Leslie A. Macfarlane, Reaching

Artist: Leslie A. Macfarlane

Title: Reaching

Medium: Stained glass with paper collage and acrylic paint

Unframed Dimensions: 16 x 18 inches

Framed Dimensions: 20 x 21 inches

Price: $3585

Artist Statement: This piece represents the process of reaching, whether for a higher version of yourself or for help from a higher power. The collage behind the glass is made from copies of pages from my "scribble book," documenting the thoughts and feelings I scribbled down about a year ago. Only snippets of those thoughts can be seen now, which allows the viewer to fill in the gaps with their own experiences of reaching.

But to more fully share the parts of myself that went into this piece, here is a selection of thoughts from the collage: I like coming here. The counter lady knows my name and my regular order. I know that feeling Want to be someone who builds Something every day Struggled this morning Not yet. Not there yet. I wasn’t at full speed on Monday. Preoccupied and off my groove. Calm. Anchor. I belong to myself. I have strength. I have dignity My truest self? My most anchored self Grateful for every day Choose a life of Well, I just did that. Still growing. I was having fun today at the end of work. How will I keep going with that? Am I ready to bet on it? I feel a little disgruntled. Hope that’s okay. Decision made, I guess. Wed: -wrap last pieces? -prep chains? -read -shop online? -watch deadlift video finding my way. Where to go now? I do feel angry. I still don’t know A good moment to be in. Wasn’t expecting the issue to come up. What is right. What is possible. I like my story. I forget sometimes. My life is real. My life is beautiful. Just get comfy? trying to grow into myself. Trying to anchor. A lot of ppl struggle with that. I am enough. My life is here. I do remember. I’m doing well. need my life to anchor outside of work. And anchor inside of me. My heart was feeling raw. Sometimes I feel like I’m not ready. Sometimes I feel so important. Sometimes I feel calm. Solder worked better today. I don’t want to talk that way Then pause? Experiment with the stickers I made? Sometimes I feel tired. A special opportunity. I did my best. Dignity. Strength. Love I am like them. I am enough. Sometimes I just need to be okay with where I am. I think they were beautiful Wonder if I’m taking on too much. A lot of growth. Not easy releasing tension sometimes. needed a break. Some let downs. Some work stress. Some [dog] stress. Some church stress. I am going to be okay. I am right here.