LOVE FLOWS THRU
These paintings and ceramic pieces will be available to view and purchase at the ARISE Gallery 678 Portola (near Twin Peaks) every Sunday in March and April 2020, from 12:30-1:30 (when I will be in the gallery) or by appointment.
On March 1st, 2020 the opening reception is from 2-5. I will be doing an artist talk at 3:30.
Update, 14 March 2020:
SF is recommending folks over 60 and from vulnerable health conditions not be part of gatherings of ten or more people.
So I will NOT be in the art gallery in March. Hopefully things are under control in April and I am able to have visits then.
I think the healing images in the gallery are needed now more than ever, but I also don’t want to unwittingly spread the virus.
❤️❤️❤️
Update, 4 June 2020:
Due to the pandemic, the show will remain in the gallery until after Shelter in Place is lifted, or until the end of October 2020.
On March 1st, 2020 the opening reception is from 2-5. I will be doing an artist talk at 3:30.
Update, 14 March 2020:
SF is recommending folks over 60 and from vulnerable health conditions not be part of gatherings of ten or more people.
So I will NOT be in the art gallery in March. Hopefully things are under control in April and I am able to have visits then.
I think the healing images in the gallery are needed now more than ever, but I also don’t want to unwittingly spread the virus.
❤️❤️❤️
Update, 4 June 2020:
Due to the pandemic, the show will remain in the gallery until after Shelter in Place is lifted, or until the end of October 2020.
Artist Statement
My goal as an artist is to create images that touch you, connect you to Spirit, and support you in affecting your/our world.
My process is to be open to allowing Spirit to flow through as I paint or sculpt or photograph or write. Each of my paintings begins with a prayer written onto the canvas, then a portal painted on the canvas to welcome in Spirit. All of the art pieces are blessed with powerful and pure Reiki light.
With my artwork, ultimately it’s all about love. Even when we are experiencing the deepest grief or angriest rage, if we are able to connect with the integrity of the energy and allow expression in our art, the viewer will have something stirred in them. Some of my artwork expresses love as compassion.
My creativity has been nurtured in community. I have received generous instruction, guidance and support from my art teachers Shiloh Sophia McCloud, Deborah Hoch, Cassandra Light, Jinn Fauvre, Barbara Kaufman, Flora Aube, Jennifer Mantle and Katie Ketchum. My life teachers have been equally influential on what flows through me. I am indebted to Marion Rosen, Lina Berntsen, Patrick Makuakāne, Jennifer Durand, Mana Jampa, Cathy Edgett, Hwei Li Chou, Marc Johnson, Deborah Tash, Judith Lavender Dancer, those who have provided guidance at herchurch (Pastor Stacy Boorn!), Presbyterian Church in Chinatown, and Donaldina Cameron House. And of course to my family and friends. They are my everything.
And I am blessed by each of you who witness and connect with the art that flows through me. We do this dance together, of giving and receiving.
My process is to be open to allowing Spirit to flow through as I paint or sculpt or photograph or write. Each of my paintings begins with a prayer written onto the canvas, then a portal painted on the canvas to welcome in Spirit. All of the art pieces are blessed with powerful and pure Reiki light.
With my artwork, ultimately it’s all about love. Even when we are experiencing the deepest grief or angriest rage, if we are able to connect with the integrity of the energy and allow expression in our art, the viewer will have something stirred in them. Some of my artwork expresses love as compassion.
My creativity has been nurtured in community. I have received generous instruction, guidance and support from my art teachers Shiloh Sophia McCloud, Deborah Hoch, Cassandra Light, Jinn Fauvre, Barbara Kaufman, Flora Aube, Jennifer Mantle and Katie Ketchum. My life teachers have been equally influential on what flows through me. I am indebted to Marion Rosen, Lina Berntsen, Patrick Makuakāne, Jennifer Durand, Mana Jampa, Cathy Edgett, Hwei Li Chou, Marc Johnson, Deborah Tash, Judith Lavender Dancer, those who have provided guidance at herchurch (Pastor Stacy Boorn!), Presbyterian Church in Chinatown, and Donaldina Cameron House. And of course to my family and friends. They are my everything.
And I am blessed by each of you who witness and connect with the art that flows through me. We do this dance together, of giving and receiving.
