“Comfort in Meditation”
Zachary Coil
Santa Monica, CA
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: At the risk of sounding Pollyanna, I have to acknowledge that while this is definitely the worst thing that has ever happened to me or my family, and I would never wish it upon anyone, and would do anything to make it all go away. There has been an enormous amount more than just awful, sad, and tragic. I have had my eyes opened to a tremendous amount of love and support that was available to me and my family from years and years of a life well lived. I also felt a mighty spirit of the universe, taking care of me and my family as we go through this. I’ve never felt so close to God and people as I have in the last ten months.
There’s so much more in the world to appreciate and enjoy than I had potentially allowed in prior to this experience. It has been enormously powerful. I am grateful for brushes with cancer, and giving me and Tybee the artist, I was paired with an opportunity to connect and bring something positive into the world through this shared experience. It was wonderful to connect regularly with someone and share about my ups and downs, and try to express some of what I had just done. I really appreciated the effort they put into the piece and to connect with me and make sure it was something that spoke to me. Thank you.
Tybee Maitri
Western North Carolina
https://lllmaitrilll.wixsite.com/tybee
“Comfort in Meditation”
Digital Collage
24” x 20”
$200
Artist Statement: The art of meditation is reflective and helps weave together the fabric of our lives. Comfort in Meditation is about the feelings of being at one with oneself and the universe. Zack was always doing, while maintaining a state of stability. His life is a collage of events that are rich and joyful. He spoke of meditation and reflection, spending time in his garden and I felt the bright colors of the quilt illustrated the rich tapestry of his life. I felt comfortable communicating with Zach and was compassionate for his experiences. He embraces life full force. I felt that the rich quilt reflected the many aspects of him and his family’s life that he has embraced and created. He gives back to his community and cares for those around him. A local church makes quilts for the homeless and Zack works with the homeless so there was a connection there. Everyone finds comfort in a blanket. Those who are truly blessed can find peace in meditation and reflection. Zack is a beautiful person. I sought to make a digital collage from the public domain images of the National Gallery of Art and MET public domain that reflected his spirit and internal strength. The two pieces I used were Crazy Quilt by Dolores A. Haupt (Watercolor, pen, ink, gouache on paper), 1938 and Seated Youth by Wilhelm Lehmbruck (composite tinted plaster), 1917. I felt that placing the figure in the corner allowed him to observe the entire quilt, establishing a grounding focal point for the piece. Zack is a cool guy to know and I hope this art inspires future creation and reflection.