Higher Ground I and II

From my studio in the Midlands, I’m often enfolded in blankets of white mist. It’s comforting.

These works titled Higher Ground have been inspired by Lauren Daigle’s song ‘Rescue’.  

We all want to be seen, heard and to feel safe. These works are about that; being raised to Higher Ground where we are seen, found, safe, and if needed, rescued.

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I was recently asked by Jane Digby-Blacklaw to submit two works for an exhibition at The Gallery, at The Lifestyle Center in Ballito.  The theme was ‘Vibrations’ where we were asked to respond with a visual work to a music album, song title, or lyrics.

Despite not having worked on this large a piece for a long time, and that my current temporary living space is tiny … and without a dedicated studio, I felt deeply inspired to accept the invitation, as much in admiration of Jane and her work, as for her support many years back in both our everyONEcounts initiatives*see below.

I had a clear vision of the work from the onset and began, perhaps not strictly to the brief; but I found myself listening to Lauren Daigle and to the song ‘Rescue’ that resounded with what the work meant for me.

I have been interested in the concept of ‘Transcendence” for many years.

Transcendence comes from the Latin prefix trans-, meaning "beyond," and the word scandare, meaning "to climb." 

When we achieve transcendence, we have gone beyond ordinary limitations.

Perhaps for many of us post-Covid, post-loss, post-trauma; we have had to extend past our usual limitations to reach a Higher Ground of sorts, and of Transcendence.

Many of us have had to stand (still) to regain our footing, before being able to move forward again; hopefully with ‘deer feet’ as referred to in the book of Habakkuk 3:19 “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

As in many previous works I have again included the roman numerals of ‘X, V, I, II and III’ that reference multiple meanings: magic, mystery, x-marks to spot, the treasure, Christ.  V for victory, for peace. The letter ‘I’ signifying the individual; with a second i.e. ‘II’ acknowledging ‘you’, the other … another. And then in triplicate the ‘III’ signifying the trinity, that third dimension, the ‘relationship’ that comes when two (or more) are gathered, that supernatural ‘space’ between us.

The figure representing the universal pilgrim; always seeking and Finding Things and who sometimes stands resolute in strength and in knowing, is robed (cocooned even) in white cloth; transfigured (or transfiguring) to something new and refined.

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*everyONEcounts was an NGO established in response to the abandonment of newborn babies (2010 – headed by me) and to the sex trafficking trade (2014 – headed by Angela McCall). The initiatives showcased artworks from local and international artists across the globe, coming together to take a stand against these atrocities. All works were donated, and all funds from artworks sold were donated to reputable, verifiable fully-audited and accredited organizations. The NGO was frozen in 2018 where the members (all volunteers and otherwise employed) were unable to meet the demands of a growing organization.  

You can click on the images below to enlarge the format to see more detail of the texture