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Our Lady of Joy30x40”
Acrylic $1400 This painting was preceded by a painting on the seven sorrows. Our Lady of Joy transforms the sorrows into joy. But it is not that Hollywood type of joy. It is the joy that comes with inner peace. The lotus is very prominent. When we traveled in Asia, we saw this sacred flower being presented at all the temples. The lotus grows in the mud. Out of the mud springs this beautiful blossom. Here is her message: “Out of the mud springs the lotus. You have been through the muck and the mud. Now is the time to blossom. You are connected to the mud, But what springs forth is unhindered, Holy, Beauteous. What springs forth from the mud, If you allow it to flow, is Pure joy. “ May your sorrows be transformed to joy. |
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Love’s Arc: Into the Deep30x40”
Acrylic Sold I painted this after watching humpback whales with a dear friend. Then we saw a white feather float down from the sky. She told me that her mother comes to her as white feathers. Observations by Lucia Tarallo, Hawaiian Scholar: In the painting, the realms of sky and ocean are represented by feather and tail...two extremely powerful iconic entities in Hawaiian culture...the feather as part of the avian kingdom signifies freedom and eternal life...the tail represents the same in the ocean..."as above so below." The magical arc trail links all elements. |
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Kwan Yin and the Tree of Life36x36”
$1000 Acrylic, Bodhi leaves, sage An image of this painting and this essay is published in Sandy Boucher's book She Appears! Encounters withKwan Yin: " I was taking a year-long painting class in which we studied, connected with, wrote about, and painted a different aspect of the Madonna or Divine Feminine every month. Last month, August, the subject was the Tree of Life. Being a procrastinator at heart, I usually get into a bit of a panic at the end of the month and then the painting comes through. Well, here I was in mid-August, and still no Madonna/Tree of Life painting. Concurrently, my oldest daughter, who had just graduated from college, was getting ready to leave home for an eleven-month internship in Taiwan. No coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I realized that this was probably a big deal for me as her mother—having to say goodbye for a year--but the way I was dealing with it was through distraction and busy-ness. I successfully buried my grief and anxiety and had no idea what I should be “doing” as a mother in this situation. The weekend before Sabine was going to leave, we decided to go for a walk. We went off our usual path and found a huge tree with roots sticking out all around. Sabine sat on one of the roots and I took some pictures. When I got home, I realized that this was the model for my Tree of Life painting. Yay! I painted a madonna-ish version of Sabine sitting by the tree; but I am not that great a painter and so she ended up looking like a flamenco dancer. When I showed the painting to my classmates, a couple of them thought the woman looked like Kwan Yin. I was wondering what Kwan Yin had to do with the Tree of Life. But I just sat and pondered. While I was painting, I noticed an old Kwan Yin statue that I have had for awhile. I bought this statue from a closeout sale at the mom and pop store down the street. I looked at the statue and saw that I could change my flamenco dancer into Kwan Yin using this image as a guide. After the painting was done, I felt a sense of peace. Sabine sitting at the tree had now transformed into Kwan Yin. Kwan Yin was one with Sabine. She was sitting on the roots, going deep into Mother Earth, telling me that my daughter and I would both be connected to Mother Earth, even if we were half a world away. Tears streamed as I realized that I was releasing my daughter to a power greater than me—that Kwan Yin would be and was in fact holding Sabine and holding me. After my daughter left, the painting took on a life of its own. I used the image to get grounded—to sit next to Kwan Yin and to follow the roots deep into the earth. I noticed the nook between Kwan Yin and the tree and used this image in healing meditations with friends and for myself. Sitting next to Kwan Yin in that nook brought calm and ease, even in the midst of desperation, despondency and depression. Kwan Yin, never a remote figure, had become even more accessible to me and to my friends. On the day of Sabine’s leavetaking, I was able to be present with her. Trusting, connected to Mother Earth and my daughter, I felt my sadness but also my pride and wonder that my baby was now ready to fly. " Here is the poem that came thru this painting: Come sit in the nook. You are held by the earth. You may lean on me. Here we breathe together. The Tree of Life offers a way in. A way to ground. A way to heal. Allow the flow of the waters To take away all doom and gloom. |
