MARY MELILLI: ART
TREE HEART JOURNEYS
In September 2023 I participated in a retreat at Kripalu Center in Massachusetts focused on awakening our hearts' dreams with trees. Amba Aliana'Hi and Jeff Prabhakar Migdow guided our meditative journeys outdoors with five tree ceremonies: Elm, Apple, Hemlock, Camperdown Elm, and Willow. After the retreat, I reviewed my journal writings and created paintings that represented my interpretation of some of the messages and feelings I received during the ceremonies. These paintings serve as a reminder to myself of the transformative thinking and pathways of discovery that I learned to see in my mind's eye with the guidance of Amba and Jeff and in the presence of other members of the group who gifted their energies and attention to those transcending moments that have stayed with me ever since.
ELM TREE
30 x 15 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
The Elm tree ceremony was the first one and took place on the front lawn on a Friday morning. More...
APPLE TREE
12 x 36 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
The Apple tree was located on a hillside amongst other old apple trees. More...
HEMLOCK
36 x 48 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
The Hemlock tree ceremony was held inside a cavelike chamber with layers of needle-covered branches overhead and draping down along the sides. More...
CAMPERDOWN ELM
16 x 40 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
To reach the Camperdown Elm tree, we walked and paused at the sites of the previous tree ceremonies. More...
WILLOW TREE
30 x 15 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
It was the last day of the retreat and the final tree ceremony. A bit tired from the heightened receptivity of Hemlock and Camperdown Elm, I wondered what Willow would add to the mix. More...
RAVEN STEALS THE LIGHT
12 x 36 x 1.5" acrylic on canvas 2023
This is another painting I created to represent the Hemlock ceremony based on an ancient Haida tribe tale that was read aloud during the guided meditation. Read the tale...