The Ties That Bind Description:

In this painting, I was drawn once again, to the majesty of the canyons at Antelope Canyon located on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.  In particular, I was intrigued by the sand falls that occur from sand cascading through the canyon openings and pouring down the rock walls like a waterfall.  Although these sand falls are more often than not, created by visitors dropping sand for photo opportunities, they give the illusion of an hourglass that never empties.  This is also a metaphor for the parent-child relationship illustrated in the painting.

I incorporated two female figures into the composition (many thanks to my friend and her daughter who posed as my muses):  the one on the canyon floor is the mother and the figure perched on the rock above is her daughter.  This duo represents the unbreakable bond that exists between parent and child, and in this case, mother and daughter.  The mother was placed beneath the sand falls purposely as she is caught in a moment of vulnerability, not quite able to rise without the help of her daughter above.  The falling sand represents the endless to-do list, daily challenges, and trials of life that continue to rain down on mothers and invade even the smallest of cracks despite our efforts to avoid them.  

The daughter represents the mother’s saving grace in this moment as she offers her a hand up in the form of an extended scarf.  She gets her resolve from her mother but also serves as her mother’s source of strength and motivation in this instance.  The arrangement of the figures is strategic as it also represents a temporary role reversal:  the child is pulling the parent up to higher ground and giving her the inspiration to climb to a place that is higher than which she is accustomed.  As parents, we are naturally the caregivers for our children but at some point, they become our support system as well.  We don’t necessarily want our children to see that we struggle but when we expose our vulnerabilities, in certain instances; it can bind us closer to them and demonstrate that purpose can develop out of pain.

The parent-child relationship and life journey illustrated here is similar to an hourglass:  just when you feel like you are about to be engulfed by the sands of time, things get flipped upside down, and you are back on top, starting anew.  While the grains of sand never stop falling, they also provide the grit needed to get back up and keep going.  

The undulating lines on the sandstone rocks created by erosion and changing weather over millions of years create a sense of movement in the composition and help lead the viewer’s eye to the figures.  The natural rock lines are also mimicked by the lines and drapery in the fabric that connects the mother and child.  The glowing light above and behind the top figure helps illuminate them as the focal point and symbolize the bright future that awaits both of these women.  

Although the mother is in the shadow of the rock facade, she illustrates that “The Ties That Bind” can never be broken and that together, they can step into a promising tomorrow.