I saw a woman stand at her daughter's memorial service, with grace and gratitude, honesty and vulnerability. She spoke hope into the face of great darkness. She heroically faced a sacred moment in her life (rather than hiding, numbing, denying).
And yet I also honor what is not seen. The smaller moments. The unobserved moments. Waking up repeatedly with the loss of a loved one. Looking into the dark abyss of your heartache and choosing to keep walking.
In our society we celebrate specific things. We celebrate grad school and running long distances, but do we celebrate the quiet, hidden, moments of courage? Do we honor the daily heroism present behind closed doors and locked in hearts?
Being alive is heroic. Being alive and willing to face sacred moments is a gift to everyone around you.
I created these irises inspired by this woman, in memory of her daughter. Honoring her journey. Honoring her daughters journey. I think of irises, at least the varieties that grow near me, they are humble in the way the plant grows. They spread easily. They are hardy. And yet. Once they flower you realize the royalty, the exquisite beauty present right there. That is what this painting honors. It honors the blow your mind beauty present in ordinary life. That beauty feels destroyed when a loved one dies. And that beauty is restored as we learn to see it all around us. The courage to face life after such tremendous loss is like that gorgeous purple iris opening. It comes in ordinary/modest way, and yet its impact is extraordinary.
(left to right)
"Facing Sacred Moments I" 30" x 30" (SOLD)
"Facing Sacred Moments II" 30" x 30" (AVAILABLE)
"Facing Sacred Moments III" 30" x 30" (SOLD)