| CONFLUENCE OF TRADITIONS Graphite, pastel, and water color on paper, c. 28.5 x 41.25 in. |
The three children in this work are really
multiple aspects of one child who
represents all of us. They refer to the
concept of the three-part self in the Huna
religion of Hawaii, which is similar to the
three aspects of the self in Freudian
psychology. There is the lower impulsive
self, seen in darkness, that corresponds
to the id, the middle self seen in color,
which approximates the ego, and a higher
self seen as golden light that resembles
the superego, except it is more
empowering than restrictive. The Hunas
believe that only when the lower self is
free of guilt, can the middle self contact
the higher self to effect changes in the
physical world. The title, Confluence of
Traditions, refers to the many ethnic
traditions evident in this work: a Native
American headdress, a Tibetan skirt, and
a Kabalistic necklace, showing the
sephiroth or energy centers. All these
traditions blend into one artwork as our
diverse humanity is basically one whole.
multiple aspects of one child who
represents all of us. They refer to the
concept of the three-part self in the Huna
religion of Hawaii, which is similar to the
three aspects of the self in Freudian
psychology. There is the lower impulsive
self, seen in darkness, that corresponds
to the id, the middle self seen in color,
which approximates the ego, and a higher
self seen as golden light that resembles
the superego, except it is more
empowering than restrictive. The Hunas
believe that only when the lower self is
free of guilt, can the middle self contact
the higher self to effect changes in the
physical world. The title, Confluence of
Traditions, refers to the many ethnic
traditions evident in this work: a Native
American headdress, a Tibetan skirt, and
a Kabalistic necklace, showing the
sephiroth or energy centers. All these
traditions blend into one artwork as our
diverse humanity is basically one whole.
