“Pieces of the Sky” is a series of paintings about the fragmentary nature of our awareness and the unifying essence that lies beneath the surface of individual identity. These pieces combine recurring elements with unique details to reflect the dynamic balance between the opposing forces of cohesion and fragmentation.
The separate pieces in this series represent partial truths and partial awareness. Individual beliefs are depicted as fragments of a larger more inclusive truth and individual identities are portrayed as the infinitely varied and detailed disguises adopted by the fragments of a larger unified awareness.
Many traditions (philosophical or theological) that recognize an underlying, unifying essence often represent the individual identity as an illusion or falsehood. I see this fragmentation in a more positive light. So while the costumes in these pieces do disguise the essential similarity of the figures that wear them, I have portrayed the disguises as objects of beauty in their own right. Each painting in this series celebrates the truth of unity and the beauty of multiplicity and diversity.
