"The dynamic sculptural forms of the stones from British Columbia's Gulf Islands have a profound, multilayered meaning for me that appeals to my mind as well as to my heart.
"In the mid-80s, while working on the series of THE CARVED STONES, I accompanied my mathematician husband to Paris during his sabbatical leave from UBC. I had taken some of the drawings and photographs of stones from Gabriola and Saturna islands with me, in order to continue working on this theme. While thinking about stones and walking on the streets of Paris, I became keenly aware of the numerous stone sculptures everywhere.
"I had seen them before, but never in such a way; these stones had been carved into human figures of worship and power.
"Historically, Canada's cultural past is very short. The Carved Stones series brings Canada into the universal cultural context, introducing stones that chart the history of the earth, juxtaposed to stones that chart the history of our civilization. By placing stone sculptures carved by (mostly) men into a landscape of stones carved by nature, this imagery creates integration, as opposed to principles of conquest and domination.
This is how some well-known sculptures made their way into my paintings."
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"In this work, photographs of the Buddha have been transferred and drawn over in charcoal, dominated by a large, imposing stone carved by the elements. The gold leaf sky imparts the feeling of richness, holiness and awe."
"Photographs of the Pieta carved by Michelangelo, have been transferred and drawn over in charcoal, dominated by a large, imposing stone carved by the elements. The gold leaf sky imparts the feeling of richness, holiness and awe."
"In 1998, I had the great pleasure of participating in the famous Emma Lake artists' workshop created by the University of Saskatchewan. The experience of total immersion in art was new to me, away from daily life duties. No cooking, no shopping, no cleaning - just art for 24 hours a day. Being in such close proximity with so many artists motivated and inspired me, even as I continued working on the series of the Carved Stones.
The Stone Goddess is one of the paintings from Emma Lake. My brushstrokes became heavier, paint became thicker and richer. The painting is divided almost across the middle, stressing the difference between the real world below and the imagined world of gods and worship above. All made of stone..."