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Elephant Spirit12x12
Acrylic Sold I painted this after I went to South Africa. There was an elephant, Riff Raff, who was knocking down trees and fences. One of the landowners at a private reserve wanted to have him “culled”. Instead, they took Riff Raff to another reserve 64 kilometers away. The next day, Riff Raff was back home. He walked 64 km with his internal gps: ). For awhile, we were concerned that Riff Raff would be destroyed. However, the government intervened and he is safe at the moment. In this painting, the Great Elephant Spirit protects Riff Raff and all the ellies. Feel the strength and power, the leadership and groundedness, the compassion and connectedness of these magnificent beings. |
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Black Madonna: Our Lady of
20x28”
$800 Acrylic This is my first madonna painting, so it has a special place in my heart. When I was doing this painting of the Black Madonna, my mentor and bodyworker, Marion Rosen, was in the hospital. Here was my plea to the Black Madonna: O Black Madonna with your shawl of tender mercies Let Me In. O Black Madonna with your heart embracing the world Let Me In. O Black Madonna with your gentle, piercing, flowing, melting, loving, compassionate energy Let Me In. You are All-Knowing, All-Giving, All-Nurturing, All-Forgiving, All-Encouraging. My blindness and my battle-worn shield prevent me from seeing that You already welcome me in. O Black Madonna, full of Wisdom and Grace Help me to receive. ❤️❤️❤️ And this is from Our Lady of Tender Mercies: I understand your wounds, Your weariness, your fear, your hesitation. Rest in my arms. I am strong. I will not waiver. Trust in my strong arms and my warm embrace. I see you. |
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Sacred Portal: Womb of
24x30”
Acrylic $800 This is inspired by my journey to Yunnan, China. We hiked on a sacred mountain where a vulva was carved into the stone cliff. People made pilgrimages to this altar. This painting was used for the season of Lent at herchurch. The painting inspired Pastor Stacy Boorn to write a chant: “Lent is the Sacred Portal That draws us into the Womb of Wisdom” |
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Mary Magdalene: The Tomb is
24x30”
$800 Acrylic and Feather Mary Magdalene is depicted as an African Queen. Christians were told to believe she was a prostitute, but more and more evidence has emerged to highlight the importance she had as a disciple and as one who was deeply trusted and respected by Jesus. Some believe they were partners. Here is what she is saying in this painting: “I call you to bring forth healing in your world today. Your world needs the healing presence of a healthy and whole Feminine. Be true. Do not hide your pain. Embrace each other. Walk together. Remember that when others doubt, when you are not believed, when you are cast out, when your voice is silenced- that your connection to Truth, to Spirit, will prevail. Continue to open your hearts. Continue to tend the fires. Continue to listen and respond. We are connected- past, present, and future. The tomb is empty and our hearts are full. Walk through the door of possibilities. Blessings. Blessings. I see you.” |
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Cosmic Christ24x30”
$800 Acrylic The Cosmic Christ, who is beyond ethnicity and even gender, comes toward us. He/She is present. We just need to open ourselves to their power, compassion , healing, protection, and the LOVE force that flows thru them. I almost titled this Let Me Touch You. My friend Susannah shared the following quote with me: When St. Francis asked the almond tree to tell him about God, in just a few seconds the tree was covered with beautiful flowers. St. Francis was standing on the side of the ultimate dimension. It was winter. There were no leaves, flowers, or fruits, but he saw the flowers. We are entirely capable of touching the ultimate dimension. — Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ |
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I Love You: Gaia's Child12x13x10”
$400 Ceramic Originally, this sculpture was all about parenting - the giving and the growth and the challenge and the joy. After dialog with friends, I now I see that it is much broader than that- it is about all the times we put immense energy and effort into nurturing something, about dealing with frustration and disappointment in our labors of love. And the message from Gaia is I Love You. We are held even as we emerge. The right hand is signing I Love You. It is pointing in at the self, which means I love myself. The bowl represents the earth. The figure oozes up out of the earth. They are loved by the earth as they love themself. (Thanks to Rossana Reis for the descriptions) The head is a luscious and verdant garden of spirals and leaves. The figure has a round ball on their third eye, symbolizing the intuition, clear vision and knowledge that, integrated with love, leads to a balanced expression of power. The green glaze represents love and growth. The tear represents compassion. I will donate all the proceeds from the sale of this sculpture to the Bay Area Asian Deaf Association. Baadaca.com |
