#8 - Drops and Doorways
In 1999 an accident left me with damage to the 4 muscle groups in my right rotator cuff. I thought I’d never paint again; to click a mouse, twist the cap off a tube of paint, let alone stir was practically impossible. After 9 months of despair, I began to use my left hand; spattering, rolling rags in paint and squeezing my left hand into a fist, splashing and making marks with a paint roller. I used my knowledge of chemistry with solvents and acrylic paints to begin. It became apparent that using my left hand connected to the right side of my brain; I developed new palette preferences.
Then I had a dream about snowflakes. My friend Ron Nemec (the Architect) told me about Ukichiro Nakaya, the scientist who is credited with creating snow crystals in the laboratory. I was attracted to the ephemeralness of snowflakes. I started long journey of stirring the possibility of never being able to use my right arm again, with the understanding of the briefness of everything. There are boundless unique identities, in every place, person and object; and our bodies and our breath die moment-to-moment. After a year or so, through physical therapy, I regained the use of my right arm; yet I continue to work with an awareness of the interconnectedness of everything and that the capacity of the human spirit with regards to the pursuit of creative expression is limitless.