Life: The Choice (is Mine)

In the Beginning: A study exploring the delicate balance of sacred choice and sacred life

Created as the debut painting of the series, "In the Beginning", RS Wallace delved into this oil on canvas after months of new debates unfurling across the United States. While cooking weekend brunch omelets, the tears and waves of emotions finally overcame stoicism -- Just days prior to the Supreme Court dismissal of a writ of certiorari brought by the U.S. federal government against Texas' S.B. 8 on December 9, 2021, RS Wallace completed "To Celebrate, Honor, Mourn, Remember, Cherish: the Choice (is Mine)".

To Celebrate, Honor, Mourn, Remember, Cherish: the Choice (is Mine) | Oil on canvas | 48x60 | RS Wallace, 2021

From a reference sonogram, RS Wallace modeled the uterus and embryo with colors depicting the wonder of source energy, the delicate and magical nature of something coming to be, while also using more harsh tones and strokes indicative of the turbulent uncertainty of life's journey.

The choice of blue is symbolic of water: the source energy of the planet, of every living being and organism; Like a mountain spring, bright and sparkling -- the embryo is held within a brilliant, protective flow of vibrant blues -- pulled from the depths of the Earth. The more nuanced and evolved tones arching through the top of the canvas represent the wellspring of the protective flow -- mirroring the essence of Woman's being, where the blues hold the celestial connection of her soul, teals and greens -- to the infinite beyond.

For the embryo, the swirl of grays convey elementary particles of matter -- the smallest blocks of the universe -- while the faint flashes of blue within represent matter as energy which can neither be created nor destroyed; it was, it is, and it will ever be.

With the use of blues in these three primary areas, it underscores the laws of our universe where the energy that comprises one, is the same energy which comprises all -- we are interconnected, a bond that has always been and always will. As our physical Earth is sustained by water, upon which all things are both interdependent and interrelated, so are we as a collective of Human Beings and Individuals interrelated with the Universe and its energy.

Feathered and lace-like, the womb is filled with delicate hues -- a spark of something to be as cultivated by the feminine's nurturing elixir; Yet these soft textures are cut by heavy, dark crimson tones -- a foreshadowing of destiny in the balance, as life brings no absolute certainty; between Embryo and Essence of Woman, there is a wound-like element to these thick fibrous tones of claret, calling out the exacting toll of pregnancy -- its scars, its pains, its glories, its ravaging nobleness, its precious beauty, its unexpected primal nature, its dance with life and death. Throughout the entire canvas, yellows pulse as a constant presence of possibilities and the wonder of source energy.

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Sacred Choice, Sacred Life

The journey through life is a sacred walk each of us experiences.

There is a spectrum of emotions we vacillate across from the mundane routines of everyday life to the milestone moments that alter us in undeniable, immediate ways. Through it all, we learn, we grow, or we dare to repeat the lesson until we do – whatever the circumstances, the constant is clear – we are the center of our choices in how we choose to be in whatever our journey brings.

We can choose to Celebrate who and what we are; we can choose to Honor who and what we are; we can choose to Mourn who and what we have lost; we can choose to Remember who and what we are; we can choose to Cherish who and what we are. In all of it, this is always our choice. This painting is an homage to one woman’s full spectrum of experiences – embodying the near totality of pregnancy outcomes – live birth, miscarriage, abortion.

From the moment a person learns of their pregnancy, it is a sliver of time carried through the entirety of their life.

In every possibility of pregnancy, there is a sacred exchange of a person Celebrating, Honoring, Mourning, Remembering and Cherishing but in all of it, the choice is entirely upon the individual to make. Life is what we make it to be – the meanings attached to it all are either laden by ego, imposed expectations, societal conditioning, or with freedom of consciousness by standing in one’s own truth – and the journey therewithin is our sacred walk to experience in all the complexities of co-existing in both our Human and Spiritual essences.

-RS Wallace

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Art is a human expression which begs for human connection -- and I can think of no greater subject in my current body of work for the honor of your participation with me in the continuation of this series, In the Beginning.

-> Share on Social

A quick and simple way to boost this series' message is by sharing this blog post on social media. In your posts, feel free to tag my respective handles as well: www.instagram.com/rs.wallace.art and www.facebook.com/rswallaceart

BONUS: Use these hashtags, please -- and thank you in advance! #rswallace #inthebeginning #thechoiceismine

-> Submit your Story

Currently, I am compiling submitted sonograms and pregnancy journey stories -- all of which are kept anonymous -- as references for further study in the series. All produced paintings from submitted content will later be sold with 100% of profits going to Women's reproductive rights foundations and regionally local charities benefiting women, children and mothers.

-> The Intent

The ultimate goal would be for all the pieces from the series to be shown together in a single exhibit and/or benefit event, to further bring voice and visibility to the individual journeys of so many people's sanctity of choice and life.

Please email directly with submissions, questions, contributions: RS.Wallace.Art@gmail.com

In gratitude for your active support,

-RS

If you would like to view this debut painting of the series, In the Beginning, a private showing can be arranged by emailing the artist at: rs.wallace.art@gmail.com