Soft Front, Strong Back: The Reconstruction of Self

c. 2020

Scrap steel puzzled together to construct a welded figure. This large-scale, outdoor sculpture explores the experience of putting oneself back together after heartbreak and grief using a Buddhist concept originated by Roshi Joan Halifax. She describes it as follows: “... If we strengthen our back...and develop a spine that’s flexible but sturdy, then we can risk having a front that’s soft and open, representing choiceless compassion. The place in your body where these two meet—strong back and soft front—is the brave, tender ground in which to root our caring deeply.” The sculpture is meant to rust and decay with time.

Materials: Recycled steel parts, MIG weld