May Exhibition Honoring the Spirit of the Feminine

. . . The Caretakers

A quality I find almost universal with the feminine is the capacity to take care of others. I suspect I am not alone in excelling at this wonderful ability, and I shower it upon those I love. In the thick of the years of mothering small children I exercised my caretaking muscles vigorously and they were strong . . . And, I left someone out of the benefits of my labors--me. The paintings you see here reflect the feelings of losing contact with my personal vitality in service to my family. I forgot that I needed the same care I was giving to those I love.

It took time and courage to carve precious resources for myself in the face of the demands of family, and remains one of the most important choices of my life. Including myself in my own energetic budget gave me more authentic energy and joy. It was counter-intuitive at first . . . What on the outside looked like taking from my family actually gave them more. I learned that exercising my caretaking muscles for myself was far from selfish, it was the act of generosity for the good of all. “Color Drain,” “Acquiescence,” and “Where Did I Go?” serve as a reminder of this difficult and worthy lesson.