This encaustic tile was created from the foundation of a macro photograph of handmade art glass, chosen decades ago by a master stained glass artisan mentor of mine. Originally purchased to create stained glass, I realized I could transform the beauty of the rich swirls of color through my encaustic sculptural technique, expanding its potential to be seen and experienced. This bit of composition was extracted from the larger one in my piece, “What Does It Mean to Move?” (13 x 19 x 2.5 in), in which I was confronting new health issues for myself that collided with witnessing the decline of my mother's health and the end of her life here after years of living with Alzheimers.  As my mother's ability to walk changed from unsteady to wheelchair to bed-bound, I thought much about the freedom that mobility allows, especially when coming from our own volition.  Every morning as I walked in the predawn light, I offered gratitude that my legs could carry me, still.  Having any changes in our health is a stark reminder that we are not guaranteed smooth sailing, making it vital to remember what we have every day. 

I think of the many that lost this freedom of movement as I worked as a social worker in nursing homes and hospice for years, and as I watched my Mama lose hers.  I was inspired daily by how they could keep a sense of humor, perspective, gratitude, and open loving energy, despite their restrictions— such gifts they shared.  This energy and awareness fueled this piece, whose foundational macro photograph was of handmade art glass which I had in my collection for the making of stained glass.  I thought about how glass is made, the solid crystals becoming fluid when heated, and how they form an unknown composition, until the hand of the artist helps direct them before they cool. May we all retain some choice in how we move about in our lives.

This encaustic tile is adhered to a wooden circular disc that is mounted and ready to be hung on a wall in your home.