Abilene, Kansas

ceramic sculpture

23 inches long x 20 inches wide

This ceramic plate represents how the artist felt during the attempts to control her severe pain with large doses of oral, long acting morphine. She had been experiencing chronic pain for over two years, but the pain was not adequately controlled for her to be functional. In the center of the plate, the reddish-purple and copper area represents the artist's central fear and confusion regarding her future. The purple area with lavender spots below and to the left indicate how extensive and intense her depression was. The mottled red area to the right of that represents the deep anger and frustration that the artist felt at having intense pain that could not be relieved. In the upper right, the speckled yellow means that sunshine from the world around her is trying to shine through into her life; the green and blue blended areas at the top of the piece represent the green trees and sky also in that world. The speckled white area on the left however indicates the void the artist felt while trying to enjoy the natural beauty around her.