Choosing Presence

Choosing Presence: H-33 x W-15 x D-15"

I'll be posting reflections on the individual works in Grounded in Gold over these next months starting today with "Choosing Presence". Anyone with comments or questions and those wishing for semi-private meet-ups at the gallery, feel free to send me a message.

Somewhere in my late 40’s, I came to realize that when I didn’t consciously direct my attention, that my attention flitted with the winds of some internal free-association much like a milkweed seed puff flits across a Summer field. And furthermore, that free-association was often underpinned by worries, concerns or memories.

Consciously directing my attention meant being present and alert, in the now moment rather than in the past or the future. It meant showing up for my life instead of bumping along in a state of illusion. This is when I began meditating in earnest. I find it both grounding and a practice that strengthens this ‘muscle’ of presence.

In this 3-headed sculpture, the creamy white figure is fully articulated with detail. It is clearly holding a dispassionate gaze forward while also embracing the presence of 2 dis-regulated figures coming at it. It’s a visual depiction of my experience described above. Illusory thoughts come in as storytellers of future/past. Sometimes they’re menacing. Sometimes they’re inflated. They’re always exaggerations of one kind or another bc they come from the constructed (ego) self: the one concerned with image or staying safe.

The 2 grey/green figures symbolize the mind when left to flit. It often finds something to grab hold of. Then, instantaneously, these thoughts have babies (so to speak): supporting thoughts that embolden the original thought (as illustrated by the heads and partial heads attached down the backs of the 2 green figures).

As a human being committed to living as fully and authentically as possible, I choose not to have my life run by this false self as best as I can. I practice presence so that I can live from presence and relate to others from presence to the best of my ability on any given day. It’s a practice and an intention. I’m on that road and can attest to how bumpy it is w/myriad detours and spans of construction. But that’s the road… the reality and I’m deeply grateful to be able to see it and that my Spirit has chosen to be on it.

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