Gaia’s Lament

In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of Mother Earth. As the polar ice melts, global sea levels rise, and the seas overheat, the earth’s delicately balanced ecosystem that has sustained us and all life for eons is being rapidly pushed to the breaking point. Scientific models have been predicting this for over 50 years, yet scientists have been screaming into the wind as too many have ignored the warnings. In fact, those scientific models were too conservative, and the damage is accelerating faster than even the best science was able to predict, yet millions still ignore the reality before their eyes. (Scientific American, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, et al)

Joan was born and raised in Philadelphia, where her lifelong impulse to interpret the world through visual art first took root. She began formal painting studies in the Chicagoland area in the early 2000s, training for two decades under artist Enid Silverman and embracing Silverman’s deep affection for oil on canvas. Her work reflects the influence of frequent moves and travels within the US and abroad. Adopting North Dallas as home in the 2020's, her life experiences and travels continue to shape her evolving artistic language. Each new life chapter becomes a catalyst for transformation on the canvas, reflecting an ever-deepening dialogue between her inner experience and the world around her.