Dear Laura,
These most recent artworks back and forth through the mail have been in an insightful conversation. I feel like we are hitting a stride!
Your most recent addition to The Collective brought up a powerful symbol- the circle. It is one that you are often drawn to (even suggested in your square formats). I agree with you that it symbolizing wholeness. I also see it as infinite energy. My artwork, teaching practice, and other interests often follow a circle pattern by coming back around to my essential questions. Now that I am listening more intently due to my meditation and mindfulness practices, I am noting when my ideas come around to a circle. When this happens, I know there is something important to pay attention to.
When I saw the map below the feather painting, I was reminded of a few of your earlier works. Do you remember these?
The dates are noted 2012 and 2013! The one on the right was part of our Vision/ReVision series and the original post can be found HERE. These layering of maps, materials, and imagery started a long time ago for both you and me.
When I made this piece, I knew I wanted the maps to be torn and layered like you did. I then thought about the circle. While painting it I remembered the most recent celestial event: the Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse on January 31. It was a blue moon, a lunar eclipse, and a super moon! This called for some gold leaf to represent these cyclical events aligning.
Enjoy!
Below is a process video of applying the gold leaf.
