Throughout man’s history, art has been employed to communicate messages when letters and words fall short. Art has allowed us to transcend all sorts of barriers like language and time. Every now and then, we come across an image that seems to be a page ripped out of the story of our own lives, and recreated by someone we have never met.
A couple years ago, I laid eyes on an illustration that was like looking through a window and finding my inner-most self on the other side. I felt choked and dismayed as I imagined the glass walls rising around me, as I desperately tugged and ripped at the weeds that would inevitably engulf me. That piece is not only the subject of today’s post, but is also the driving force behind the creation of Art Day for Life in the AVL. “Pruning” by Christa Briana is the last of our October series, but not just because of what it means to me.
When I first sat down with Christa, I told her this is my favorite piece in her collection. I admitted to her it made me feel vulnerable when I looked at it, like it was revealing a secret I didn’t even know I held. “I am that girl.” I told Christa.
As it turns out, this painting holds a lot of importance for the artist, as well; “It’s close to my heart and one of the few pieces I had a hard time sharing when I became public with my artwork. It looks so simple but holds so much meaning to me.” Naturally, after learning about her detachment from works like “Forgotten Garden” my interest was piqued.
Digging a little deeper, Christa revealed to me exactly why this piece holds so much meaning for her. “The illustration depicts a girl pruning overgrown foliage in a Wardian Case. Looking back, I think the girl represents me, feeling exposed and trapped in a glass house. A friend asked me, ‘Wheres the door?’ There isn’t one.”
Most of us can relate to this trapped feeling better than we would like to admit. The scary part is that this particular creation of Briana’s almost never saw the light of day, “Like a lot of my early work, I never intended on sharing it publicly. Art had always been my way of expressing things I couldn’t verbalize. I’d paint something, let it dry, and then store it in a cabinet.”
Christa and I talked at length about overcoming the terrifying vulnerability that comes with publishing one’s work. It’s a lot like opening your door to strangers and inviting them to critique your underwear drawer. As creators, we are compelled to create those things which will best serve our fellow man, though it often feels like we are hanging our fears and failures up like dirty laundry. Fortunately, she faced down her dragons years back, allowing the rest of us to connect with her work, and uncover just that which we didn’t realize we were searching for.
I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed this first installment of our new Asheville Artists series. I have loved every second of getting to know Christa Briana and her collection better, and I seriously can’t wait to have her work hanging in my home. (Pictures to come!) If you have any questions don’t be afraid to reach out.