Acrylic and Mixed Media on Wood Panel

12 X 12 X 1 ⅝ in.

As part of the “Break Free” collection, this piece invites the viewer to open their eyes and welcome in the color of the world around them. Yet in order to do so, one first needs to give themself permission to break open.

Life can bruise us and knock us down, but we must recognize that even the broken parts are still more whole than we realize. Even in its smallest form, you cannot break into nothingness. Breaking open gives us access to a new part of ourselves. And this piece reminds us that there is color and learning within the break.

Edna’s lived experience has taught her to believe in herself and embrace all of life’s twists and turns. It is easy to see obstacles in life as a dark hole, but with practice there is the possibility to celebrate these moments and see the color and abundance within each of life’s challenges. Just as each break in an egg’s shell is unplanned and unexpected, life comes with many unforeseen moments and challenges that lead toward growth and expansion.

As a child, Edna’s uncle was wrongfully accused and executed during the Iranian revolution for being Jewish. That childhood trauma of having to leave her homeland as a young teenager of 14 forced Edna to acknowledge the importance of embracing every moment because life is fragile and full of the unexpected. But to do so, she first needed to overcome the challenge of stepping outside of her shell. Art helped Edna step into her confidence and start believing in her personal power.

She hopes this series encourages the viewer to see the fragility of life and respond with enthusiasm to live life to the fullest. Although life is fragile, it is also full of color and one must break free from their shell of comfort in order to see it.