Sustain Me

Sustain me brings together themes of creating beauty from brokenness, respecting the past, hoping in the future, and holding our friendships with intention and gratitude.  Over the past two years, I've been near to those walking through sickness, loss, deep hurt and grief. I've learned that this life is incredibly fragile, which makes it all the more important to seek beauty at all costs. 

Symbolism is used to convey hidden stories. The broken vessels represent all of us who have endured hardship and have been made whole again. The flowers represent life and generosity. The broken glass represents the loss of a future with someone, or passing of a loved one. The movement of the wind and light represents the Holy Spirit, and the water pouring into the vessel represents abundant life in Jesus. These symbols tell individual stories in each painting but also, collectively they portray the gospel.

Within the collection there is a sub-series called "golden threads," where delicate lines dance across a deep blue dream-like background. Each thread represents people who intersect for a moment or many years. Like RNA and DNA spiral together, so our friendships create something that was not before. The golden threads speak to the idea that life is not always about where we are headed or what we are doing, it is about the interactions and relationships we have.

The final pieces came together through exploration of abstract concepts and slow movements. Each painting is unique in time dyed in the sun, bathed in water, painted on, drawn on, and carefully sealed with wax.