klvh - fine art

2008-02-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

Where Do I Go From Here?

Is it dreams, nightmares, curiosity, fear of the unknown, fear of the future, or a passageway?

This small bed represents all of those things. A bed with a door under it? Where does it lead to? What is going to come out of it? How do I close it? Do I want to close it? Should I go through it? Why is it there?

The bed is unmade. Who was sleeping there? Why is there a doll on the floor? Is it significant?

2008-02-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

Spent

Have you ever been emotionally drained? Felt like you have given everything, and have nothing left to give?

I created this piece during the time in my life in which there was a lot of emotional turmoil. My mother was in a nursing home. She had suffered a massive stroke and was paralyzed on the right side, and unable to talk. It was a difficult time for all of us in the family. There were alot of things going on emotionally. I had the feeling of losing her -- she was still there physically, but unable to talk (No more conversations on the phone, no more having grandma come to visit etc.). I was also having some physical problelms that left me tired and drained feeling.

This piece was an effort to express the culmination of all the emotional tiredness, the feeling of being emotionally drained. A house in which everything has drained out. A house that is emotionally spent.

2008-02-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

Dreams

We all have dreams, hopes, and aspirations, however, sometimes they have trouble getting off the ground. Because we also have responsibilites, fears, and hindrances that keep us from taking off and flying.

Fulfilling our hopes and dreams is difficult, maybe even impossible, like the difficulty portrayed in this piece. The house is an airplane, representing our dream, but it is being held back from taking off by a rope that is tied to an anchor, which is embedded in a rock. This represents being tied to our responsibilities, fears, and hindrances which can keep us from fully realizing our dreams. What is holding you back?

2008-02-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Crisis

In today's world there are many families that are in crisis. Using the symbolism that I have created, I have tried to convey the idea of crisis, such as divorce, that occurs in some families. Although difficult to see in this photo, there are two large chairs inside the house, back to back, one on either side of the tear that is splitting the house into. They represent two individuals, the parents, who are in conflict with one another. The smaller chairs on each of the corners of the house represent the children and grandparents who are desperately trying to hold up, hold together, hold on, to the house; which represents the core values of the home. This happens far too often in our society. Parents who are in conflict with one another need to really look at not only what they are doing to their own relationship but also to the lives of the loved ones around them.

2008-02-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

Life Can Be So Hectic . . .

During the time that I made this piece, my girls were still at home. It was a very busy time for all of us -- the girls were involved in school activities, I was going to grad school, and my husband was busy with work. It seemed that we were always on the go and that there were always people at the house, especially friends of the girls. This piece is about all the hustle, bustle and crowdedness that can go on in a household -- with all the activities, and the people that one has contact with every day. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and you literally feel like your house is filled to the brim and overflowing.

2007-03-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Life is What Happens . . .

"Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans." -- John Lennon

Ever feel like things are spiraling out of control, like something or someone else is in control? This house represents that feeling. The feeling that you are going along and suddenly something unexpected happens -- a surprise! Whether good or bad, it can throw you off course. This house is an actual music box; you turn the handle and it plays "Pop Goes the Weasel," and the chair pops out of the roof.

We are supposed to let God be in control of our lives, but there are still times when we feel that things are not under control. It can be a helpless feeling, but I have tried to adopt the philosphy that life is an adventure. You never know what is around the next corner, it may surprise you; you just have to take it all in stride and expect the unexpected and try not to take anything too seriously. And above all else, trust God!

2007-01-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

Mobility with Hindrance

We live in a very mobile society. People don't usually stay in one place their whole lives any more. They pick up and move to go to school, to find jobs, to get away from relatives, to start over, to start a family of their own, or for whatever variety of reasons. But whatever the reason, there is a certain amount of baggage that comes along with you. Baggage that you cannot get rid of, no matter how hard you try. It may be worldly possessions or treasures, or it may be emotional baggage: fears, regrets, relationships, sorrow, misunderstandings, challenges, etc. Some people try to run away from things, but whatever it is, it is there no matter where they go. Now, not all baggage is bad. Some baggage is to be treasured; like memories, good relationships, the love of family, etc.

This house represents the mobility that we have, with its big wheels and little tricycle form. The trunk represents the baggage. It is filled with chairs, which in the symbolic language I have created represents people: people that we have had relationships with, whether good or bad. It also holds buttons, which represent the material things that we hold onto. Our baggage is a part of us, we cannot run from it, or deny it. We need to accept it, embrace it and learn from it, and even sometimes cherish it.

About the Work

2006-08-21T21:27:00.000-07:00

A little information about how to "read" my artwork.

I have developed my own symbolic language in which to convey the meaning of the pieces.
For me the house is the quintessential representation of a person's life. A metaphorical container, so to speak, for the thoughts and emotions of a person. A chair represents an individual persona.

