Poem written for this painting: When we expand our vision we find What we were most afraid to see Becoming our greatest opportunity to open / Stace recently visited my studio and we had a number of great conversations that day. They offered me encouragement and truly useful critique, which has been much needed. One piece of advice they offered, however, filled my whole body with resistance. It was an unexpectedly visceral response, and I openly refused it as “not for me.” Later as we were walking out of the building, Stace said to me (approximately), “You know, Lauren, sometimes the things we are the most resistant to are our greatest opportunities for growth.” And I will always think about that.