2008

6" x 9" | 15cm x 23cm

marble, smalti, shell, glass and swarovski crystal beads, pearls, glass, seed beads, mirror, opus romano

this piece began with a pondering on the concept of loss, or what we call loss, i.e. "we lose our virginity", "lost innocence", "losing a loved one", "we suffer a loss".

for me, in most cases, there is an aspect of loss that is more of an outward expression of giving than what i consider an inward experience of having lost something. i did not lose my virginity - i gave it and i know exactly where it is. my innocence may not be as ever-present as when i was a child, but it is not lost. i see through that young girl’s eyes and feel her goosebumps when i look at the stars, discover a special rock in my path, or listen to the snow falling... just to name a few. and the losses that i have suffered deeply have broken me open, brought me to my knees, and utterly humbled me, which i experience as a complete giving of myself to one of the most pure and alive aspects of my humanity.

given, not lost is about how we give ourselves to life, love, and even pain.

this mosaic was created for the SAMA 2008 mini salon silent auction.