The Divine Reclaimed
"The Divine Reclaimed", 2023, 22" x 22", Acrylic, Silver Stitching on Repurposed Untreated Black Canvas,
An Artist's Statement
As a Two-Spirit woman, my art is a sacred space to explore and reclaim the different wells of my identity. The catalyst for this particular piece arrived during a time of profound personal change. Shortly after my marriage ended, I was searching for something new to anchor the energy of my home and my next chapter. I found it in an unlikely vessel: a ubiquitous, mass-produced print of a lone, geometric stag that I purchased on a whim.
Encountering this stark symbol of masculine energy felt like a call to action—an invitation to engage with it, to reclaim it from its sterile origins, and to build it a world with a soul. The object itself presented a fascinating challenge. The geometric buck was already there—a linear, almost cold form on an untreated black canvas that seemed to absorb light and color, as if the paint was vanishing into a void. My work was not to create this symbol, but to respond to it. The creative process became a dialogue with the existing image, a meditation on my own divinity. The buck, with its solar power and structure, became the anchor for my exploration.
My painted response was to build him a world of gentle intuition. I surrounded the form with a lush, intuitive jungle, an extension of his untold story. This act of artistic alchemy was deeply tied to my personal journey of connecting with the divine masculine—an energy that, for me, brings immense joy, strength, and compassion. The vibrant colors I chose—representing love, passion, and groundedness—sink into the dark canvas, giving the rigid form a lush, compassionate context.
The final piece is more than just a revitalized object; it has become a personal icon for my new life. It is a testament to the balance I cherish: the strength of the stag complemented by the gentle guidance of intuition. It's a physical representation of how something generic can be transformed into something sacred, and a deeply personal reflection on the joy found in embracing all facets of one's own spirit.
