The Birth of Jana
2004
acrylic on plywood
30" x 26"
"The "Birth of Jana" was painted in 2004 after assisting with the birth of a friend of a friend. This was an unexpected assist, just happened to be at the right place and the right time.
I had been present at three births previously, including the birth of my daughter. It is an amazing albeit disgusting event with weird smells, fluids and bodily discharges. Yet when the alien-looking infant appears the sense of an actual miracle occurring permeates the room.
When Jana was born, her birth mother (she was adopted by anther couple) wanted her first sounds outside the womb to be the chanting of Tibetan monks which we set up to play through a laptop. A rose was used (in a vase-not in her mouth as depicted in the painting) as a focal point during the contractions. While my arm was being squeezed in the grip of labor contractions, I decided to paint "The Birth of Jana" and as soon as I caught up on sleep I started.
This painting currently resides in Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania in a sitting room of a bed and breakfast.
Peace Always
Sharon
