Sky Mountain

detail from Teresita 4 (Mt Davidson); Miraloma Park Series

Recently, a visitor to my show asked if the name Sky, was one I had given myself.  Others may wonder if this is the case,  given that some of my recent work hones in on the celestial. In fact, the name Sky was given to my great grandparents as they embarked on Ellis Island from Russia in the 1890's.  Chances are the name was shortened from something ending in ski or sky. 

Had it been my choice to rename myself when I was much younger,  I probably would have gone for something more "regular".  Over time Ive come to accept my name as well as its connotations.    As Ive learned a bit about  Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medical system,  Ive come to realize that  I do fit into the vata category, being the airy  type.

Consequently I married a man whose last name is Monti, Italian for mountain. ( Yes,  he is a solid and grounded kapha type.)  When our son was born we chose to hyphenate the two names.  Never being one to shirk symbolism, I got a kick out of thinking of my baby as the product of Sky meeting Mountain!

!here always has been an aesthetic interest for me in this place where the mountain and sky meet.  Luckily , the Northern Californina landscape offers many opportunities to explore this particular meeting place.  Regardless of atmosphere and distance, the contrast is always significant. The pure light of the sky is defined by the edge of the mountain and vice versa.

To continue in this metaphysical vein there is the idea as the mountain as the place of spiritual retreat and sublime enlightenment.  From Judeo-Christian imagery to Chinese Landscape painting, the history of art is rich with this symbolism.  Without digressing too much here, I will mention Cezanne whose Mt Saint Victoire is often shown drifting in and out of sky becoming one with the atmosphere while solidly remaining itself.

Paul Cezanne Mt St Victoire