Terra Madre

Stacie Ann Smith's fine art work began as a simple exploration into her own life and ended up uncovering her place within the faith she was born. The faith tradition she inherited is a bit of a paradox; an almost feminist religion with a strong, if quiet, belief in both a Heavenly Father and Mother while also being steeped in the puritanical ideals of the 19th century. The faith's patriarchal hierarchy has only made token steps to include women in leadership since its 1830 inception. Stacie began to recognize the imagery she made described not only society's but specifically her faith's antique ideals. Once she realized this connection she began exploring the belief in a Heavenly Mother. This all powerful, silent and invisible female felt familiar. Mother is always there if not always acknowledged; mother silently carries the burdens; mother is both creative and destructive. The resulting imagery explores the themes of inheritance and divine femininity. Stacie transfers xerographs to wood panels then hand colors the images adding found objects to create mixed media pieces. This work represents her search for evidence of Heavenly Mother in our bodies and in our world.