Art is transformational! 

One day I saw caterpillars in my garden just outside the American in Paris Gallery.  Most people would look at a caterpillar and say "What's the big deal? That's just a worm."  But to me a caterpillar is much more than just a worm.  For example, my garden caterpillars completely crawled their way out of the overgrown weeds in my garden and started growing wings! 

 

For whatever reason, they had crowd out of the garden and onto my French museum statues from Paris and then just started hanging upside down on the limestone statues where they then created c0coons as they hung upside down from on the limestone .   As the caterpillars finally came out of their cocoons, they slowly began to move and eventually flap their wings on my statues from Paris.  They had literally transformed themselves from caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. The entire transformation was nothing short of fascinating to watch!!!  The transformation reminded me of how my own life was also turned upside down and completely transformed when I become an American in Paris artist during my early years in France! 

 

Some of the butterflies literally transformed in my the palms of my hands while we were in the American in Paris Gallery.  This is not just a story about the creation of the American in Paris gallery but also a metaphor for life.  As an artist, this profound experience with nature showed me that my own transformation was literally in my own hands.   

 

As human beings, we all go through tough times; it's part of the human condition. The lesson of the caterpillar, as it grows wings and transforms into a butterfly, teaches us that, by having  "a higher purpose", we can always grow wings and rise above our unique individual obstacles and personal everyday earthly problems and challenges. And, even if you don't know your higher purpose, imagine if each time you saw a caterpillar you would take a minute to reflect on it as nature’s reminder to NEVER GIVE UP in your own transformation and have the courage to pursue your own higher purpose in life...

 

As an artist, I can totally relate to this metaphor because I am constantly transforming and improving into a better more uplifting version of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. That's how I was able to transform a historic home into a unique artist museum and sanctuary for art and inspiration.  So this art exhibit will exhibit live butterflies inside the American in Paris gallery.  This exhibition will also include examples of the butterfly paintings they inspired.  Lastly, The Art of Transformation will offer brief writings on the theme of how we can use nature as inspiration to transform our lives!