Mother We Won't Forsake You
Leaping and Diving through Minnows and Dragons is a painting inspired by my grandchildren's joyful quest for movement interpreted within the context of Chinese mythological symbols. (1)
One hot afternoon, my granddaughter, Mirabelle spied a school of minnows near the edge of a river's dock. Elated to see minnows leaping, zigzagging and shimmering she exclaimed, "Look, a cloud of minnows." Throughout the week I watched barefoot Mirabelle jumping, leaping and cartwheeling on dry grass and then dash and dive into the tepid North River's water. Vicariously I felt her freedom and energetic embrace of movement. And so, that week of Mirabelle's youthful movement and seeing with Mirabelle the momentary cloud of silver fish, was this painting's inspiration.
Later, in my studio as I recalled this idyllic time, a shadow creeped into my consciousness. The shadow cast by my abiding awareness that all future generations are precarious due the very real increasing effects of global climate change.
Creating artworks, which celebrate the joy experienced by children through sports, dance and play, is a poignant reminder of what will be lost if we continue to “sleepwalk into climate catastrophe”.[2]
www.instagram.com/p/C_3n9M_SgUd
“Chinese dragons are powerful and benevolent symbols with supposed control over watery phenomenon.” My latest paintings celebrate with color and brush strokes the spiritual ferocity of the Chinese dragon and children’s exuberance while leaping, flipping, turning through an imaginary cosmic space. [1] https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-chinese-dragons.htm
[2] https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1114322