A Soft Place to Fall Enee Abelman
The impetus for this portfolio came from an interchange I had with my mother during her final days. She had spent her career devoted to people suffering from chronic and destructive addictions, and even after her retirement, she continued her dedication to people whose lives seemed hopeless. I asked her, “Ma, why did you endlessly listen to those who may never change? You were always so empathetic.” Our eyes locked, in a near final gaze: “‘Cause everyone needs a soft place to fall.” Two years after my mother died, I traveled to the Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains intending to immerse myself in the creation of a piece that reflected our remarkable conversation. As an artist, I rarely consider drawing,. hHaving avoided that option since childhood;, I found other means of conveying my art. After several frustrating starts and stops at Penland, I sat down on the floor to think. All around me on the concrete were the detritus of other artists: dried paint and hardened clay, all walked into mystical patterns, awaiting interpretation. From this canvas of unwanted and abandoned materials, the gift of Mom’s story of hope and empathy arose. A Soft Place to Fall is an unearthing of my drawing voice.
for Helen and Alois
Hope
Broken
“I must discover
what lives deep within me.�
Trust
Bear witness and listen,
these gifts she was given.
Promise
Empthy
A soft place to fall.
Written and Illustrated by Enee Abelman Designed by Stephanie Clark
Š 2015 Enee Abelman All Rights Reserved www.eneeabelman.com