Commissioned by Lutheran Church Extension Fund to bring joyful color to a multi-use space in a ministry headquarters, this mosaic mural is comprised of nine panels and stretches 24 feet wide. The title comes from a Bible passage, Romans 5: 1 - 5, an encouragement to love, serve, and persevere because God has poured his love into our hearts. While I worked on the panels, both in my home studio and in a larger borrowed space, the mural was impossibly huge. It took miles and miles of "palette trash," material made by painting on plastic then peeling and cutting it into strips. To give a sense of "pouring" downward, airy hues evocative of sky and water cascade into darker blues and purples. Patterned pinks, oranges, yellows, browns and gold foil shimmer add to the dance. As well as a feature heart and cross flanking the screen, whole and broken hearts are scattered throughout. Thoughts on the theme, creative process, and installation can be found in the blog posts below.
This One is Big October 2, 2020 Big Progress October 21, 2020 Big Color October 28, 2020 Big Wrap Up November 17, 2020
It must be the vertical lines of bare trees that make late Fall exciting to me. I hungrily drink up skies and hillsides suddenly revealed, framed by inky spires. After a November 2020 road trip I made these mosaics, shown in order of creation. Each is 6 x 6 inches on wood.
Lush
4 x 4 x 1.5" Abstract mosaic in greens and blues with gold foil. Sits well on a shelf / surface or may be hung.
Sunset Over River
4 x 4" palette trash mosaic on canvas. Bands of pink and peach fill the sky along with white, blue, and gold foil. River glistens below hills. Made live during Artscape August 25, 2020. Comes with black display easel.
Black Over Gold #2
6 x 6 x 1.5" Abstract mosaic in sleek tuxedo blacks and whites with gold foil.
Lazarus Light
4 x 4 x 1.5 inch palette trash mosaic on wood. Inspired by a poem about Lazarus being raised from the grave, shimmering gold and metallic pale blue filters through layers of whites and grays. Read the full story of the inspiration and creative process on my blog dated March 11, 2021.
Milestones #7
4 x 4 x1.5 inch palette trash mosaic on wood. Streams of patterned whites, golds, and grays march across the surface with celebratory pops of color. Part of series started in 2019 after successful cancer treatment. Celebrating progress of all kinds gives strength for the journey.
Milestones #8
4 x 4 x 1.5 inch palette trash mosaic on wood. Vertical streams of patterned grays mark the progression of time, punctuated with celebratory pops of gold foil and bright colors. Part of a series started in 2019 following successful cancer treatment. The first of the series, mostly white and gray, hangs in my oncologist's office. #8 includes more bold color, more joy.
Sweet Morning
12 x 12 inch palette trash mosaic on wood. A sweet, juicy splosh of orange, pink, yellow, and purple. It might recall a morning sky or the taste and feel of fruit splashing in the mouth.
Milestones #9
12 x 12 inch palette trash mosaic on wood. Bands of white patterned with gray and ochre stream down into a dance party of blues, greens, pinks, oranges, yellows, and gold foil. Part of a series started in 2019 following successful cancer treatment as a reminder to celebrate the little things.
7/8 inch cradle painted pale gray.
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TEAL SERIES for OVARIAN CANCER SUPPORT
Teal was one of my favorite colors before I learned it was the awareness color for ovarian cancer, so with the joy of a survivor I make lotsa pieces in teal. 25% of teal sales go to support either the Johns Hopkins Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service or the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition. SHOP TEAL |
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November 1st , 2019 marked one year since receiving the news of NED (no evidence of disease) status after treatment for ovarian cancer. I decided to celebrate by making a three-panel altarpiece to praise God for my health and his tender care.
Hezekiah, a king of ancient Judah, became dear to me during treatment thanks to my nephew. The account of Hezekiah's illness and recovery gave me reminders of God's goodness. Read the whole story >>
The concept of milestones took on new meaning for me during treatment for ovarian cancer in 2018. I took time to note and celebrate points of progress of all kinds—medically, physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally. There were mega-milestones like hitting the halfway point in chemo and tiny ones like simply reaching the end of a bag of whatever-platin during an infusion. Celebrating kept me present to the moment and boosted momentum to keep moving forward. I hope everyone who views it is reminded to see progress and moments worth celebrating all around. It now hangs in my gyn onc's office, the incredible Dr. Rebecca Stone who understands these milestones like no one else.
Gold Over Twilight
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength
Always Being Made New
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Just under 4 inches square, this little painted prayer makes my heart sing. Over cobalt blue I collaged gold leaf and strips of dried palette paint. I was inspired to make this for someone going through a difficult time. He told me the story of his daughter's bold battle with ovarian cancer and her now even bolder life. My own father passed before my ovarian cancer hit so to hear what it was like for him - his pain as well as his fatherly pride for her faith and bravery - was a powerful encouragement. Even though I placed each piece myself, deliberation and delight in equal measure, it feels more like it was given to me than that I crafted it. I pray it is a blessing.
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