Winter Light
As 2023 comes to a close I wish to thank all of my wonderful readers for their support and encouragement. I launched Making & Meaning on May 5, 2023 and have posted 32 articles. It has been a great pleasure to share my research and musings on contemporary art with you. By reading and commenting on my work, and by conversing on Chat and in our live Zoom conversations, you have truly enriched my knowledge of contemporary art. Thank you!
Now as we head into a new year, one still fraught with the painful conflicts and crises of the year before, I offer you this image of hope from printmaker and Making & Meaning reader, Mary Anne Molcan. In 2020, Molcan produced Winter Light during the Covid pandemic as a way to express her hope for the future. As she writes,
The power of hope during turbulent times can give one strength, clarity and purpose….The essence of hope for me, lies within the forces of renewal.
Life itself is driven and supported by the dynamics of constant change and I aimed to capture a glimpse of this continual revitalization. I focused on the characteristics of light to bring forth a sense of hope.
The sun is always there, it rises and sets with constancy. It is not always visible but it is there. I also worked metaphorically with the visible spectrum to create awareness that light can also be that of insight and understanding to provide strength and calmness during uncertainty.
White light becomes a rainbow of colour and the physics of beauty. Without a window of light - we sit in the dark.
In making art, we also create a window of light through which we can better understand the world in all its joy and sorrow. May the New Year bring you the light of hope and much peace and happiness.
Warm wishes and I look forward to our continued conversation in 2024,
Marie
PS: Making & Meaning Conversation resumes on Wednesday, January 10 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. If you are interested in joining the live one-hour conversation every second and fourth Wednesday please reply to this email.