Wind Poem

Sheri Paisley's work explores the connection between internal and external landscapes, with a focus on breath, spirit, and wind. Through abstract and loosely rendered scenes, she examines the dynamic tension between form and formlessness, as well as the invisible forces that shape our experiences. For Paisley, painting is a way to engage more deeply with the world, using color, mark-making, and gesture to process life's complexities and connect with the flow of energy in nature.

The original title of this painting was The Earth Expresses Itself Outwardly in Leaves, a quote from Walden. It felt too literal, so I chose Wind Poem. I considered adding the previous title in brackets but wanted to keep the title more sparse and open to interpretation. I find that so often people ask to know the story behind the work, and they don't want to just sit with it and listen. It's all there if they just sit and listen. No one has the time, it seems. One day I will just tell them, it’s up to you to sit, take time, and listen. This is the entire point of the experience. Just as I did with my mentor at Emily Carr. He did the same thing. “Ask ask ask...” I finally told him, “it's up to you to listen.” He sat and quietly listened to the book of drawings I had made and when he finished, he gently closed it, looked at me, and very quietly said, "That was incredible. This is very special," and he got up and left with tears.

— Sheri Paisley