Parallel Worlds

Parallel: Continuing a resemblance through many particulars. Worlds: All that exists; everything.

Bringing my Parallel Worlds installation to fruition in August 2011 entailed more than 6 months of physical work and a half century of emotional and spiritual growth. Now, upon entering New Year 2012, seems an appropriate time to introduce it to you - partly because the holidays have been a sabbatical for me, and partly because while I'm embarking on several new works, I cannot stress enough that the creative cycle, including essential downtime, is what we all need for renewal.

Parallel Worlds is my symbolic interpretation of 13 feminine archetypes in each of us as a whole. The symbols are accompanied with prose that illuminates the archetype panels. Each panel is created with a mixed medium on hardwood. Turquoise, silver, onyx, moonstone and gold powder are embedded and richly painted in layers of matte relief encaustic wax, contrasted by high-gloss resin. The final installation as a unit is 82" x 48" x 4". You must see it in actuality, as photography cannot begin to convey the emotion, depth, texture or power it evokes.

I was inspired many years ago to depict symbolically the stages in our lives, as simply as I could. The “problem,” however, was that I first needed to experience these various stages. So that's why I refer to Parallel Worlds as a “life's work” - and one that is very much still in progress.