Helping in the Garden

Both “Establish the Work of

Our Hands” and “Helping in

the Garden” were inspired by

a photograph I found of my

GG working in the yard while

my uncle Rob stood nearby

raking leaves, eager to help

her. As a collection, “Seeds We

Plant” explores the questions:

What seeds do we choose to

sow for our future and for the

futures of others? And how

do we cultivate the good soil

those seeds need to grow?

(Matthew 13:23)

The act of gardening or working

in the yard emphasizes the

importance of nurturing and

caring for the earth. I found this

profound for that reason alone,

but I also found the composition

quite impactful for a much larger

metaphorical reason as well.

Our grandparents, parents, and

mentors plant seeds in us in

order to cultivate a sense of self

and instill important lessons and

values in us as they nurture us

along the way.

The painting of my uncle Rob

celebrates how even as our

mentors nurture us, we begin

to mirror their acts of caring

and tending for the world

around us. He stands across

from her, learning, absorbing,

and mirroring her own acts of

cultivation, symbolic of us all as

we continue the cycle of planting

seeds, growing, and learning

throughout our lives.

12x16" Acrylic and Pastel on Cotton Paper Mounted on Wood Board