Marianne Van Silfhout Gallery, Brockville, ON
August 6 – September 13, 2024
Thrilled that my brand new diptych “The Guide Within” was chosen to be part of a juried exhibition featuring portrait work at the Marianne Van Silfhout Gallery in Brockville, Ontario! I created this piece earlier this summer, and it is exciting to have an opportunity to show it so quickly after it was completed.
In “The Guide Within” I sit peacefully on the forest floor nestled among tall, feather-like ferns. I am blindfolded, relying solely on my instincts to guide the way. This image is about my experience of forging a new path not bound by tradition or head-knowledge but based on learning to trust my inner wisdom. Growing up in a family centered around religion, I was taught to depend entirely on outside authorities to guide every facet of my life. Eventually, I recognized that constantly looking outside myself for the answers had left me feeling insecure and disempowered. Learning to trust my intuition is a process that often feels like walking in the dark, but ultimately, it is so rewarding, as it helps me build confidence in myself and my inner resources. This path is invaluable since I am learning to prioritize the things that nurture and support me as a woman instead of forcing myself to conform to society’s expectations. Like the woman and her wolf, I now move through life with a felt sense of who I am and where I am going.