Created: 2010
Media: Acrylic on Canvas w/Welded Supports
Size: Ten (10) canvases of various sizes on stands for a total footprint of 6-foot high x 14-foot wide x 5-foot deep
Location: Shown during ArtPrize 2010 at Huntington/50 Monroe (along the North edge of the BOB¹s parking lot)
Current Location: Several paintings have been sold, and a few remain in the artist's possession, "Child's Death" adorns her living room

ORDER PRINTS and MERCHANDISE

"Child's Death" 36"x24"

"Freedom"

"PersonaliTREES"

Do YOU See It? (Every Tree is a Person!)

Welded trunks supported 10 canvases of varying sizes depicting
'PersonaliTREES' which will make you laugh, think, stop, look again - and maybe even feel the deep sadness of losing a loved one, or the joy of dancing... a wide range of emotions in a small amount of space. Fun, unique, interactive, with top-quality craftsmanship, excitement and ingenuity.

This work engaged viewers in the excitement of 'seeing' trees posed in scenes from everyday human life - involving the viewer in the work, instead of simply 'seeing a pretty picture.' Realistic trees are covered with layers of glaze, allowing the viewer to 'see' what the artist had envisioned in her mind's eye.

Child's Death
This powerful painting depicts a father and a mother (the dark trees on the left, their faces are where the trees straighten to go upwards) reaching out with their "branch" arms and hands, trying to stop their child from dying (the child's face is in white snow above his "branch" arm, which is flung backwards over his head). Of course, this is a hopeless act... filled with that un-nameable, horrific emotion that everyone (whether they are a parent or not) can understand on an instinctual level. Close observers will note the light in the sky where the child¹s soul is leaving the body - and I have had people tell me they see angel wings in the trees behind the child¹s body. I did not paint them there intentionally, but now I can see them too.

Freedom
A powerful painting depicting our American flag as a woman standing tall, proud and free - blowing in the breeze. The woman is shown in profile, her head near the top of the tree facing left. She has her arms outstretched and is holding onto a piece of white fabric which stretches out behind her. Her skirt takes up the whole bottom portion of the tree. She is wearing a white gown with red ribbons. She reminds me of that famous scene from the movie Titanic. Do you see her? Do you feel the freedom?

Prom Trees
Three girls (the trunks of the 3 flowering trees) in slim black dresses show off their new prom hair-doos. (They are stretching out their arms and 'poofing up their -doos'.)
The Pine Tree on the far left can be either the chaperone at the dance, or one of the girl¹s evil step-mothers ­- whatever you decide.
Next spring, you will have to let me know if you see all of the 'Prom Trees' alongside the roads during prom season, like I do :)

Ballerinas
Have you ever seen little girls watching older dancers, dreaming of they day that they would be one of them? There are three grown ballerinas in the background, warming up with stretches before their class begins. There are two young ballerinas in tutu's, watching the older girls, on the bottom left of the painting. You can see the back and sides of their heads with their hair done up in buns. Looking at this painting brings back the childhood dreams I once had while watching older people doing things I wanted to do... now I am living my dreams!

Hippie
A memory-evoking painting for many individuals 'of a certain age' harking back on a simpler time when seeing hitchhikers was a common site along America¹s roadways. The hippie stands by the roadside with his bell bottom corduroys, his peace symbol necklace and headband, with his thumb in the air. The rock by his side becomes his army bag, packed with all of his worldly possessions, as he travels to whatever the next destination in his life may be. 

Choir
I hear music every time I look at this painting, or the trees that inspired it. The tall straight White Pines in the background show a proud choir, standing straight and doing their best to perform. Some look serious, some look bored, some are making a great effort and some are lip syncing... can you tell who is who? Most people can easily see the choir, but can you see the conductor?  The conductor is the leafy tree in front of the Pines, seen from behind. Can you see the head, shoulder and arms leading the music?

Goddess
This painting glows and sparkles and depicts the 1,000-Armed Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of Mercy & Compassion - one of the most widely worshipped divinities in Asia and Japan in both ancient and modern times. Tradition says that Kannon vowed to work unceasingly until everyone could be free from suffering. After countless attempts to achieve this goal, the goddess split into pieces in frustration. Kannon now has 1,000 arms and hands to help alleviate suffering in the world. Each hand holds a golden object, something to help with this daunting task.

Grandpa
This thought-inspiring painting depicts a grandfather and his grandchild. The face of the grandfather can be seen at the top of the tall aged tree on the right. Can you see his shoulder and arm extending downward to end at his hand, which he has outstretched to take the hand of his grandchild (seen in the small, young tree looking up at their Grandpa¹s face)? They are next to a path that leads across a bridge and continues on to a town in the distance. A path that they will never travel down, because they are 'stuck' where they are. They will live life in years, not in places seen or experiences from afar - they are happy with what they are given.. a nice spot to share with family. A lesson we should all take to heart.

Fruit Tree
A fun painting showing the 'Chiquita Banana' lady (or Carmen Miranda, for those that remember her) dancing the Cha Cha with her hat full of bananas, oranges, grapefruits, apples and other fruits.  Makes you want to dance, doesn¹t it?

Ash Borer War
This provocative painting shows a battle from the Ash Borer War that we are fighting in America - between our Ash Trees and the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. We seem to be losing, as most of our Ash Trees are cut down and burned to try to eradicate the infestation of the beetles. I pass by this stand of trees every day going to work, they are inside an army training camp where we hear gunfire and helicopters overhead as they train for battle. I have turned the fallen trees into fallen soldiers, with one still falling. The falling soldier holds an AK-47 in his hand, but is unable to shoot the enemy... beetles are pretty small :)

Custom-welded Stands
The tree trunk stands were welded by my talented brother. It is great to work with someone who can take your idea and make it real :) 

MANY thanks and love to my brother, Dennis, and my parents, Dennis and Jean - for the custom creations, the help with installation and tear-down, and the encouragement and support! None of this could happen without you guys!!!