About the Exhibition

MOFSA Vision

Oil, Charcoal, Black Pastel on Paper 
 
How can beauty, strength and grace be so inextricably paired with violence, fragility and destruction? Apparent dichotomies happen everywhere in nature. They happen in ourselves. This painting attempts to reconcile the existence of opposing forces, and the internal conflicts they often create.

Sky Burial

About

Oil, Charcoal, Pastel on Paper 
 
This work belongs to the series "The Lilies How They Grow," and is part of an attempt to answer the question, "Who am I?" It is an invocation of universal spiritual truths, and a prayer for passage out of all that keeps us from the wholeness of our being.

The Lilies How They Grow I

Oil, Pastel, and Colored Pencil on Gessoed Paper 
 
This new work seeks to communicate the experience of a body in contact/enmeshment/intimacy with the medium of light, especially as from beneath a canopy of trees. I wrote a poem to accompany the piece, which also speaks to this experience, and specifically to a sense of light moving through and becoming a part of one's own body or presence. 
 
"The Touch of Wind and Light" 
 
Light blooms and falls, hanging 
in tongues around my ankles, 
warm and fleshy 
as the flews of a dog. 
It gathers itself in eggs 
along the trail, where the leaves above 
—thousands of tiny scythes 
have sliced it into fluttering arcs. 
 
An avalanche, a steep slope of sun 
inside my body 
slumps into that tiny space 
behind the heart, no bigger 
than a fingertip. The coin- 
sized dwelling shared by 
love and sadness. 
 
Whorls of glimmering fishes, 
schooling spears of light 
under the skin—and I 
make all I need to nourish myself 
with waves and radiation.

The Touch of Wind and Light

Oil and Pastel on Paper 
 
This work belongs to the series "The Lilies How They Grow," and is part of an attempt to answer the question, "Who am I?" It is an invocation of universal spiritual truths, and a prayer for passage out of all that keeps us from the wholeness of our being.

The Lilies How They Grow VII

Ink and Pastel on Paper 
 
Feather Woman Wailing is both a personal reification of grief and madness, as well as a response to a passage in the novel Fools Crow by Blackfeet author James Welch.

Feather Woman Wailing

Between Two Waters I

Acrylic on Canvas 
 
The Embrace holds a lot of universal ideas -- Embracing the earth and nature and how that makes you feel. Embracing everything that the journey of life entails, that is, embracing the good and the bad and remembering to breathe along the way. And then there’s an actual embrace when you feel like you really connect with someone whether it’s a brief connection, or lifetime. It is inspired by the Karakol Valley in the Russian Altai region, which is considered sacred and holds special energies.

Объятие (The Embrace)

Acrylic on Canvas 
 
“Ascension" was the first piece I made in quarantine. I had travelled to Patagonia in early March 2020, right before everything changed. In fact, I was blissfully unplugged on the O-Trek, which was the inspiration for this piece, before then finding out that they were closing Torres Del Paine Park and foreigners should try and leave the country as soon as possible. I’ve tried to incorporate a number of ideas in this piece including ascending a pass, wild weather for which the region is known, gorgeous sunrise and sunset colors, anticipating the unknown but trying to live in the present, and trying to find calm in chaos. The title references religious paintings from art history, and for me, Nature is very much my religion. Ultimately this painting is about trying to bring the beauty and freedom and spiritual energy I felt from my whole experience of the place, keep it alive inside of me, and try to share it with others.

Ascension

Acrylic on Canvas 
 
I made “The Longing” at the end of 2020 after a long year of Covid restrictions. It was inspired by a photograph I took in the Russian Altai mountains as part of an adventurous mystery trip I took the year prior. It is about longing, connection, mountains, freedom of mind/body/spirit, searching, hope, and finding beauty in the present.

The Longing

Acrylic, Pumice, Mica, Metallic Pigment on Canvas 
 
This painting was initially inspired by a daytime photograph I took in Patagonia, but then shifted to a moon idea when I painted the large light aqua diagonal line “waterfall" juxtaposed with a gray “rock” area and I immediately thought of moonlight. I wanted to add little magical moon moments in this painting which can be discovered when viewing in person. These sparkly surprises are gifts for the viewer who pays attention! When I find the right balance of abstraction and representation within a specific painting, it’s like my mind and heart are in unison.

What the Moon Knows

Acrylic and Pumice on Canvas 
 
I wanted to create a new work for the exhibition that was quiet, filled with love, solace, and hope. Bob had shared a poem he wrote written after a period of sadness inspired by the closing words of Thoreau’s Walden. This was the inspiration for this piece, and as I slowly worked on this painting adding intricate layered details and also repainting and repainting sections, I thought a lot about Marianne and Bob and the special place they would visit together and that Bob has continued to return to. I wanted to make a painting that unfolded over time the more you look. The variation in details, textures, and colors are best experienced in person. My use of repetitive marks and small details can be a meditative process for me, and is an attempt to encourage slow looking in the viewer. It is a gesture towards being present and a gentle reminder to really pay attention — especially when in nature as it so often holds the answers when you need them the most!

More Day to Dawn

Acrylic and Pumice on Canvas 
 
This painting is about renewal and hope and optimism and inspiration. It’s about shining brightly as best you can. It’s about trying again, and embracing imperfection. The landscape is inspired by a trek in remote Western Mongolia in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, an amazing area with wide open spaces, glaciers, and stunning peaks. Experiencing places like this make me feel truly alive, free, ever curious, strong, and hopeful. “Tavan Bogd” means Five Saints or Five Holy Peaks which gave me the idea to make the five round “suns" in the painting.