All of the works have a emotional, psychological meaning to them. Sometimes they have been inspired by a specific occurrence or life experience. Sometimes they are a represention of something encountered in the general populace of humanity.

I am a deep thinker, empathetic, and spiritual person. At times, even the slightest emotional response can trigger a thought, that leads to a creative moment, resulting in an inspiration, that develops into a work of art. I am not really sure where these ideas come from, but I know that they usually come from deep inside. This often makes it very difficult to share my work with others, and even harder to part with it because it feels so much a part of me.

In spite of this, I strive to be a professional artist and sell the work. I have found that the work does touch others emotionally--as it is intended to do so. It is one of my greatest joys to know that others have understood what I was trying to say and have been moved by the work. One of the greatest compliments that I have ever been given was when a woman came to an exhibition of my work. We didn't talk much at the show, but I saw her about a month later and she said, "Ever since your show, I haven't been able to stop thinking about your work." I was touched. I strive to create works that are specific enough to satisfy my need to say something, but yet, are universal enough to be understood on several different levels. I want the viewer to bring their own interpretation to the work. It is my job to create something that is interesting enough to draw the viewer in for a closer look, and then be ambiguous enough to keep the viewer's attention and make them wonder; make them question, and try to figure it out.

What Remains

2006-08-21T21:11:00.000-07:00

With this sculpture I wanted to convey the idea that our lives are what we make them. We "knit" our lives one stitch at a time by the decisions that we make, the things that we do, and by the way that we live. When we are gone the memories people have of us, our reputation, the impressions or impact that we may have made on others, will be all that remains.

This little house is knitted with silver wire. A solitary rocking chair sits in the center with a small ball of silver "yarn" and a pair of knitting needles in the seat. The "yarn" is still attached to the corner of the house as if the occupant of the chair was not yet finished. Our lives are like that, we do not know the hour or the day that our lives will end. We should live each and every day as though it were our last, making the most of our time, and taking care of the things that really matter.

Being a Christian Artist

2006-06-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

Being an artist is sometimes very difficult -- especially in today's art world where things that are debase and immoral are being elevated and glorified through the works of many artists. I had a very difficult time while I was going to college, struggling with finding a style, a theme, that was a personally satisfying expression while at the same time, universal enough for others to gain something from viewing the work.
I am very blessed with the ability to make a realistic representation of almost anything, in either 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional form. Unfortunately, realistic representation is very often "pooh-poohed" in the academic realm, so I experimented with abstract forms of expression. However, I found abstract forms lacking in the realm of personal satisfaction. They did not mean anything to me, or to anyone else for that matter. They were simply designs -- very attractive designs -- but that was all.
In the midst of this struggle -- wanting to make art that was meaningful -- I realized that the best inspiration would be to draw upon my experiences as a Christian, a mother, a minister's wife, etc. and make works that either tell a story, express some emotion, or delve into the psychological aspects of life.
I began working with a house motif. Using the house as a metaphor representing a life. It could also be a psychological container for the thoughts, feelings or emotions of someone or some experience. I also incorporated the motif of a chair as the metaphor or psychological stand-in for an individual persona. With these ideas the impetus for my current line of work was begun.
I hope you enjoy these works!

Where's Oma?

2006-06-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first piece that I created using the house motif. It was inspired by a specific incident that took place. Several years ago, we had the pleasure of knowing a fine Christian couple who were both elderly. Their names were Harley and Oma.
Since their health was failing, Harley and Oma moved into the local nursing home. Harley was in the first stages of Alzheimer's Disease and Oma was a severe diabetic. Both were quickly declining physically. One afternoon, Oma passes away with Harley by her side holding her hand. However, because of his Alzheimer's, Harley could not remember that she had died. He even went to her funeral but did not remember it. Every day, every hour, Harley would ask whoever was around him, "Where's Oma? Could someone please take me to where Oma is so I can be with her?" Harley was desperate to find Oma.
One Sunday morning, after services were over, Harley showed up at the front door of the church building. He had his suitcase in tow, with all his belongings (just a clean shirt and an extra pair of shoes). He was ready to go! He had remembered where the church building was and was sure that someone there would take him to Oma. With his usual plantive cry he was asking "Where's Oma? Please take me to her!" Unfortunately, we could not take him to Oma, we could only take him back to the nursing home. The Lord, however, eventually did take him to be once again with his beloved Oma.
The whole experience got me thinking. First of all about the effects of Alzheimer's. My aunt had Alzheimer's; she did not know who we were or why we were there. Alzheimer's eats away at a person's memory, it creates holes in their history. This house is full of holes, the walls are gone, as if they never did exist.
Secondly, I started thinking about transition and preparedness. Are we ever truly ready for what may happen? Are we ready for the Lord to take us? Harley was ready, he was anxious to go. The little silver suitcase represents being ready, being anxious to go. It symbolizes the fact that this life is only temporary and we are on a journey to a much better place.
I am happy that Harley finally got to go home and be with Oma.