The Wisdom Tree

 Wisdom Tree (2011) - Ramona Dallum Lindsey, Artist

The Wisdom Tree is the first in the Trees of Life Series.  It was created with the assistance of Carolyn Crump, a noted textile artist living in Houston, Texas who is well versed in 3D textile sculpture.  She helped me bring my creative vision to life by showing me the basics of 3D construction. She also introduced me to methods of incorporating acrylic paints and water color pencils into my work.  These elements showing up consistently in my work.

The Wisdom Tree is a metaphor for life.  It is a visual representation of the various stages in the life of an individual. The journey starts at the tree's base.  At some point in life each person feels insignificant.  She is a small creature in a large world struggling to find her way. She spends her time climbing over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  The caterpillars on the rocks symbolize this stage in life's journey.

As a person grows, she realizes knowledge is key for success.  Once knowledge is found, a person must feed from knowledge and apply it.  Applied knowledge becomes wisdom.  The wrinkles and frown lines in an older person's face are a badge of honor testifying to the experiences shaping wisdom.  The tree represents wisdom.  Her face is a badge of honor. Her roots are firmly rooted in a strong foundation.  She doesn't horde her wisdom, but freely shares it with anyone needing to feed from it. 

The ultimate goal of life's journey is the discovery of purpose. Feeding from wisdom gives someone the energy to transform from insignificance to importance. The butterflies represent this transformation.  Once the transformation is complete the butterflies must fly to share their beauty with the world. Each person must follow the butterflies example.  Sharing your individual purpose with the world signifies the completion of an important stage in life's journey.

The Wisdom Tree has been shown at several Chicagoland venues.  These included Fine Art of Fiber (Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL), A.R.I.S.E Small Business Expo (House http://www.houseofhope-chicago.org/of Hope, Chicago, IL), and The Peace Concert Series (Soka Gakkai International Cultural Center, Chicago, IL).   It will also be on display and available for purchase at the Gallery D'estee sponsored by the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and State Farm.  The show is scheduled for  March 2nd (6pm - 8pm) and March 3rd (2pm - 8pm) at the Parkway Ballroom (4455 S. King Dr., Chicago, IL).  Gallery D'estee admission is free.

New Year - New Series!

Chicago, Illinois

Sprawling cement jungles girded with steel beams and bejeweled with shimmering glass pay homage to man’s industrial spirit.  They reflect his desire to create, control, and reinvent his surroundings.  Since biblical days people have constructed massive feats of architecture to demonstrate their power and prowess. 

 

Nehantic State Park - Niantic, Connecticut

Nature’s demonstration of her majesty stands in stark contrast to man’s cement jungles.  Remember your last woodland hike or stroll through a lush city park.  You undoubtedly encountered trees along your path.  Some were tall, lean, and supple while others were swayed, knotty, and worn.  But nearly all of them stood with their arms stretched towards  heaven.  In seasons of rebirth these limbs were draped with emerald foliage.  In seasons of harvest they were clothed with brilliant, glowing colors revealed only as they struggled to maintain their relationship with the sun.  In seasons of desolation their naked limbs harbored beneath their surface sprouts of hope.   No matter the season, these trees pay homage to their energy source with their uplifted arms.

The journey of man and nature are interconnected.  Ancient people respected this relationship by learning from nature how to thrive simply on the energy provided by the Creator.  Trees were a recurring symbol in ancient religions for creation and death.  They signified both joy and pain.  They inspired royalty and commoners.

The Trees of Life Series employs this ancient symbol to tell the story of human celebration, growth, struggle, and pain.  Its trees  are a metaphor for life’s many journeys.  Just as the trees in a forest have a story to tell, so do the creations in the Trees of Life Series.   Their stories begin in the hands of the artist, but unfold in the mind of the observer.

 

As we embark on a new year, I am striving to push my art to explore textiles in ways I have never experienced.  The Trees of Life Series allows me to experiment with the sculptural qualities of textiles.  Please share with me your insights as I introduce each piece in the series.

Storms

Storms (2011), 24" x 19.5" - Ramona Dallum Lindsey, artist

Storms are a reality of life.  Often they sneak up on you unexpectedly.  Sometimes you see warning signs off in the distance.   For many people, storms foster emotions of impending doom.  While others exude peace in the midst of raging storms.   Life's most challenging times are equated with storms.  The mild challenges are a gentle summer storm lasting only a moment.  Life's extreme challenges are raging tempests spawned by violent winds.

Storms, the fourth piece in the Profiles of Courage Series, explores a community's reaction to life's challenges.   Each person at some point experiences some life challenge.  The effects of each person's handling of the challenge can have a lasting impact on the community at large.   A mother faced with unemployment turns to crime for daily survival.  A teen envisioning a hopeless future devalues the preciousness of life. A husband unable to effectively communicate with a spouse or partner acts abusive.  A young girl longing for love from an absent father becomes promiscuous. I live in a metropolis containing over 2 million people. The same storms that rage through our metropolis exist in the smallest town.   Our storms are just more pronounced due to the sheer number of people reacting to their own storm.

 

How can a community get through its storms without self-destructing?  I propose the answer is people of faith.  Their thoughts, prayers, and actions envelop the community.  In the community's darkest hours people of faith are lights chasing away the darkness.   Often they are faithful mothers, grandmothers, and daughters with nurturing spirits.  They're guided by strong prayer lives.  These prayer warriors minds' are fixed on their men and children.  Their strength is drawn from a higher power.  This strength is a protective blanket of hope.  Soon the storms become obscure and faith prevails.

