Creativity Unleashes from a Dying Fish
In the Fall of 2018, 3 friends passed away. One of them, Lisa Charkey (lisacharkeyart.com), was an artist who knew the stabilizing power of art making. Even when dying she did not abandon that thread of expression, while I had practically severed mine. At her memorial exhibit, I felt an inner calling to return to art making for myself, but also for Lisa, as she was no longer here to continue. When I began to draw, this loose free sketch was the first one that I made. It reminded me of a large wounded beached fish. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. That each piece that followed would be another step toward healing trauma. Much later, I looked back and understood the significance of this first one: All dying is actually a new beginning. All beginnings are also a death. However, what is dying and being born is not yet clear. Wounded things emerging from the unconscious release tremendous creative energy. One cannot separate wounds from their inherent bound up gifts.