Another Sun Will Rise

Paper, Acrylics, Pen & Ink on Canvas 
 
I am driving inspiration from tradition of Quran and trying to reinterpret sacred texts and principles to our contemporary issues through this new series of paintings -- “Our earth: Embracing All Communities”. "Earth is spread for all creatures” has the corresponding verse at the bottom in Arabic.

Earth is Spread for all Creatures

Acrylics, Paper and Pen & Ink 
 
It defines our connections to each other, unity in diversity and human mortality in one unifying message. I depict a journey where people, wrapped in white move in unison to accomplish this spiritual journey.

Flow Of Humanity

Five Invited Artists

MOFSA Logo

About the Selection Process

Quote

Exterior paint on stucco 
Mural Size: 23 ft x 16.5 ft (Above size listed is for exhibition purposes only) 
 
Not everyone has the fortune of growing up in a loving and stable home. This bouquet of birds encourages people to imagine possibilities greater than they've ever known. My mural is in a shopping center with hundreds of daily visitors.

Beautiful Bird Garden

Acrylic on Canvas, Gold Mica Flakes, Interference Paint 
 
This painting is of a flower that is composed of birds holding flowers! My favorite leaf in the artwork is a baby in a nest with a sprout in its mouth. It represents how forces of nature connect in ways we cannot perceive and how we should trust their presence.

Not Alone

Oil on Canvas 
 
This painting is about me waking from my kidney transplant; it's a way of understanding what happened to me that day when I was under the anesthesia, where I went, and what I experienced with that first breath when I woke. Catching divine spirits and thoughts as they surface.

Waking Up

Oil on Canvas 
 
My scar is my tattoo, it's my battle scar, it reminds me of everything I went through. It reminds me of my victory. And most importantly it reminds me of my sister and what she did for me. Next level love.

Transplant Scar

House Paint and Acrylic on Canvas 
 
Multi-layered intuitive painting based on the colors, qualities and energy of the Larimar crystal. Includes the title message "Clear and Tranquil Ocean Wisdom" in Morse Code around the edges. From the "Subtle Matter" series.

Clear and Tranquil Ocean Wisdom (Larimar)

House Paint and Acrylic on Canvas 
 
Multi-layered intuitive painting based on the colors, qualities and energy of the Moonstone crystal. Includes the title message "Radiant and Intuitive Moon Magic" in Morse Code around the edges. From the "Subtle Matter" series.

Radiant and Intuitive Moon Magic (Moonstone)

Mixed Media, Graphic Design, Collage, on Paper and Transparency Paper

Into the Light

Mixed Media, Graphic Design, Found Art, Collage on Paper

Faith

Walking At the Wheel of Heaven

The Unknowable

Shmira

Study #2 For Taharah: Pouring the Second Bucket

Thresholds: Attending Grandmother's Passing

Taharah: Pouring the Second Bucket

About Chevra Kadisha

Discovering Chevra Kadisha

Oil on Canvas 
 
Placing a purified body into her casket according to the principles of Jewish burial practice.

Thresholds: Placing the Metah Into the Casket

Charcoal on Paper 
 
Studies about Taharah, the Jewish practice of preparing bodies for burial

Taharah: The Angels of Mercy Embrace the Dead

The Angels of Mercy

Chest CT, Pastel 
 
Bob shared Marianne's final images with me. When I saw her heart I captured the image and let it take me where it would. I sent the final work to Bob on the anniversary of Marianne's death with a note I felt was for him "Marianne sends you her heart". 
 
Jennifer McCormick was the first recipient of MOFSA's spiritual art grant and now is on the Board.

Half Human Half Divine

Oil and Acrylic on Canvas 
 
This painting by Carlos Alvarez is based on one of Marianne’s ceramic sculptures, inspired by the abstract angelic visions she saw in meditation. Carlos’ painting, in turn, inspired Bob to solidify his plans and bring MOFSA to life. The painting can be said to have launched a foundation. 
 
Carlos was Marianne's drawing and painting instructor and friend, and is on the MOFSA Board.

Angel of the Foundation

About MOFSA

About Marianne Oberg

Marianne Oberg

Oil on Canvas 
 
It has been an absolute treasure painting this angel. Marianne is such a kind, gentle and peaceful being, and I have been receiving so much love, light, healing, and magic from painting her joyful smile. Meditating and painting her these past few months has given me a chance to genuinely connect with her and her divinely loving spirit. 
 
Marianne, 
 You bring so much love, light, wisdom, and strength into this world. I have absolutely loved painting you. Your smile has brought me so much joy in this painting process; and I have loved laughing with you. Thank you so much for all the kindness that you have given me on my own path and spiritual journey. Your legacy will continue to live on and inspire other young and budding artists like me. 
 Love, 
 Taylor Ann

Marianne

About Marianne's Artwork

Mother Mary

White Angel Abstraction I

White Angel Abstraction II

Ceramic, 2011-2012 
 
Marianne's description: 
The one with the bird is based on a Tarot card The Blasted Tower but instead of a lightning bolt I have a phoenix rising from the tower as the conscious mind (the man) and the unconscious mind (the woman) are being dethroned in favor of Spirit.

Tower

Spiral Abstraction

This exhibition shows the work of eight artists who received grants and awards from MOFSA this year.

Towards the Spiritual