Fall begins with a return to school, and we aspire to time spent with friends and family. In the east, leaves turn colorfully to remind us of the shortening day.
The sculpture I have chosen this month will be featured in both my Santa Cruz and San Francisco Open Studio shows this Fall. It invites and inspires us to rebirth our capacity for The Charm of Gentle Strength.
The Charm of Gentle Strength
Life during the last several years has grown increasingly chaotic and less familiar. Often, we no longer feel safe.
As we stayed indoors and physically distanced ourselves from others, we became more dependent on remote communications. The lack of direct, face to face interaction made us more prone to alienation from others, leading to miscommunication, lack of trust, and even degrees of paranoia about the intentions of those around us. The emotional bonds which bind and support humanity have frayed.
Ultimately, this lack of trust has lead many of us to respond in short, suspicious, and even angry ways toward those we interact with, further adding to the feeling that we’re not seeing one another as full human beings.
The woman depicted in The Charm of Gentle Strength extends her arms, honoring and encouraging the gentle charm of the young mouse as it steps into the circle of the world, lead by a crow messenger totem.
For many, the crow symbolizes spiritual change, transformation, and new beginnings. The crow head in this sculpture floats out ahead of the mouse, indicating that the mouse’s gentle nature has true, transformative strength. All the while, a benevolent sun shines down, blessing the scene.
This sculpture reminds us to avoid spreading ourselves too thin, lest we become prone to aggression and anger. In times of frantic change, we need to step back and reassess how we relate with others.
As fall settles in, let’s focus on tenderness and understanding with all those around us, so we can rehabilitate our best emotions and build a future of strong human connection. Uplifting and renewing the true charm of gentle strength will lead us in this worthwhile direction, making our lives less hectic, more trustful, and fuller with inspiring interactions and relationships.
I know this is the kind of world I would like to leave for younger generations. I invite you to participate.
Several of my more recent sculptures share the theme of a softer approach to life. Check out my New Work Gallery to see The Anointment of Tenderness, The Softness of Wisdom, “To Be Named” (Art & Physics #4), Foxfire Magic, and more to inspire your capacity for gentleness. Perhaps one of my sculptures would make a transformative addition to your space.
