The Human Condition, the Human Spirit:
Wreckage & Beauty
Exhibit at Luther Seminary, Olson Campus Center, St. Paul, MN
March 15, 2014-May 15, 2014
This exhibit wrestles with war and its effects on humanity and creation. Wreckage and beauty.
I had the privilege of standing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, last summer. I stood on this most serene beach, the gentle breeze kissing my face, and looked out upon those waters. It was incredibly beautiful. There was an overwhelming sense of peace, as the water lapped over my feet. And then I imagined that day, June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces stormed the beaches of northern France. My heart was heavy with its import. I read Stephen Ambrose’s book, D-Day before arriving. I hadn’t realized the incredible undertaking it was and the mess it turned out to be. Days filled with carnage and destruction. Enormous loss of life and terrible suffering. The contrast of that day and the day I stood on this peaceful beach was enormous. Unfathomable. War. We seem to repeat it over and over again. Why? These are the things that trouble my heart. Artistic contrasts, like contrasts in life, bring focus and attention, perhaps understanding. And so, I paint.
I had the privilege of standing on Omaha Beach in Normandy, last summer. I stood on this most serene beach, the gentle breeze kissing my face, and looked out upon those waters. It was incredibly beautiful. There was an overwhelming sense of peace, as the water lapped over my feet. And then I imagined that day, June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces stormed the beaches of northern France. My heart was heavy with its import. I read Stephen Ambrose’s book, D-Day before arriving. I hadn’t realized the incredible undertaking it was and the mess it turned out to be. Days filled with carnage and destruction. Enormous loss of life and terrible suffering. The contrast of that day and the day I stood on this peaceful beach was enormous. Unfathomable. War. We seem to repeat it over and over again. Why? These are the things that trouble my heart. Artistic contrasts, like contrasts in life, bring focus and attention, perhaps understanding. And so, I paint.
Wreckage & Beauty (Normandy Beach)
40 x 30"
The Human Spirit
24 x 18"
Opposing Forces
40 x 30"
Remembering...
36 x 24" (inside white border)
Light in the Darkness
24 x 18"
SOLD
