About the Artist
I have journeyed as an artist since early childhood. My path has led me through art school, public school art teaching, more art training, teaching private art lessons, and developing my own artistic expression throughout the process.
I believe there is a deep mystery in the process of creative expression. I believe that this mystery is conveyed when a person is deeply connected with his or her own authentic self. A twelfth century mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, used the concept of co-creation to suggest that we have joined with Divine Source toward further inviting our humanity to unfold. I feel that the current art tradition has distantly removed itself from this connection with spiritual unfolding and co-creation. My own experience of reconnection with Source has come through a process of peeling back layers that have been in the way of my path toward self-expression. As a way of moving closer to my authentic self, I focused simultaneously on my own artwork and on issues of psychology and spirituality, encouraging the layers to fall off. This shedding of layers has cleared a path of creative expression for me that is personal, emotional, and fully satisfying, while being spiritually enriching and enlightening.
A visual example of layers being shed appears in the shapes of my art pieces. As I became more authentically connected, I realized that the corners of rectangular and square forms felt too sharp to me. I began to round off the corners of the paper that I worked on, and from there the edges gave way to shapes that were more free-form and organic.
I have always also had a deep love for nature and its inherent beauty. I began taking photographs of natural things that were inspiring to me. I feel such a connection with nature's seasonal cycles and rhythms that I wanted to share that connection here through my photographs.
Throughout this journey I have been well-companioned by my good and supportive friends. I am grateful for this gift of connection. I invite you to your own experience of this website and the sharing of my art. Feel free to register your presence by contacting me.
-- Thanks for visiting! Sue Whitacre
About the Nature Photographs
These photographs capture moments I have spent connecting with and learning from the wonder of this garden called Earth, poised within the vast Universe. I have always had a special affinity for nature and the rhythm of the changing seasons. Also, I enjoy the flow of streams and water. And I love the open skies of the Midwest. I have grouped these photos accordingly.
"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars." --Walt Whitman, Song of Myself
About the Fine Art
I have been making art since I was very young. I love this outlet of expression. These images have come into existence through the metamorphosis of my life journey. This process has been mostly about healing and transforming spiritual beliefs so that true Spirit lives in me--so that my spirit is alive within my physical body and my life view. How do you connect with your soul?
About the Images of the Unknown
Our life journeys take us into Unknown territory if we listen deeply. Our fears of the Unknown are perplexing to us, while also feeling entirely real.
At some point I realized that my fear of the unknown was inhibiting my process of forward movement. I created this series of art images as I consistently chose to face and engage the Unknown. At that time the color black had been missing from much of my artwork. I realized that black symbolized the unknown for me. I made regular explorations into the unknown by incorporating more and more black into my artwork. The fears arose each time, but later with decreasing intensity. Eventually I found a benevolent and gentle voice through embracing the energy of the Unknown, and my fears greatly subsided. The Unknown became my friend, and a larger source of creative energy was made available to me.
"Because I am so close to the Unknown--the possibility is strong for something to happen which has never happened before." --Journal entry, July 27, 1998
|
