The July Sulpture of the Month, along with several other of my sculptures, hangs on the stucco wall surrounding Paul Demartini’s beautifully designed and landscaped backyard garden. Paul and I met when he attended classes I hosted in San Diego on native plant landscape design.
This privately owned piece, completed in 2002, won’t appear at my shows any longer, so I bring it to you here, now for your enjoyment!
Ammah Bearing
In the year 2000, I drew the original sketch for Ammah Bearing. For much of that year, my wife lived in Austin, Texas. She went there to help a beloved Aunt with dementia move into a care home and to renovate her house to rent in support of the care costs. In parallel, I spent quite a bit of time that year supporting a friend who was hospitalized for mental health treatment.
In a variety of cultures, the word Ammah (or Amma) means mother or “to originate.” In the Middle East, it refers to domestic workers – and in China, to relatives – who serve as surrogate mothers for a family’s children.
For me, this piece suggests the maternal value of taking on the burdens of others, so they can be released and transformed into happier human beings.
Given the context of my life when I created this sketch, I think it also speaks to my sense that the mentally ill often have intuitive insights for those of us outside their illness. Many also create art that can transform us, but without the support of others more capable of “earning a living,” their profound insights often fall by the wayside.
After undergoing treatment, my friend became a key staff member at a local organization offering support for the mentally ill and their families. That organization eventually grew nationwide to become NAMI, The National Association for the Mentally Ill.
And to bring the story of this sculpture full circle, Paul and I also later reconnected through NAMI when he got involved in support of a loved one. Thus, this sculpture commemorates a year of compassion and support for those we care deeply about and celebrates the freedom and wellbeing our care for others has the power to create.
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