Celestial Bodies (tryptic)
Additional details about the symbols within this series. You can read the original artist statements and see larger versions of the images HERE.
Continuing my latest tradition of working with self portraits, this triptych started as a journey and exercise in seeing and honoring my family, my ancestors, and ultimately my daughters. As I worked on these images, I was able to better see and honor myself in the process. Healing is an individual journey that benefits from community and connection and in turn benefits the community. The reminders and visualization of that connection in these paintings was transformative to see and spoke to me both as a mother and as an individual.
These pieces are a reminder of how we are connected to the past, rooted in the present, and grow for the future. They are beautiful celebration of individuality and of belonging.
Fun fact: each of the titles in these pieces were inspired by a song! Read below to find out which ones!
Starwatcher
Notes on symbolism for this piece:
⭐ Each piece in this series has an astrological symbol that best aligns with each of my children. Intuitively I felt the star fit best with my little observant and quiet watcher. She sleeps peacefully while holding onto our shared soul string, feeling comforted in the connection to me presently and to her ancestors of the past.
🐍 In the background, amongst the ivy, is a snake representing the Divine Feminine wrapping around us. This comforting embrace is a symbol of God's acknowledgment and love for her children The repetitive symbolism of the snake representing the Feminine Divine was an unexpected addition to each painting and was wonderful to explore as it showed up differently in each situation.
🌿 The ivy in the background is both a symbol for loyalty and everlasting life. It has also been a symbol of the Divine Feminine and is a symbol of my daughter’s name.
🎵 Song that inspired the title: Starwatcher by the Decemberists
The sun is often out
Some notes on pieces of symbolism present in this piece:
🥚 I got a letter from my grandmother asking me to think of her when I saw eggs after I had gone no contact with her earlier in the year. It was a strange experience because I could see that despite her confusion and pain the letter still centered on her life experience and negated mine. This unusual request had an unintended connection to my daily life as my middle child was obsessed with eggs at the time and talked about them constantly. These two pieces of life sunk deep into my subconscious and manifested themselves in the symbolism of this painting as I thought deeply on depicting love, honor, and family with this series. This child holding an egg felt very fitting for this piece and spoke in layers and layers of symbolism and wisdom to my soul.
🐍 For the last two years of this child's life we've also been making our first beginnings of learning and growing to understand the Divine Feminine in a more personal sense. She sat on my lap as I painted my first God the Mother paintings, listened to my explanations of symbolism and history, and was present and helped as I built my first altars. As I was working on this piece it felt appropriate to have the snake symbol present and to have the Divine Feminine being symbolically released to influence and shape our lives.
☀️ Additionally, this child's natural calm and confident nature was something I wanted to depict. This can be seen in her holding her soul string with comfort and familiarity as she looks into the egg. She is often with me and is content to be beside me while standing in her own truth as we navigate the world in tandem. She is bold and bright and shares that light with others earning her the sun symbol.
🌳 The forest in this piece are pictured as dark and overwhelming. Life since this little one was born has been chaotic, not at all because of her. Life has been shifting and I’ve had to navigate waves of loss, grief, and growth with her by my side. We’ve found our light sources together by the making of this piece and are making our way through the woods.
🎵 Song that inspired the title: The Sun is Often Out by Patrick Wolf
You are the moon
🌊 The inspired water imagery is unique to this piece and set the tone for this last image. It represents changing tides both individually and generationally and the uncertainty that change can bring. Through the waterfalls, shared history and healing pour out from both mother and child. Overall, the water is still and there is a calm before the transformation.
🐍 The Divine Feminine is shown above the two figures in a guiding and watchful position. She too brings change with her as she sheds her skin, ushering change from one season into another.
🌙 In this piece, the daughter is guided through her uncertainty to look to the ties that bind her to her past and link her to her future. It is here that she is taught that with this link she is capable of harnessing both creation and creativity as the women in her matriarchal line did before her. With this exercise, she becomes aware that she is capable of being the moon.
🎵 Song that inspired the title: You Are the Moon by The Hush Sound
