Six for Gold, egg tempera. Private collection

The idea for Six for Gold and nine companion paintings came about six years ago after my Grandma Dewey died. She was 104. The seed of inspiration for a series of ten paintings germinated when I wrote this post about her: Grandma Dewey: Lullabies and Laughter.

Six for Gold received much attention at the opening of my solo show in January at Hughes Gallery and sold right away. Often viewers are surprised at how profoundly an original painting moves them. They search for words to describe the experience and come up wanting. Expressing the depth of our lives cannot be conveyed in any one form. We need Art; poetry, literature, music and dance, sculpture and painting to communicate and share the rich and colorful spectrum of our own experiences. Thomas Merton writes in No Man is an Island:

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. The mind that responds to the intellectual and spiritual values that lie hidden in a poem, a painting, or a piece of music, discovers a spiritual vitality that lifts it above itself, takes it out of itself, and makes it present to itself on a level of being that it did not know it could ever achieve.”

Art can take us out of ourselves. As I write this, the Coronavirus is permeating our country. We are advised to distance ourselves from each other and not shake hands. We are told to self-isolate and refrain from human touch.

Distancing does not mean denial. Maybe we need a break from this whirlwind consumptive world. Maybe we can take this time to turn inward and deepen our intention toward life and find meaningful ways to connect in our relationships.

Artists have been self isolating for eons. During long hours in the studio I often listen to audio books or podcasts.

Here are a few that are not endorsements, only suggestions:

• Cultivate awareness with OnBeing.
• Take an online course at Uedmey.
• Immerse in an intelligent conversation at Entitled Opinions.
• Stay calm with Tara Brach or heal with Russel Brand.
• Read or listen to a free classic book at Libravox.
• Here is a List of 12 Stellar Museums that provide digital collections.

Ultimately, I pray we come out of this pandemic with more understanding and compassion, and a desire to make a more beautiful, equitable, sustainable world.

For now. Let us not forget the healing touch of our hearts.