graceann  cummings

When I finished painting this piece, I didn't feel it was mine.  The image felt like "everyone's." Yes, I painted it, but the message just sang itself off the canvas. 
I asked several friends from all walks of life and beliefs to give me their impression
of the painting and its message; after which I realized I needed to design an installation for the painting because it grapples with vulnerability. All of us are vulnerable physically because we are mortal.  That is obvious.  However, the vulnerability I am addressing with this painting is the vulnerability of consciousness; our ability to believe. Belief, whether it's founded from religions, governments, experiences, physical suffering, science, or simple choice;  belief is the conscious power to assume moral reality.  If we follow the natural world, there is evidence of caring, but not of moral belief. Nature practices the paradoxical circumstance of "kill to survive, consume life to preserve yourself as life."- Humanity is different. Humanity believes in right and wrong and we create war, prejudice, and many forms of cruelty against our fellow humans based upon such belief.   Have we created a mockery with our belief in right and wrong? Is the belief in sin ultimately the belief that we don't belong to our own consciousness? Such a belief enables us to falsely prejudice consciousness against itself with "right consciousness" or "wrong consciousness."  Perhaps this is the greatest cruelty of all: to be a witness to your power of consciousness and believe that part of it should be erased or fixed. What my installation will exhibit is a shift of perspective that suggests that belief can generate The Will to Value ​ and that every individual is important, necessary, and vital to this value. -  To read further about my installation please click this link: (coming soon)

Title: Why Can't I Be God?

Medium: oil on canvas

Dimensions: 20" H x 30" W

Year: 2025

Price: $ Never for Sale