The breath of the moon
Mokuhanga woodcut with earth and mineral pigments on Japanese handmade washi made in the Autumn of 2025, Venice, Italy.
Observing the daily tides, the wax and wane of the lunar cycle, the notion of repair and simultaneous release were the themes of my time in Venice. Approaching my fellowship at the Scuola di Grafica with all of my senses, I attempted to co-create with Venice. Arriving on the night of the full blood moon eclipse and presenting this body of work on a new moon partial solar eclipse of September 2025.
Gathering the hues and tones of the city, I collected water from the canal each day to assist the grinding of earth and mineral pigments; malachite, lapis lazuli, terra verte, azurite, ochre, crumbling red brick. These inks stained cherry wood blocks and essentially dyed the handmade mulberry paper. Making as meditation.
Domes, moons, Saint Lucia’s eyes, lunations, tears, rain drops, tidal shifts, grapes on copper plates, frescoes, the metonic cycle, sacred geometry, divine proportions, portals, and expanding views, all are Venice, for me.