Beauty From Ashes: Rebirth

"Beauty From Ashes: Rebirth"/8"x10"/mixed media/Erin Stinson May 2016

I wish I could have been home to see the very first bit of green burst through the soil.  I wanted to see the very moment our rebirth began.  This image, of new growth emerging through the piles of ash, has been imprinted in my mind right from the beginning:  

Death to life.
Tragedy to triumph.
Sacrifice to rebirth.  
Beauty from ashes.  

It's been difficult to sift through the events and emotions of the last three weeks.  It continues to be an extremely surreal experience - certainly new territory to explore.  I've had to push myself to get creative but I know it's good to get back to work.  My heart and mind are buzzing with ideas and metaphors, images and words.  I am beginning to peel it all back, bit by bit, and begin this new series.  Beauty From Ashes will be an exploration of this entire experience*... letting it unfold as it happens.  There is much to learn and much to be gleaned.  We may be on the cusp of re-entry into our community but this journey has just begun.  

*On Tuesday, May 3rd, Fort McMurray, Alberta (along with much of the entire Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo)  was under a sudden mandatory evacuation notice as wildfire tore through our community.  Nearly 90.000 people were forced to flee and we haven't been allowed home since.  Over 2400 structures, most of which are homes, have been destroyed.