An Emotional Meeting with the “Tree of Life” series

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Hi all, 

Last weekend was pretty heavy and hectic for me, as I took part in a local art festival all day Friday and Saturday.
Lots of fine people came, ready for a pleasant few hours immersed in art and creativity.
I spoke with many, and thoroughly enjoyed these conversations with till-then total strangers.

I want to tell you about one of these encounters, which turned out to be much more than a chance meeting of strangers. I want to relate an experience.

Quite late in the afternoon, two women – a mother and daughter – came in to the house where I was showcasing my art and my workshops.
The daughter was very taken by one of the pictures, and asked her mother what she thought about her buying it for her house. I heard the reply “You don’t have room for such a large picture, and anyway, it’s too depressing. There’s so much sadness there.”
Being the creator of the picture, I felt it was reasonable for me to join the conversation, and asked the mother if she could explain her reaction. She said it was the colors. So much grey.
I pointed to another photo, wholly grey and greige, and asked whether that one was depressing as well.
“Not at all” she replied. “It has flowing movement and softness. I like that one!”
“Well then, it’s not the colors” I continued. “But I’d really like to understand your feelings regarding this picture, since they’re quite unusual.”

This is the photo that we were talking about
from the “Tree of Life Series by Smadar Barnea | E20-1402-9926

One of them (I can’t recall which) requested that I explain what was in the photograph. So I started to tell them about the “Tree of Life” series. When I mentioned Yad LaBanim (the organization for the commemoration of fallen soldiers & aid to their surviving families) – which I did almost immediately – the mother interrupted with “That’s it! You see? Yad LaBanim! I told you I could feel the sadness and pain there.” And the daughter added “I am a bereaved sister” (meaning that she had lost her brother in war).

I was stunned. Something in the picture had touched a heart-string that was connected to the mother’s pain.
Wow!
This was unexpected!

From its creation, I had felt that the “Tree of Life” series was what I call “right”. It gently and subtly reflects what I felt about the Eshed family, which I had met during the project; it’s beautiful; it’s complex. As I said – it’s “right”. But never for one moment did I imagine that I could create art that would connect so directly and deeply with someone who was personally acquainted with the tragedy that was its origin.

I am thrilled; I am exalted; I am awed by this realization, and deeply thankful for this gift.

I leave you with these emotions.
And till next time -

                      Best wishes, and -
                      Keep looking for the beauty and light that are everywhere!

                                                  - Smadar