SOUL SEARCHING
The body is a vessel for experiences, emotions, memories and dreams, it is the home in which our soul resides. This work explores the concept of soul searching and delves into introspective and thought-provoking questions about the essence of the self, feeling purpose, interconnectedness and intuition. Merging the tangible with the intangible, I’ve incorporated moments from my personal, everyday life with a complexity of emotions that correspond with the moments, inviting viewers to reflect on the mysteries of existence. The work explores the concept of shadows being symbolic of souls, highlighting the perpetual presence and significance of our inner selves. It alludes to the hidden, elusive, and yet essential aspects of our being, prompting contemplation on the nature of souls and their interplay with the visible world. This work underscores my ongoing quest for understanding and self-discovery, encouraging viewers to engage in their own soul-searching journey, to ponder life's profound questions, and to seek a deeper connection with their inner selves and the world around them.
the body is a vessel of light and dark (confidence and fear), 42”x21”, oil on canvas, 2023
rose ritual: samsara, 30”x30” , oil on canvas, 2023
rose ritual: sacred objects, 30”x30” , oil on canvas, 2023
soul searching (soul sisters), 42”x28”, oil on canvas, 2023
some questions you might ask (reading mary oliver in the sunshine) -- dedicated to mary Oliver, 36"x26", oil on canvas, 2023
seashell shadows on my legs, 32”x26”, oil and oil pastel on canvas, 2023
body, soul and spirit with chrysanthemums, 40"x60". oil on canvas, 2023
dousing my fire , (double sagittarius, pisces moon), 32”x26”, oil on canvas, 2023
broad unity: tiger lily magic, oil on canvas, 36”x18”, 2023
garden magic, oil on canvas, 24”x30”, 2023
The poem in this painting was written by Mary Oliver and stirred inspiration for this series ‘Soul Searching’.
The poem led me to think more broadly in terms of the soul, as Mary Oliver questions “who has a soul and who doesn’t?” in this body of work, I’m hoping that questions like this are sparked, and that the viewer might see beyond the physical body, into the experiences that make us who we are and what our soul contains— our memories, emotions and dreams.
Some Questions You Might Ask by Mary Oliver
Is the soul solid, like iron?
Or is it tender and breakable, like
the wings of a moth in the beak of the owl?
Who has it, and who doesn’t?
I keep looking around me.
The face of the moose is as sad
as the face of Jesus.
The swan opens her white wings slowly.
In the fall, the black bear carries leaves into the darkness.
One question leads to another.
Does it have a shape? Like an iceberg?
Like the eye of a hummingbird?
Does it have one lung, like the snake and the scallop?
Why should I have it, and not the anteater
who loves her children?
Why should I have it, and not the camel?
Come to think of it, what about the maple trees?
What about the blue iris?
What about all the little stones, sitting alone in the moonlight?
What about roses, and lemons, and their shining leaves?
What about the grass?
Soul Searching at Red225 Gallery in Nashville, TN.