moment
Not wanting disturbance, interruption or dangerous foment
All signs seem clear, her belly heaves with future offspring of her creation
These flies who I despise…..are now secure, I feel sure
Ready to fulfill the next noxious fly generation



March 2023

Junky Chest

Air rushes in on a tidal breath, I nare give it a thought
Lungs expand, diaphragm descends doing what they ought
But much occurs in this simple event, molecules need to trade place
For carbon dioxide needs to escape to exit without a trace
Breathing transpires zillions of times no notice from the host
But who is alert, who pays attention when such simplicity is lost?

Oh in, Oh out, I must shout
Easy breathing is such a treat
Taken for granted, tripping along
All parts of a breath are how they belong
Yes, easy breathing is such a treat
Then one fine day, it happens
The healthy me retreats

A pulmonary block of mighty fine junk
collects in lungs once empty and clear
Thick juicy junk globs previously fine works
Wet popping bubbles are all I hear

I cough, I sputter and wheeze up a storm
My mood has taken a turn
Eyes sympathize with this viral visitor
and now begin to burn

This junky chest, my condition
Negates previously finer days
When air rushed in on a tidal breath
While the sun held my healthy simple gaze



November, 2023

Bursting with Love, unfinished

Is there room in your chest if bursting with love
Is there room for another in that very place
Can you fit more below, around or above
Yes, force a tad more in an already occupied space

Emotions of love flood filling my core
Spread to my throat but no sound is made
Unable to take a single breath more
I choke on thought, don’t want this feeling to fade

This love that spreads in my chest
Whose essence doth fill my bursting heart
And no one but me knows this best
To live life with such intense love is the best part