About the Artist & the Work

Inspired by the Expressive Arts Therapy thesis I am working on, this work explores artographically the notion that acts of creation like art making are uniquely positioned to heal, especially trauma. When we speak of trauma, we sometimes reference the ‘Freeze’ response.

I am emerging from the stuck place, the frozen landscape. In creating these works I moved into flow; quite literally using flowing warm wax to thaw and shape my story. I call this series “At the Intersection of Science and Soul”. I wanted to do a series exploring scientific tropes refracted through an artistic lens.

I look at them in series - like illuminated manuscripts. Jacob’s Ladder, symbolizing ascension, resilience and the spiritual journey, appeared unbidden in both of these works. The ladder represents the divine flow state, healing. Soul lives here, science can’t quantify this power.

“My Father’s Heart, X-ray on Talit”

Encaustic mixed media: Late father’s linen prayer shawl (Talit) mounted on birch substrate, personal photography, original linocuts, oil pastel, Aquarelle, pan pastel, walnut ink, gold ink and gold leaf. His lab report became a poem, some of which is embedded in the work. Additional Hebrew biblical text.

“Jacob’s Ladder”

Encaustic mixed media on glass and frame: photograph of an original oil painting on rice paper mounted on glass, oil pastel, pan pastel, collage, embedded Hebrew biblical text, gold leaf, Goldfinger. Small reproduction I painted of a Chagall detail in the upper right corner.