Solo exhibit – Café Zoma, Madison WI.
“INTENSELY PERSONAL” An Acrylic Journal
July 15-July 20, 2005
Artist’s Statement
Emotional trauma and physical pain are common to the human experience. Each of us copes with misfortunes, changes and challenges in our own way. Over the past two years before this show, a series of highly-charged life events forced (or allowed?) me to examine the essence of change and suffering. Revelation, anger, grief and acceptance provided the energy source for my work. Through the process of journaling, or recording, recent events in paint on canvas, this exhibit was formed.
Works on Display:
“Restraining Order” – I painted this the day I was forced to file a restraining order against my son.
“Rachel” – My niece at age 11
“Strain” – A disabling back injury led to chronic pain.
“Separation” – As my son, then age 22, continues to use drugs, he moves further away from me.
“Charlie’s World” – One pain-filled night, this late movie, Charlie Chaplin’s “Gaslight” examines the question posed by an aging, older man convinced that “life is a brutal world and one must act brutally to survive” and an innocent young girl’s assertion that “life is like a bumbling fool who sometimes stumbles onto something rare and beautiful.”
“Miss Joe” – My transvestite father makes the decision to transgender. Inspired by native motifs of the southwest Indian caves near where he lives.
“Swept Clean” – At this moment my husband photographed, my mother confesses she was aware of the abuse I endured as a child and unable to speak out because she herself had been a victim as a child.
“One Last Look” – My Mother dies suddenly in the night of a stroke. She is 69.
“Monona Shore” – The lakeside path near my home of more than 35 years.
“Miss Kitty” – Memories of Mom
“February” – Growing up in Wisconsin. Enough said.
