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About Alisha as Chava Tree

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The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I've spent over 25 years working in non profits, addiction & mental health, and  acute healthcare as a Social Worker. I started reading the poem The Summer Day by Mary Oliver in my groups and talked with many people about that question "what do you plan to do".  For awhile I had been grappling with what I was doing, my passion had faded, I wasn't out on any adventures or planning some big pursuit, and my spirit was dull. I got to a point where i couldn't do any of it.

So a couple years ago I asked myself the question, "what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?". I reset for myself, my family, my life. I found passion in gardening and sought out an art teacher. I focused all my attention on what was wild and what was precious. 

Learning to paint with oils has brought adventure, pursuit, passion, and spirit flowing back to me and my relationships. I'm grateful everyday for art. My attention goes from one subject to the next. I love the portrait painting and how complex it can be to capture an expression or a moment. I love the landscape painting, mountains and meadows were a big part of my past adventures and pursuits with hiking, scrambling, backpacking, camping, and trail running. I love the animal and beloved pet paintings with all their spirit and the bonds between us. I love how you can paint interest into an alleyway or a chair lit up by the sun coming in the window. 

Its fun, challenging, interesting, and it makes everyday an adventure. When you might not be able to get up on that peak or pursuit, you paint it. When that low comes you paint until it turns into contentment or joy. When the fear creeps in you paint until the calm returns. When the ideas are flowing and you feel great you paint. When you want to see someone smile or give them some love you paint. 

I will always paint with my one wild and precious life! 

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Why Chava Tree?

 

   When I started my career in social work, I worked in outreach on the strolls in downtown Calgary. Along my route was "The Woman's Place Bookstore". It soon became my safe haven, and I found compassion and care from the owner, Kimberly, at the time. I would stop in, she would have me sit in the rocking chair, make me some tea, listen compassionately, and offer me a book. 

   One of these books was "Beyond the Pale". The story follows the life of Chava from her origin in a Russian-Jewish settlement to her journey to America in the early twentieth century. "A glimpse into a world that is often overlooked". The name Chava means "little friend" and for me "little hopes". Her story inspired me, she persevered through the tragedies of her time. Through love, community, and passionate beliefs she lived a life of meaning and purpose.

   Years later I learned of my family's similar origin and their journey to America. So I chose "Chava" as a guidepost for my art, to weave all of these origins, journeys, friendships, and hopes into my work. I wonder how it will evolve and what it will all look like when I look back? 

Oh and Tree, that's a story for another time :)

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Artist Statement

I am an oil painter. I follow my interest, emotion, and let it lead the way. I enjoy the lessons and skills of art and how your art changes year to year the more you paint. Most of all, I love working with oil colors, the transitions, combinations, soft edges, and compositions. I find the meadows are the perfect subject for color, but so too can a face, a chair, a landscape, or an animal. 

Location

Calgary, Alberta

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