"Woody"
How art connects people - A remarkable story!
In the Spring of 2025, I was considering what subject to paint to participate in a call for art at a local library. The theme was to celebrate Pride Month. After some thought, I searched for a photo that had stuck in my mind for a very long time and made quite an impression. The photo was taken in Manhattan in June 2000. The subject was a member of the group that traditionally kicked off the Pride parade; Dykes on Bikes. The woman had a rainbow colored Mohawk haircut and was ‘out and proud’ riding her Harley Davidson as her motorcade thundered down the streets to cheering crowds.
For this composition, her image should have some relevance to Cape Cod so I placed her riding along Ocean View Drive between Eastham’s Nauset Light Beach and Coast Guard Beach. Her gaze is out over the Atlantic Ocean pondering where she had traveled and who she had met riding through life. The scene evokes contentment, contemplation and serenity.
The 9” x 12” oil painting titled Joy Ride to Pride was one of many LGBT themed art works on display in the month of June at Snow Library in Orleans. During the opening reception, I noticed a woman who was spell bound in front of the painting. We introduced ourselves and struck up a conversation. Flo was overcome with emotion and joyful about seeing a portrait of her dearest friend from long ago. Yes, Flo short for Florence, identified her dear friend as “Woody” who had passed some years early. Flo recounted their friendship including that Woody was godmother to one of her two sons. Flo was anxious to know how I knew Woody and was amazed to hear of the photo from 25 years earlier that made such an impression. Remarkably, several others at the reception also recognized Woody in the painting.
It turns out that Flo is 93 years young, sharp as a tack and a long time local artist with paintings displayed in several local municipal buildings. Later that month I gave Flo a ride in a wheelchair along Main Street for Orleans’ first Pride parade ever. Although not on a Harley, Flo was greeted and hugged by many friends along the route; inspiring many and spreading joy as Woody had done before. At the conclusion of the art show, I gave the painting to Flo who delighted in hanging it in her home (and will bequeath it to her son).
Donna “Woody” Woodward was a founding member of Boston’s Moving Violations Motorcycle Club in 1985 and belonged to many others. The Moving Violations website describes Woody as a consummate rider, adventurer and philanthropist. She had many talents including as a carpenter, painter, wallpaper hanger, chimney sweep, mechanic, tour guide, archaeologist, limo driver and in China - English teacher. World travel led her across six continents. Woody was an advocate and activist in the LGBT community who gave much of her time to help raise money towards finding cures for breast cancer and HIV/AIDS. She taught those around her to be true to themselves, to be proud of who they are, and to live without excuses. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared June 7, 2008 as Woody Woodward Day in Boston! A year later, she passed away at age 64 on the morning of Boston’s Pride Parade.
At a Pride dinner later in June 2025, I met several other women who had seen the painting and learned that they also were life long friends of Woody’s from Boston and Cape Cod. How many lives Woody touched while she was ‘out and proud’ we will never know, but her passion for life is her legacy that continues on in friendships old and new; and through art.
