Thin Places

​"Thin Places" a quadriptych.  Acrylic on paper,  each approximately 11" x 8".  Available here and at Artfinder.


There is in Celtic mythology the notion of ‘thin places’ in the universe where the visible and the invisible world come into their closest proximity. To seek such places is the vocation of the wise and the good — and for those that find them, the clearest communication between the temporal and eternal. Mountains and rivers are particularly favored as thin places marking invariably as they do, the horizontal and perpendicular frontiers. But perhaps the ultimate of these thin places in the human condition are the experiences people are likely to have as they encounter suffering, joy, and mystery.

—Peter Gomes

Thin Places (a quadriptych)

The universe must be giggling.

Even as my feet find their way to the thin places in the world (mountains and water, in this case), my art finds me in horizontal and perpendicular frontiers in the class with Pauline Agnew, while my heart finds me sharing the depth of life and the human condition with those I love.  And a sweet friend sends me the quote above in response to my hikes.  Whoa.  Is it possible to feel fully grounded in the thin places?  My footing has never felt surer, though my control over the journey is obviously less than I have ever thought I had.

The more I let go, the surer I feel.

That isn't to say the letting go is without anxiousness....oh no no NO!  But the more I let go, the more I know I can let go.  And the more okay I am with opening my hands and letting things perch gently upon them, coming and going.  Sometimes those things stay.

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​About the art: using a large, monochromatic abstract as a jumping off point to create a limited palette quadriptych.  Working all four quadrants simultaneously and focusing entirely on the marks.   Acrylic paint, varied brushes, towels, wedges, brayer, hands.

It is rather magical when the blue tape is removed and the four pieces cut and separated.  I always did enjoy a good unveiling. :)