Mind Control

After completing  “Do You Hear What I Hear” (2011), I realized that every man of faith is accompanied by a woman of the same character.   Mind Control represents her.   This third piece in the "Profiles in Courage" Series, shows science’s ability to explain some things and its limitation to fathom others.

   

Science has proven sound travels in waves of varying frequencies.   Humans detect sound waves with their ears.  Receptors in the ear carry the waves to the brain.  The brain interprets the information from the ear and lets  us know what we are hearing.   Scientist have used MRI technology to study the brain’s reaction to different types of sounds.   The technology allows scientists to see which areas of the brain are most excited by the sound stimulus.  I believe emotion is measured through our level of excitement.  If you’re really emotional the MRI will reveal higher levels of brain activity. But an MRI cannot reveal human thought.

If an MRI could read the thoughts of a woman of faith after receiving bad news, it would reveal something peculiar.    After hearing pronouncements of foreclosure, unemployment, and slow economy, her thought revealing MRI would see faith, hope, and opportunity.  How do I know?   Because I’ve experienced it.   I know my actions and spoken my words.  When the world marinated on seemingly impossible situations, I've hung on to possibilities.  I've turned pronouncements of doom into a new beginning while all the time relying on the power of my great big God.  A mind controlled by faith makes the impossible possible.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do You Hear What I Hear? (2011) - mixed media textile

The second piece in the "Profiles of Courage Series",  was completed on June 29, 2011 – the day of my 15^th wedding anniversary.  “Do You Hear What I Hear?” is my tribute to the man I embraced in marriage.  It is a testament to the man of faith he has become through every challenging obstacle we have faced together.  He is also a science lover.  His tribute must combine faith with science.  “Do You Hear What I Hear” shows science’s ability to explain some things and its limitation to fathom others.

   

Science has proven sound travels in waves of varying frequencies.   Humans detect sound waves with their ears.  Receptors in the ear carry the waves to the brain.  The brain interprets the information from the ear and lets  us know what we are hearing.   Scientist have used MRI technology to study the brain’s reaction to different types of sounds.   The technology allows scientists to see which areas of the brain are most excited by the sound stimulus.  I believe emotion is measured through our level of excitement.  If you’re really emotional the MRI will reveal higher levels of brain activity. But an MRI cannot reveal human thought.

If an MRI could read the thoughts of my husband after receiving bad news, it would reveal something peculiar.    After hearing pronouncements of foreclosure, unemployment, and slow economy, his thought revealing MRI would see faith, hope, and opportunity.  How do I know?   Because I’ve stood by him and heard the pronouncements with him.   I’ve watched his actions and heard his words.  When the world - and his wife - marinated on seemingly impossible situations, he hung on to possibilities.  He turned each pronouncement of doom into a new beginning while all the time relying on the power of his great big God.

Martin Cornelius Lindsey thank you for being our Christian family’s man of faith.

Built On Nothing Less

I am a woman of faith.  My strength alone is incapable of handling the challenges  of life.  I depend on my beliefs as a Christian to stand confidently and walk assuredly through difficulties.  Built on Nothing Less is the first piece in the “Profiles of Courage” Series.

 

The human face is intriguing.  A lifetime of stories are hidden within its contours. The eyes are the window to the soul.  Unfortunately in our fast paced, high tech lives we neglect opportunities to look at each other face to face.  Instead, we glance upon profiles of heads bowed to electronic devices.  A person's profile provides limited insight into her psyche.  When you only have access to her profile, you must depend on other clues to determine what is going on within her.   "Profiles  in Courage" examines these clues. 

 

Built on Nothing Less is the story of a mother totally submitting to a higher power to handle the concerns of her heart and mind.  Hidden within her flowing locks are the images of a broken community.  Written on her mind are her concerns about joblessness, crime, and foreclosures.  But she is undergirded by a warm, all encompassing energy.  Her head and eyes are lifted toward the source of this energy.   Her hands are folded in submission as she appeals for the deliverance of her family and community, because she knows with faith, hope, and love comes peace.  Her future is built on nothing less than this.

Introducing Profiles in Courage Series

The beginning of the twenty-first century  brought with it many challenges.  The evolution of technology during this time period led to many societal changes.   Our world became smaller with increased access to information.  People began to relate to each other through machines rather than face-to-face.   Centuries old education practices were forced to evolve to meet the high demands of a world with greater access to information.  World economies shifted.   Many people lost jobs.  "Profiles in Courage" explores how a person approaches and handles the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The human face is intriguing.  A lifetime of stories are hidden within its contours. The eyes are the window to the soul.  Unfortunately in our fast paced, high tech lives we neglect opportunities to look at each other face to face.  Instead, we glance upon profiles of heads bowed to electronic devices.  A person's profile provides limited insight into her psyche.  When you only have access to her profile, you must depend on other clues to determine what is going on within her.   "Profiles  in Courage" examines these clues.

Often a person's surroundings  provide clues to understanding her state of mind.  At other times, the surroundings will lead you to incorrect  conclusions.   The pieces in this series rely on the background just as heavily as the foreground to tell the story.  Color and shape also play an important role.  Movement is essential.   "Profiles in Courage" exemplifies the human spirit's determination to overcome. Over the next few weeks, this blog will present each piece in the "Profiles in Courage" series.