Shattered
Pieces – watercolor
Beth Shadur
Highland Park, IL
This painting was painted within six months of my own miscarriage and deals with the subject somewhat overtly, but also brings in the sense of other losses. I had my miscarriage in late 1989, after going through many years of infertility work, and finally achieving a pregnancy with some gymnastic medical means.
The work combines symbols of growth and fertility (the gardener, flowers and foliage) with symbols of loss. The figure in the center is definitely autobiographical, as the woman on the steps of her home sits with head in hands. Above her, another woman sits in the window with head bowed over a picture of a loved and missed one. There is a nursery presented, which is empty, and depicts an open window with an image of an angel flying out. There are also symbols of motherhood presented, with a black and white photo of a mother and child, and a wall of hands, based on ancient Native-American pictographs. Below that, the hand of fate and karma is offered but bound by a ribbon. Next to that is a well of water, with the center draining out.
