Mary is a deeply personal piece; the process of painting it was a prayer.
I completed most of the work on this in May, the month of Mother’s Day. I was intrigued by Mother Mary as an icon. Probably the most recognizable Catholic iconography in this is the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It represents her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, her maternal love for her son, her compassionate love for all people, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father.
Although I am not Catholic, I found the symbolism powerful:
Posture
The body is rendered with a gentle dignity befitting a temple of the Holy Spirit. The holy person is in the presence of God, yet turned towards us. As we pray he is very present to us not somewhere out in space. “The art of the icon is essentially a witness to an eternal presence, and each holy person like a sacrament of divine beauty.” (St. Clement of Alexandria).
Clothing
The folds of garments, rendered in rhythmic order, are in some way an image of the inner harmony of the soul and body of the weaver. Leonid Ouspenski calls them ‘Vestments of Glory’.
Hills
Hills, so often mentioned in the Bible, especially in the Psalms, are always holy places – a place of ascent to God. In icons, to help this ascent the hills are stepped, and as a further help, each step is lighted for us. “The icon evokes a personal presence, and its symbolism shows this presence and the cosmic situation around it to be saturated with divine light.” (St. Clement of Alexandria)
Perspective
In icons the illusion of distance and size in the perspective of Western art is reversed, so that as we go deeper into the icon, away from our own view point, our spiritual perspective widens; we have the capacity of spiritual growth.
Perspective
In icons the illusion of distance and size in the perspective of Western art is reversed, so that as we go deeper into the icon, away from our own view point, our spiritual perspective widens; we have the capacity of spiritual growth.
The above is from THIS SOURCE.
As I was working on this I was listening to a lot of Patty Griffin, especially her song “Mary,”about Jesus’ mother as an archetype of loss.
How it becomes personal is in my story of motherhood. Although I planned to never have children, and was on birth control, years ago I (and my husband) got pregnant anyway. Shock of a lifetime, let me tell you. To make a VERY long story short, I chose to place him with an amazing family via open adoption. We (myself, Jon, the adoptive family) spent many months during the pregnancy getting to know each other, discussing expectations, and planning for this baby’s future. Open adoption means we are present in his life and communication between us all is very open. Over the years we have grown to become true family. It is one of the most beautifully unique things I never imagined I’d experience. I’d be lying though if I didn’t tell you that pregnancy and the first year or so after weren’t overwhelmingly painful. I hoped my decision would lead to joy, but the road to getting there was letting myself experience inestimable loss. I’m so thankful for it all though. He changed me for the better. His adoptive family fills my life with love. He is an amazing young man. I find comfort from those feelings of loss when I see the vibrant life and love that has grown from it. Oh, and I have no illusions of virginal sainthood :)
“Mary you’re covered in roses, you’re covered in ruin
You’re covered in secrets
Your’e covered in treetops, you’re covered in birds
who can sing a million songs without any words”