Divine Child: Rose12x12”
$800 Acrylic This painting represents the Divine Child within all of us- that part that is pure love, curious, explorative, playful, easily delighted. The message that comes from this painting is based on the Libby Roderick song “How Could Anyone”: HOW COULD ANYONE EVER TELL YOU YOU WERE ANYTHING LESS THAN BEAUTIFUL? HOW COULD ANYONE EVER TELL YOU YOU WERE LESS THAN WHOLE? HOW COULD ANYONE FAIL TO NOTICE THAT YOUR LOVING IS A MIRACLE? HOW DEEPLY YOU’RE CONNECTED TO MY SOUL. |
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Eternal Spiral
24x8”
Acrylic Sold I call this painting Eternal Spiral. It is about how energy flows everywhere and how everything around us and in us is energy. Here is what the Hawaiian scholar Lucia Rosaria Tarallo sees: Ad vitum...life, pure life...energy that contributes to the continuous creation of life...but then, life is always there, isn't it, even prior to a particular creation. Life creating life!!! Energy coddling us in its embrace...the male sperm flowing through a sea of female ovum... May creativity, transformation, vitality, Spirit, Divine Flow, growth and renewal be your’s. |
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Sacred Portal Wisdom’s Gate:
36x48”
$1800 Acrylic, gold leaf The background of the painting was inspired by my trip to southwest China. We were visiting sacred sites in Yunnan Province (the western part of China near India and the silk road). On one mountain there was a carved sacred yoni which they called Wisdom's Gate. At herchurch, they used one of my sacred portal paintings during Lent (the sacred portal drawing us into the womb of wisdom). For Easter, I painted the Venus of Willendorf (an actual statue in Vienna, dated back to 28,000BCE - one of the oldest surviving works of art, and one of many goddess icons from tens of thousands of years ago). The idea is that Easter is a sacred portal birthing us , from that place of wisdom, out into the world. |
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Hildegard of Bingen:
18x36”
Acrylic Sold Hildegard of Bingen OSB, also known as Saint Hildegard and the Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, visionary, and polymath. She is one of the best-known composers of sacred monophony, as well as the most-recorded in modern history. Wikipedia This doesn’t look like a typical image of Hildegard of Bingen. However, I do not have a typical relationship with St. Hildegard. My husband grew up in the town next to Eibingen, where Hildegard’s Abbey “Kloster Eibingen” is located. So on our many trips to Germany, his mother would take us to visit the Abbey (especially the gift store). I am not Catholic and had no idea that Hildegard had any popularity in the US. I just thought of her as the family saint. I liked going to the Abbey to hear the nuns sing during their evening Vespers mass. And I liked lighting candles and interacting with the friendly nuns. When my husband’s parents passed away, each time there was a nun from the Abbey who came to do last rites. Over the years, my relationship with Hildegard deepened. Our annual trips to Germany always included multiple trips to the Abbey and also the church where she is enshrined. This painting of Hildegard shows flowers I saw in the vineyards near the Abbey. Her headdress is simple, the way the nuns who worked in the vineyards looked. This painting has helped me thru the deaths of my father-in-law Heinz, my matriarch Auntie Jo, my beloved dog Lulu, and the shock of being evicted after living in the same home for 20 years. Through that rough year, Hildegard beamed her compassion and love. She held my grief. Hildegard was big into the idea of greening. From healthyhildegard.com: The definition (of Viriditas ) is both literal, as in “green”, “greenness”, and “growth”, yet also metaphorical, as in “vigor”, “verdure”, “freshness” and “vitality.” For Hildegard, the spiritual aspects were just as essential as the physical meaning. In much of her work, viriditas was “the greening power of God.” It was in everything, including humans. This “greenness” was an expression of heaven, the creative power of life, which can be witnessed in the gardens, forests, and farmland all around us. And like those lands, she saw viriditas as something to be cultivated in both our bodies and our souls. In this painting, Hildegard is surrounded by green. Viriditas cultivated in her body and soul. |
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