Julie's photograph, along with a poem by her husband Dan Burstein, were selected for this exhibition.

Turquoise & Malachite

Some of My Favorite Words are Colors
A Poem by Dan Burstein
To Accompany Julie O’Connor’s Artwork
Turquoise & Malachite

For the last few years
I’ve been keeping a diary
Or a listing, if you will, of my
Favorite words in the
English language
 
In order to make it onto the list
A word has to whisper itself into my mind and
Into my eye and
Into a few others of
My Nine Senses and
Stay there for a while
 
It has to be as juicy as a summer fruit
As sweet as Tupelo Honey
As astonishing as a Cezanne or a Monet
As melodious as a great jazz flute
 
Many words are called
Few are chosen
An informal rule says the
Word must have come to me at least
Three separate times
Including once in a dream
 
One thing I have noticed is that a
Lot of my favorite words are
Colors
 
Not sure why that is
It just is
 
So here’s the list
In case you are wondering
As of the Spring of 2026:
  

Turquoise 
Malachite 
Shimmering
Iroquois 
Pashmina 
Alabaster
Amber
Amethyst
Seafoam
Marina
Bluegreen
Aquamarine
Tourmaline 
Seagreen
Silver
Hazel
Lime
Marzipan
Emerald
Cashmere
Willows
Veneer
Luminous
Sunshine
Essaouira 
Angelina
Montreal
Cocoa
Patina
Fudge
Mocha
Rainbow
Sausalito 
Topaz
Linguini
Cerulean 
Ghee
Nubia
Coral
Crystalline
Insouciant
Luscious
Aurora