Artist's Statement

For several years I studied the unique lessons of different species of trees as a mirror of human experience.  Many cultures (both past and present) believe in deities, trees spirits and/or worship trees for their protection, healing powers and food provision. Inspired by this, I created installations that encourage audiences to physically interact with the display to make contact with deeper meanings and hidden dialogs. By exploring the trees' “historical language” through their physical manifestations, I came to understand the variety and intensity of inner growth cycles and how they related personal experiences of growth and change. 

My resultant comprehension inspired a relocation to British Columbia to live directly with my muse, the trees.  I was rewarded with a conscious step beyond the looking glass into an ongoing body of work focusing directly on the human form.  This series of "acceptance" paintings - called The Subtle Body - relates to concepts described by Dr. Amit Goswami, PH.D, Theoretical Quantum Physicist and explored through a practice of Hidden Language Yoga I learned at the  Yosadhara Ashram.  Simply put, by using yoga of the gross (or physical) body, one can access the subtle body (immaterial consciousness) where self-awareness, understanding and acceptance of the human form far beyond the our limited cultural conditioning resides.

The Subtle Body works are broken into LLUNIO and the ASANAS - one a personal exploration and the other using local people of all body types - presented in a series of stretches aimed at releasing limitations, tension and emotion.  Beyond typical poses of beauty, these fragments are painted over, yet still reveal abstract underpaintings which have the same purpose of creation.  Time, challenges, spiritual growth and awareness are reflected in the layers between the initial and final paintings.

The Subtle Body works are intended to reveal the light and shadow selves (the gross and subtle bodies) in perfect harmony and necesary to form the most beautiful whole. Not only does it honour the journey that questions cultural and inherited fabrications of the physical self, it celebrates self-acceptance and the joy of long growth cycles.