With great joy, I would like to announce that I will be slowly returning to the art-show scene by attending two shows this Summer.  Details below.

Our journey in life always moves us forward and we never really "go back" to any version of ourselves.  If we did, that would mean we had not grown. This past year has taught me too much to jump right back to how things once were. As my creative energies wake up from the survival-mode-slumber, I am eager to see what blooms have been silently developing, ready to emerge and greet the sunshine. I have become energized while mapping out the Summer calendar and a meaningful ambition to create has returned - a feeling that had nearly washed away.  The heaviness of the past year is becoming atmospheric. It's vapors still linger all about, but the fog is slowly lifting from my thoughts. Squinting into the future, I can finally see a glimmer of hope on the horizon, ready to share my love and joy through my work in person with all of you again.

Now, this is the part of the blog post I have been writing and re-writing for nearly a month.  I generally try to live with the rule of thumb “never let them see you cry”.  Well, I’m not crying so-to-speak, but I have found myself at a bewildering crossroads of hopeful excitement and social anxiety.  Ultimately, I realized it would be worth the risk of recording these feelings, if sharing could help even one person to know they are not alone.  And so I will add “Don’t worry. Just take it slow. We've got this.” *high-five

The hope and excitement I feel as I am hidden away in the solitude of my home studio is in stark contrast to the apprehension I feel, knowing I need to slowly reintroduce myself into social settings.  I have always struggled in this regard, but over the years I had carved out some comfort in the matter.  Spending a year away from the world with the only face to face interaction being with my husband and daughter has only amplified my lack of confidence in group settings. The few short moments I have distantly met with friends and family in recent days, I find myself almost mute.  For months I have wished for nothing more than to share smiles and conversation, and now that the opportunity is in front of me, I freeze and my mind goes silent. 

So, as we begin to meet again, please bear with me as I work through these awkward moments.  I might be silent. I might nervously talk your ear off.  I might get overwhelmed and shed a few tears of joy. No matter how I react, please know that deep down, I am filled with nothing but love and gratitude for you and your support throughout my ever-evolving-creative-career.  It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve everyone in a way that is so personally fulfilling. The understanding of what a rare gift that is, is not lost on me.  As many of you know, I am a hugger (to those who are accepting of them, I try to be respectful) I would love nothing more than to greet everyone with lots of hugs and smiles this Summer to share my thankfulness. However, I will need to refrain 'till healthier days are upon us as I will be continuing to keep a safe distance and mask. Trust me though, I really do miss everyone.

Sending you my warmest regards,

XOXO

~Erica 

We have been delivered a new day.

As Springtime blossoms all around

Smile and greet it without hesitancy.

Do not shy in the face of beauty

Behold it with great reverence.

Give thanks for the chance

To see with fresh eyes

The petal laden path of invitation and promise.

Striving to improve with each step.

Ever forward, with care.

Sending virtual hugs.

Stay Safe and Be Well,

xoxo

~Erica

I am thrilled to announce my new collection “ Presence”

Shop the collection here

This project has been in the making for several months, but ultimately it is the product of a year.  A year that has taught me more than any other.  The title of this new collection is the one word summation of my lessons.

Presence marks the importance of living for the simple moments in each day.  Presence is the spirit of those who have come before us, walk with us now and the see the gifts held in the future.  It is the embers of hope in our hearts capable of sparking love and peace wherever we go.  My greatest gift of the past year has been the presence shared with my daughter.  This year spent cloistered in the house with her has been the most beautiful moment of my life.  For the first time we were slowed down in a way that we began to really see and appreciate one another.  We have lifted and strengthened each other in ways I never thought possible.  I wanted to reflect that with some of the promotional photos for this collection.  She spent a great deal of time working with me to model the pieces and help bring this project full circle.

This collection however started out on the opposite note.  The initial inspiration was absence.  The first pieces were born from my longing to return to “normal” life.  My family used to spend a lot of time traveling to museums and galleries.  Just before the shutdown we had purchased our yearly reciprocal museum membership and had plans for many visits up and down the east coast. We have spent countless hours together wandering through displays of art and artifacts, and I greatly miss it.  This collection started out as an ode to the centuries of paintings,  the ancient antiquities and the grand halls that house it all.  That is why there is a heavy influence in this collection of “ancient glass” influenced pieces, the inclusion of painted canvases and lots of architectural elements. 

As I worked on the first pieces and sat in much thoughtful contemplation on the collection, I began to make a different connection. Instead, these pieces were actually about the presence of spirit rather than my selfish sense of loss. The world has gone through ups and downs far greater that anything we have in the the past year, and yet life prevails.  The beauty of artistic expression that remains is a testament to great faith, strength and perseverance even in the face of difficult times.  I realized that I was not creating pieces so much as to fill the absence of art in my life, but because of the amazing gifts right in front of me - the people that are closest to my heart, the spirit of love that moves through us, the unending muse of nature’s canvas that surrounds us at every turn, and this beautiful community that shows up with their presence even when we cannot meet in person.   

This year has shown me that when we are not so busy being distracted by the world and all of its flashy ways, we can see and appreciate the abundance already at hand.  To see and appreciate the connections that truly matter.  I am in no way tying to be insensitive to the unfathomable heartache, loss and struggle that has happened - much of which hits close to home.  Rather I am choosing to look at this time with immense gratitude, for out of the darkness shone a brilliant light and my heart wants nothing more than to reflect it.

So this is where I am at now.  Each of these pieces have been created with the intention of infinite love and light.  They tell their story through the muse of artifacts left behind from thousands of years of human existence.  With all the struggles and rejoicements, there remains a golden thread throughout history that we are just as much a part of today.  Let’s shine the light together. 

Stay Safe & Be Well

Sending my love to you all.

XOXO

Erica