These mixed media artworks using the timeless metaphor of a Message in a Bottle are inspired by a trove of 100 letters I discovered that were written by my grandfather (whom I never met) as a young soldier in WW1 (1918-1919). At the center of war is the human being, striving to survive. The work explores some of the feelings, stories and moments of his life as well as the themes of connection, mental remedies for coping, and universal truths about the human condition and healing.
Take Me Out of the Blue: The antidote to war’s cruelties–real human connection–radiates out from my grandfather’s words, imploring his “beloved Goldie” to write him more often. Feeling isolated and yearning to reconnect are hardly unique to war – they can occur during a global pandemic, or simply everyday life. I try to reflect both the “blue” – the longing and gloom that befalls us now and then– as well as the joyous dream of reunion.
Threads of Connection: My grandfather was a tailor and I, too, work creatively with fabric and thread. My grandfather’s letters dance with my fabrics, as if we are in conversation in the current moment. I am curious about this connection of hands, hearts and DNA, but also about the larger themes of belonging and love in one’s ancestral chain. Perhaps there is a way to “heal backwards in time?”
Remedy: Just as bottles can contain healing medicine or harmful poison, one’s mindset can be ally or enemy. On Sept 1, 1918, days before my grandfather’s division was sent to Europe to fight, he gave my grandmother “the best remedy” for coping with her worry and lonesomeness. He advised that she think only of the day they’ll be together and to fill her heart with joy, knowing there is someone who she loves so dearly waiting for her.
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