I am interested in the ways that people can come together, both physically and emotionally and in spite of their differences. Like many of us I find this challenging even though I believe harmony and unity are as necessary in life as in art.
In this body of work I focus on a variety of shapes, colors and textures to create a sense of harmony and unity. This is one way to represent the link between diverse ideas and people. Each painting has its own perspective and viewers may discern multiple interpretations within each one. The layers of history created offer the opportunity to to think about the ways in which healing, growth and understanding build upon each other, bit by bit.
I hope you enjoy this exhibition.
The arts play an important role as they offer an emotional connection to the full range of human experience. Art can challenge one to engage with a piece of work even if it is uncomfortable. It can offer the possibility of reconsidering your initial reaction and imagine what other perspectives it might offer. And if we’re willing to engage with it, it can offer the possibility of some change, some transformation. Art can also be a powerful aesthetic experience and trigger the release of neurochemicals, hormones and endorphins that offers you an emotional release. This in turn can affect physiology and behavior.
As discussed in “Your Brain on Art - How the Arts Transform Us,”Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross 2023.
