Artist: Lovetta Reyes-Cairo
Medium: Oil on panel
Titles:
Growing Devotion
Day
Night
Planted
Morning Cuddle
Little Rock
Musician Angel
Moon Daughter
Stand Still
Nurture
About the Artist:
Lovetta Reyes-Cairo is a mother and artist working from her home studio in Utah. Much of her work references the human figure and other symbols to explore ideas about motherhood, relationships, spirituality, and what it means to be human.
About the Artwork:
Growing Devotion: This painting is my visual representation of a series of questions. What ideas deserve to be planted and given a place in my heart? What words have taken root and are they bringing forth the most beautiful flowers? What values are worthy of my devotion? Which ideals will cause me to undergo metamorphosis? Like all good questions, there are many beautiful answers.
Day: She closes her eyes and feels the sunshine on her upturned cheeks. This representation of "Day" has a companion piece "Night." Together, they explore the fundamental duality of night and day. I have her eye closed for, just as in the yin-yang symbol, there is a small part of darkness in the day as night and day maintain their dynamic equilibrium.
Night: She looks through the night sky with the stars shining behind her. This representation of "Night" has a companion piece "Day." Together, they explore the fundamental duality of night and day. I have her eye open for, just as in the yin-yang symbol, there is a small part of light in the night as night and day maintain their dynamic equilibrium.
Planted: "Sometimes when you are in a dark place, you think you've been buried. Actually, you've been planted." -Christine Caine
Stand Still: We see a woman's profile surrounded by abstract shapes of green, yellow, and red. The yellow form a hint of a halo and her face is serene. For this painting, I was exploring ideas of mindfulness and presence. I came across these lines from the poem "Lost" by David Wagoner that beautifully convey some of what I was hoping to accomplish with this tiny painting. "Stand still. The trees and bushes beside you are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here. And you must treat it as a powerful stranger, Must ask permission to know it and be known."
Nurture: A mother stands lovingly cradling her baby. They are out in nature, surrounded by deep greens and blues. In this painting I am referencing nature and nurture, but not as a debate to decide which has more influence. Simply as an acknowledgment that it is wondrous to consider how these tiny humans come with so much in them already, and it is a privilege to encourage them to grow.
