QUETZALCOATL, THE CREATOR

Anyone who's paid me a visit during the past 37 years has seen this rug, which has graced my floor whenever I've had a floor during that time. It depicts the famous Aztecan god Quetzalcoatl, who was often regarded as one of the four Tezcatlipocas, designers of the universe. The rug originally lay next to its twin, in the room I shared with my brother as a boy. Twenty years later, my brother's San Francisco apartment was burgled, and his rug was lost. The rugs were designed and hooked by our Mother, Woodie Ann Brest van Kempen, who was born Woodie Ann van Cott, seventy years ago today. Growing up surrounded by her creations, the floral rugs in our sister's room, the stained glass windows, carved wood doors, countless ceramic pots and hand-made tiles, the porcupine bas-relief out front, and all the weavings, is probably the main factor to blame for the fact that all three kids grew up creating, me, my brother the conceptual artist, and my sister the tv producer. Mom was one of the founders of the Utah Weaver's Guild, as well as the This Is the Place Heritage Park, which began a noteworthy career as a historian and museum professional, a discipline that still keeps her busy. Happy Birthday, Mom!