Page 28 - The Enso circle continuing Residents' Exhibition Catalog, Term Five, December 2022

About

the IRENE PEAKE

Artist &

the

Work This session of the Enso Circle has given me the opportunity

to expand the themes I depict in my collages and assemblages. I
embarked on a new theme...the reality of aging and how it affects me.

I had the chance to go through my stash of materials and re-discover
some fabric treasures that I could use in my artwork. As we read
and discussed Mary Oliver’s work, I was reminded of the connection
between self and nature.

Seven years ago I retired to northern Arizona from New York City
suburbia. Now I live very close to nature in the high desert, in the
foothills of our local mountain which borders on national forest land.
Every day I can interact with a wide variety of animals—rabbits, deer,
hawks, ravens, javelina, tarantulas and coyotes, among others—in a
landscape that features evergreens, deciduous trees, and cacti.

I feel very connected to the cycle of life here which lets me think
about my place in the world. “Aging Gracefully in Arizona” represents
how I try to make the most of retirement as I continue to age. Its
southwest colors of turquoise and silver plus the “desert flowers”
convey the natural beauty of the local area. The old map represents
the timelessness of the land. The vintage bobbins and ruched fabric
represent the community of elders in our town, of which I am a part.

To me, “House of Light” also means brightness and warmth, both of
which we have here in abundance. That title also speaks to me of the
warmth and support I receive from my fellow continuing residents and
our leaders in the Enso Circle.

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