THE PLANT MEDICINE SERIES
My work as a mix of visual art, energy healing, scientific research and spiritual practice that provides a primary visceral experience for the viewer, as well as an opportunity to shine a light on the connection between art, science and spirituality (and everything else) through the exploration of energies in relationship.
In 2017-2018 I painted The Boundaries Lost and Found series in which the multi-layered paintings of radiating dashes over colorful abstracted backgrounds are meant to convey fields of energy in relationship. In the 2020 Subtle Matter series, the dashes around the edges evolved into Morse code messages. Each painting for this series is based on a crystal. The title of each piece is a phrase explaining the properties of the crystal. This phrase is repeated in Morse code around the entire painting.
It is my intention that this repetition of meditative, intentional action encodes the painting with the energy of the message, thereby providing the viewer with a visual healing experience. This coding can be seen throughout my current work as well.
As I expand this exploration of vibrational earth medicine to include plant medicines - with a focus on flower essences - I’m also expanding my use of materials. In this new work, digital collage and video, light, sound, live plants, plexiglass and wood are added to my painting process to create a more complex and interactive experience.
The paintings, digital collages, sculptures and videos are created to be mesmerizing and meditative and used as a tool or at least an invitation to stop, focus on the moment and BE with the art and with yourself long enough to notice what comes up for you in your body or mind.
I imagine that as I witnessed with the crystals, people will be drawn to the specific flower essences, plants or fungi that invite the particular healing that they subconsciously desire. Experiencing the energy of vibrational earth medicines that would otherwise be ingested, through alternate senses such as sight, touch and sound might potentially induce that healing on a much more interactive and conscious level. This is the intention and hope that I hold for this work.
I believe viewers find a depth and richness of meaning in all the deeper facets of physics, geology, biology, consciousness, plant medicine, reiki, meditation, intuition, technology, and the artistic process. Within this web of meaningful connection woven by the natural world, is also where we find peace and healing.
“For we now recognize the nature of our disease. What is wrong with us is precisely the detachment of these forms of experience – art, religion, and the rest – from one another; and our cure can only be their reunion in a complete and undivided life. Our task is to seek that life, to build up the conception of an activity which is at once art, and religion, and science, and the rest.” R.G. Collingwood
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind.” Luther Burbank
“I trust myself to Nature, she may do as she will with me.” Goethe
Images below are works in progress unless otherwise noted
Light it up
VIDEO: “Inside a Vibrational Medicine Garden” Layered Plexi Painting with “Lilac Essence” Digital Collage Projection
I’ve had this concept of a light-filled, kaleidoscopic plant energy biofeedback healing experience in my head for years. A confluence of light and color and sound inspired by plant energies- a visual and tangible vibrational medicine experience.
THE MATERIALS
I absolutely love the shine and dimension of clear acrylic. I’ve never worked with epoxy resin but like the layered depth it achieves- plexi is like that but far easier, less toxic, faster, and it allows for the use of space between layers. For Plant Medicine related work, the various functions of light is an important focus. I think that’s where the plexiglass and mirror and neon elements come in. Because my process does not involve me reasoning everything through and then bringing it to life, I’m just now connecting the dots. I’m drawn to certain materials, colors, concepts, visual forms, play with them and then backtrack and investigate to figure out how it all makes sense. Here’s what I got so far…
ABOUT LIGHT
An obvious correlation to be drawn between this body of work and Light is the process of photosynthesis which is relevant to plants harnessing energy, and photons of light itself. Just visualizing and imagining the function and effects of these little packets of energy and information flying around is fascinating. And the quantum implications…that’s another tangent. There’s also the science and spirituality of flower essences, which are made with plants, water and sunlight.
There’s something about the visual of sunlight on water, like the reflection of a bright light on mirror, distorted prismatic color and beautiful abstraction of the surrounding natural world- offering an alternate perspective and perception- like a kaleidoscope. I want this work to surround you with that feeling.
I suppose it could simply be a celebration of Light. That it makes color and vision and reflection possible. That it is energy itself in a fascinating form…
FERN ESSENCE Digital Collage, 2021
LILAC ESSENCE Digital Collage, 2021
LILAC ENERGY 1: "EMBODYING FREEDOM AND FLEXIBILITY FOR EMBRACING CHANGE THROUGH NON ATTACHMENT" 36X36in. House Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 2022
FERN ENERGY 1: "UNFURLING INNER VISION FOR CREATING WHAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE" 36X36in. House Paint and Acrylic on Canvas, 2022
