The Nymph, the Raven, and Me —Update on "Becoming Art"

The Nymph goddess exists between the worlds of magic and of the mundane, the space where nothing is right or wrong, but just... is. In this space, she is free and open to the whispers of the raven; an animal that speaks to both death and life simultaneously. This woman creature knows pain, and trauma, and she knows the beauty on the other side of it.

beyond the concrete is where the artist in us endures.

In February I visited the opening of Daylight Strains and Painted Panes at Downtown Artist Collective in Salt Lake City, Utah. Here, the painting I modeled for, Nymph Forest, Moon and Raven, was proudly and beautifully displayed among a collection of deeply emotional paintings and photographs by Jeffrey Hale and Chris Madsen. Each piece in the exhibit is deserving of its own blog post, but today, as a means of updating my previous post, "Becoming Art," and for its profound meaning to me personally, I'll focus on Nymph Forest, Moon and Raven.

For me, Nymph Forest, Moon, and Raven by Jeffrey Hale, is the story of a natural goddess standing naked in her own power. She wears nothing but the scratches of sorrow and trial on her arms, but with the dignity and grace of a queen. Her antlers reach for higher perception, for the greater understanding we all strive for, and will forever fall short of.

liberation in every authentic moment

The Nymph represents the wild creature in all of us just screaming for liberation. Our inner creature observes, with disillusioned eyes, a strange, artificial world where we are required to be artificial as well. The inner creature in us knows there must be more to life than the concrete walls that contain our untamed passion and imagination.

The Nymph comes with a message: The space between the magic and mundane, right and wrong, death and life, beyond the concrete is where the artist in us endures.

This piece, and the experience I had during its creation, inspires me to find beauty in the struggle. My scars are proof that I'm alive and experiencing every moment fearlessly. I am aware that my experiences define who I am, and my struggles build resilience. This piece reminds me to be vulnerable, even when it hurts, because I find liberation in every authentic moment.

Of course, this is all my very dramatic interpretation. Perhaps you see a naked lady and her pet raven, and that is valid as well. Find a piece of art that speaks to you, let it penetrate your soul, or psyche. Let it shake your bias and make you second guess all that you have been conditioned to believe, then speak back and be liberated!

Share, in the comments, your thoughts on this piece or a favorite work of art that carries a special meaning for you.

Photograph by Chris Madsen