Artist Kathleen Tonnesen, Solo exhibit "Petal Tranquility" at The Mole Pop-Up Gallery. Large Botanicals Celebrating Colour, Upliftment, and Healing. Curator: Quentin Wright

Date: August 02 - August 30, 2024
Times: Open Fridays 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Address: Located at the rear of 1157 Pendrell Street, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Access from Jepson-Young Lane.

Artist Statement:
"Why a Daffodil? As a young artist I had dreams of becoming an excellent realistic portrait artist with a focus on detail. I paint and create, as I breathe. It is what I am. And when I thought that I would never be able to paint and draw again in 2020 when I lost so much sight. I just wanted to die - it was so difficult, so isolating, not seeing. I felt worthless. But thanks to prayer and Yoshinkan Aikido martial arts and cataract surgery, I have rehabilitated and rewired my brain to work with what vision I have. Since I had my art breakthrough with last years artworks (2023) that I exhibited in July, post exhibit I was overwhelmed and exhausted emotionally by the miracle of the brain rewiring and skills regained. Although I still have the black area in the center of my right eye and the left eye remains blind/low vision, this year I have created large paintings of flowers, as the simple act of seeing a colourful flower's face, is to me a miracle. People ask me how do I see? And I say, cover your left eye fully with your hand and cover the right half of your right eye with your hand - I see through the left half of the right eye clearly, depending on the light. Now move your head to look to the right - no eye scanning - all head movements. God shows his strength and power through our weaknesses. My weakness has taught me a great deal, as interacting with people became a problem: How do you do that when you cannot see? God answered my question - We communicate heartbeat to heartbeat. Yellow is my daughter's favourite colour and she loves daffodils, while painting this daffodil my heart connected with hers and sent her Love, one brushstroke at a time." - Kathleen Tonnesen, 2024.