MidLife Catharsis

Catharsis refers to the process of releasing strong, pent-up emotions—such as pity, fear, or anger—resulting in a sense of emotional relief, renewal, or restoration. The term derives from the Ancient Greek word katharsis, meaning "cleansing" or "purging"

I’ve been reflecting on my place in my own timeline and it’s impossible to tell if I have as many miles ahead of me as I do behind me, but I’ve definitely reached a point where I’m acutely aware of how fast it’s going! And…that it will inevitably end.

I don’t know exactly the point at which one becomes “middle-aged” but I know that I find myself clearly in between the generations on either side of me and I’ve passed the 50 year mile-marker, so I’m clearly there, regardless of when it happened.

At this stage in life, it’s not uncommon for folks to have a mid-life crisis. Perhaps it’s brought on by acute awareness of our own mortality (and running from it). Possibly it’s caused by a suddenly quiet empty-nester house. Sometimes it’s initiated by tragedy and other times by a revelatory spark of awareness. I’mextremely grateful that I’m not currently experiencing a crisis - but I’m definitely having a period of catharsis! Life is always a bit of a rollercoaster, but over the last several years it has been a particularlyintense ride. This has lead me to doing a great deal of introspection, questioning, searching, exploring, & meditation. I’ve done a lot of hard work on myself the past few years, grappling with the changes occurring within me and all around me. Trying to get a firm grasp of this constantly unfolding life is liketrying to hold water in your hands…

It has been both incredibly challenging & rewarding.

It has been full of puzzles, paradoxes & patterns.

I am acutely aware of the bizarre behavior of Time.

I feel that it has taken such long time for me to suddenly be here, now.

I see how quickly my parents and their generation have aged.

I see how quickly my children have grown (into young adults).

I have lived long enough to experience both great joy & great sorrow.

I have known awful pain & beautiful peace.

I have loved & hated.

I have learned a great deal & recognize how little I know.

I am aware of the multitudes of dichotomies/dualities/polarities and the spectrums connecting them.

I have observed the constant flow of energy between the Yin & the Yang.

I am both child & parent.

I am simultaneously in the process of living & dying.

I’m aware of the seasons of the year and of the seasons of life.

I find flowers to be the ideal visual representation of my Mid-Life Catharsis: They are a symbol of theCycle of Life and a microcosm of our existence.

Flowers embody both the simplicity & the complexity of Life and their Life Cycle and recursive patterns mirrors our own.

Each of us is a flower, made of stardust

We come in a dazzling assortment of shapes and colors

Started as a cosmic seed

We germinate and we grow and we blossom and we wilt and we die

Our material recycled and regenerated, our soul set free

An ephemeral existence and that condition makes the flower even more special and a cause for celebration

Artist Statement

This collection of paintings is a visual diary of my MidLife Catharsis, ultimately celebrating Life through the symbolism of flowers. These paintings are my response to, and a documentation of my effort to better understand my thoughts & emotions, to better understand how I experience the world and to better understand the very nature of my existence. In many cases, they seek to give shape and visual form to that which is otherwise elusive and intangible. They are an intimate reveal into my journey and what Ifound. I’ve approached this theme from a variety of angles, including paintings both large & small,intricate detail & expressive energy, realistic representation & wild abstraction, serious thought and whimsical fun.

We are all uniquely experiencing the world we share in common. I hope that you find connection with these paintings. I hope that they challenge you. I hope that they amuse you. I hope that they inform you. I hope that they inspire you. Mostly, I wish you well on your own journey and thank you for takingtime to share in mine.