Come one, come all to the Upstairs Art Gallery, 420 Main Street in Placerville, California. I’ve got two pastels hanging in the show for several weeks. Here are photos of the pieces and the words of the narratives that accompany each picture.
Title: Healing Tree Medium: Pastel
As I drew these shapes, a stomach emerged with a tree growing up from it. This tree represents the hope I feel about completely healing from the impact of infant surgery. I am still dealing with post-traumatic stress (PTS) from the operation. When I made this pastel, I had just learned that it is likely that I hadn’t been anesthetized before the surgery; instead, I was given a muscle paralyzer to keep me still during the procedure. In the 1950s, the medical profession believed that babies didn’t feel pain and that anesthesia could seriously harm a baby. See my blog for more information about this, PTSD, and the process of healing from trauma: http://myincision.wordpress.com
Title: Moon Shell Medium: Pastel
I made this pastel after finishing my memoir manuscript, The Autobiography of a Sea Creature, about living in the aftermath of infant surgery without anesthesia. The image is very calm, centered and peaceful. When I began the book, the series of pictures that I pastelled were filled with chaos, pain, and confusion. This pastel shows how far I’d come through writing. Excavating the past helped me find balance and joy.
Here’s a photo of yours truly and “Moon Shell” taken by my friend Laci.
Wendy, these are so beautiful! What a lovely artist you are. I adore you my fellow artist friend and look forward to the next time our paths cross.
Thank you so so much. I adore you, too and wish I could have come to your book party. I was dealing with a concussion, and as Griffin was out of town, couldn’t figure out on my own how to drive myself there and be social. Sounds and social settings were a bit hard then. I hope you have another book party or reading. I WILL COME!
Wendy, these are so beautiful! What a lovely artist you are. I adore you my fellow artist friend and look forward to the next time our paths cross.
Thank you so so much. I adore you, too and wish I could have come to your book party. I was dealing with a concussion, and as Griffin was out of town, couldn’t figure out on my own how to drive myself there and be social. Sounds and social settings were a bit hard then. I hope you have another book party or reading. I WILL COME!
My goodness! No anesthesia! I am sure your parents were in somuch mental anquish over this. I get upset over my babies getting vaccines, so to think that my baby was in so much pain…Geez. Well, thank God you are OK, and here to teach me how to write and think!
My parents didn’t know that their baby, me, wasn’t getting anesthesia, isn’t this incredible? If they had known, I wonder how they would have dealt with this information. It’s truly amazing that I survived, given the lack of anesthesia and the fact that I weighed four pounds and was dying. I’m so glad that you are in my class. Yes, I hope I have something to teach you about writing. With regard to thinking, I think you’ve got that down!!
My goodness! No anesthesia! I am sure your parents were in somuch mental anquish over this. I get upset over my babies getting vaccines, so to think that my baby was in so much pain…Geez. Well, thank God you are OK, and here to teach me how to write and think!
My parents didn’t know that their baby, me, wasn’t getting anesthesia, isn’t this incredible? If they had known, I wonder how they would have dealt with this information. It’s truly amazing that I survived, given the lack of anesthesia and the fact that I weighed four pounds and was dying. I’m so glad that you are in my class. Yes, I hope I have something to teach you about writing. With regard to thinking, I think you’ve got that down!!
So sorry I cannot make it to the exhibition. These sketches are indeed different from many of the earlier ones you have shared: so integrated, calm and flowing and full of poise and hope. I’m grateful and pleased for you that you can trace the progress of your healing.
Thank you. Yes, these pastels show how far I’ve come and how powerful artwork can be as a tool in healing. And anyone can do it! I’ve had no art training, and I’m glad I haven’t. I do what I want, not thinking about what’s right or wrong. 🙂
So sorry I cannot make it to the exhibition. These sketches are indeed different from many of the earlier ones you have shared: so integrated, calm and flowing and full of poise and hope. I’m grateful and pleased for you that you can trace the progress of your healing.
Thank you. Yes, these pastels show how far I’ve come and how powerful artwork can be as a tool in healing. And anyone can do it! I’ve had no art training, and I’m glad I haven’t. I do what I want, not thinking about what’s right or wrong. 🙂