Radon Daughter Imagery

While envisioning this recent image, I thought alot about the various conversations that my Dad and I would have, over coffee. Usually, our talks would turn to the various phases of the human condition or what my Dad would call, The Pathway of Life". He would say," Everyone has a pathway or road of life. It is uncertain. At times, our pathway's can be full and very rewarding. Other times, it can be overwhelmed with difficulties, such as an illness. But, with the help of kindness, compassion, and a strong will; a human being can just about overcome, anything." I thought alot about what my Dad, had said.
To me, these are the same attributes that create an excellent nurse. From the moment, a person has decided to take that first step into the field of Nursing, he or she will have beome greatly aware that they (themselves), will be an important part of a patient's well-being. A nurse will experience every emotion. From the happiest of times, to the couragest of moments, and eventually, even tremendous sorrow. Unfortunately, in recent times even one's own safety and fear for their patients. This is a pathway that should not be taken lightly....
For me this image, is more than just a painting. It is a part of every nurse that I have had the pleasure of knowing, over the years. I imagine, that they were chosen for this Pathway of Life, lovingly followed by the Hummingbird, as if to say,"You are never alone; I am always with you, in Spirit."

      I became familiar with the Uranium Mine, at a very young age as a majority of my relatives including my Dad, had worked there at the time. For me as a young child, the Mine was this big man-made hole with different colors of sand. At times, it would reseamble an ant hill and at other times, a dragon spewing yellow-colored vapors from deep below the earth.Usually, when I would hear the siren from the Mine, I knew they were going to blast. And being curious,I would stand outside and watch, this huge cloud of dust, make it's way over to the village.The ground would shake as if this dragon was turning over, beneath the gound. Dust floating everywhere....consuming the village. In reality, the Anaconda - Jackpile Mine was once considered the world's largest open-pit Uranium Mine. It also contained the highest level of radiation tailings and was located less than 1000ft., away from the Village of Paguate. 
     In retrospect, I did not understand the degree of how the landscape had affected the people?? Until, one Summer day when one of my relatives came to the house to visit and with her, to vistors from Japan. She introduced me to her friends, a Buddhist monk and a young lady whom she called her "other" granddaughter. Although our visit was brief, we mainly talked about radiation and the effects that it had on the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The visit really inspired to me to look deeper into my own imagery that I was creating...to create something that just wasn't some pretty allegory of life on the Pueblo.
     At the end of our visit, the Buddhist monk and I, exchanged gifts. I gave him a print of one of my images and in return, he gave me a bell which he had carved out of wood. The image on the wooden bell; two dragons holding the earth, together.

For the past couple of months, I've been researching about landscapes, Uranium, flowers, Japanese iconography and opera. The opera part is bacially just a personal love for the music. I remember as a child when this classical musican, had to come to do a presentation at my preschool, in California. The little hairs on the back of my neck, stood up as I heard him play the violin. It's been that way eversince. When I saw "Madame Butterfly", here in New Mexico; it was a dream come true. I still have that same type of love for Joy Division or say, The Doors?  Then, I discovered the Japanese Opera; Kubuki. Just as beautiful and surreal...So, with these wheels set in motion, I will see what I give birth to in terms of imagery....Stay tuned, friends.

    Since the BIG move from the land of traffic, crowds, and a vast sea of new houses, I thought it was time to pay homage to a place where my spirit finds comfort; Mt. Taylor.
 Mt. Taylor for me, represents everything that is sacred. As in past New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards, I have always tried to create an image which depicted a certain element of nursing. This year, I went back to where it all began; a hummingbird, gently floating over Mt. Taylor and it's surrounding landscape(s). It is not only a hummingbird but a representation of my son, Skye. Skye passed away at the age of two-years-old, he was terminally ill and had complications from severe Cerebral Palsy. It has been 13yrs. since he passed away. However there are times, when it feels just like yesterday; devastating....Still - I feel, this is a beautiful way to pay homage to my son, my daughter Oryan, and to the element of compassion for all living things.

       When I was a kid, living in the beautiful village of Paguate, with my family. It was probably one of the most happiest times of my young life. But less than a 1000ft. away from our front door, was the Jackpile Uranuim Mine. Every now and then, we would hear and see a blast. And, being a kid, I'd go outside and check it out.
        What I would see, (depending on the direction of the wind) was a huge yellow cloud, slowly making it's way over to the village. I don't know what was in that yellow cloud but I do know, it was not good. Yellow Cake is considered to be the purest form of Uranium.
         The Landscape is a depiction of the mine, while the soft glow of radioactivity, floats through the sky. The hummingbird represents all the people, animals, and plant life that have lost their lives to the big, yellow, cloud.....

See: "ShurFine Yellow Cake"     Acrylic on Canvas     2009