Rising Earth Healing Arts recognizes visual art as part of the tapestry that supports healing and creative expression that is birthed from the womb and heart of every woman. Every season we rotate an artist exhibition at Rising Earth featuring a woman artist who expresses herself through visual art. The art adorns the walls of Rising Earth and supports holding valuable and rich energy in this healing sanctuary. What we see matters. Christine mindfully curates each installation, tuning into the season and the frequency of the collective energy - calling in artists whose art supports the flow and quantum field of healing potential.
“The Wise Woman Creates” is a potent energtic field that is held for the artist in residence to be recognized and honored for her dedication and honoring of her creative potential and expression. Feminine wisdom is returning to our homes, families and communities. A wise woman creates from her gnosis, from her deep felt sense experiences. She births new worlds with every creative expression, from conceiving a child, building a business, choosing a life of travel and adventure, and by creating art. There is a deep and powerful wise component available in the one who percevies art and when we come together to share in this experience and allow space for exploration and curiosity in perception - new worlds are birthed and rooted in conscious connection - where the heart meets the heart and the soul is expressed, witnessed and honored.
Current Wise Woman in Residence
Artist Bio
Melissa Small Cooper is an oil painter and art educator based in the Hudson Valley. She studied painting and photography at Hartwick College earning her BFA. She pursued advanced studies at The Academy of Art University, earning her MFA in painting. Cooper shares her passion for visual art through teaching. She has served as a public school art teacher for ten years. She teaches high school, provides art workshops throughout the community, and serves on the board at the Garrison Art Center. Cooper's current work is influenced by her love of gardening and nurturing flowers. Through this series, she forms parallels between cultivating a garden and how we navigate our relationships with others and ourselves. When Cooper is not teaching or painting, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her greatest masterpieces to date, her three daughters.
Artist Statement
My current artistic practice revolves around a deep connection to nature, particularly the therapeutic aspects of caring for flowers and plants. I also find inspiration in the intricate dance of light and shadow, a fascination that led me to capture the essence of hands cradling flowers in my paintings. The start of my flower-themed works was serendipitous, sparked by a moment when sunlight transformed a cut flower into a mesmerizing play of cast shadows on a wall. This experience became a catalyst for my exploration of the profound parallels between my love for gardening and the relationships in my life. As a mother of three daughters, nurturing is inherent to my identity, aligning seamlessly with the delicate yet resilient nature of flowers. My flower paintings transcend mere depictions, sometimes acting as portraits that symbolize the personalities of those holding the blooms. I meticulously select flowers from my garden or local shops, patiently waiting for the perfect sunlight to cast enchanting shadows against a wall in my house. The composition of each painting is crafted digitally before translating it onto canvas. The vibrant and light palette, coupled with the use of brushwork and palette knives, enhances the visual impact of my work. Through the interplay of light and color, my paintings invite viewers to appreciate the idiosyncrasies of flowers and contemplate the nuanced ways in which individuals hold and care for aspects of their lives. In essence, my art serves as a celebration of the beauty inherent in both nature and human connections. By capturing the delicate strength of flowers and the tender gesture of hands holding them, I aim to evoke a sense of appreciation for the intricate details that make each moment and relationship uniquely beautiful.
Fine Artist & Art Educator
Previous Wise Woman in Residence
“Open Heart” ~ Mariel Sol
February - April 2024