dimensions: 30" x 30"
media: Oil, string, tape & collage on canvas
statement: The process of painting this image became a cathartic experience. In it, the self-portrait of who I am meets the memory of who I was. Then, someone I loved, in spite of constant abuse, told me, "I hate you, I could just KILL you" as she struck me to the floor. I will never forget this experience, but the process of painting it removed much of the pain from my memories. I incorporated string and tape to bind myself, a symbol of my long emotional imprisonment. The composition reflects the turmoil of the moment, while on the floor, hearing those words. The background contains collaged imagery of women who were convicted of hurting their children, along with the queen of hearts and abstract imagery.