Persephone

“Bloom,” acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 in.

“Crown,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60 in.

“Vessel Five,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Vessel Two,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Blossom,” acrylic on canvas, 84 x 60 in.

“Stem,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Floret,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Vessel Four,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Vessel Three,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“Cambium,” acrylic on canvas, 60 x 72 in.

“Vessel One,” acrylic on canvas, 48 x 36 in.

“PERSEPHONE” was a site-specific installation on the grounds of Historical Oakland Cemetery. Inspired by the natural beauty and the inherent narratives of the space, the experience was shown in Spring and showcased my paintings alongside dance and music performances (I helped direct collaborative pieces with Flight of Swallows, a collective of musicians and dancers).

The title alludes to the Greek myth of Persephone, the goddess of both vegetation and the underworld, who was permitted to leave Hades for only a part of each year. Spring, when she rejoined the land of the living, is when flowers would bloom and when foliage would grow. In Autumn and Winter, when she returned to the underworld, the land would lay bare.

As a metaphor, the tale of Persephone reflects our own life cycles. We are only allowed here for a few seasons, with each season necessitating the next, and that balance is held firmly. We are of this Earth and we will return to its soil, but, while Life is in bloom, that deserves celebration and respect.

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