The Forests of La Sarthe paintings and monoprints explore how one may experience the landscape as we move through it. The works were inspired by the 1971 film Le Mans, which depicts the iconic 24-hour motor race that takes place annually on the Circuit de la Sarthe, a track composed of roads winding through densely beautiful forests in the region.

We constantly consume imagery- through observation, imagination, film or photography, memory, or other artworks. I want to create a space where we can enter, explore, daydream, rendezvous with a lover or friend, hear music, or encounter the unexpected. We yearn to experience the sublime and a personal connection to nature, hoping to find solace in its grounding presence. Whether driving to it, hiking through it, or sleeping under it, there is something primal about the natural terrain, the tall trees, the countryside, the sun setting or rising, and the wilderness wrapping around us.

As we start 2025, a new year and a re-focus on balance and giving space, it was appropriate that Vicki chose works from 2015 for this show. It prompted me to look at the decade since and the complete circle I have made with my work and life.

I cannot believe I made all of this work that year- with a thyroid cancer diagnosis, surgery, and treatment. I think the meaning of this work has evolved; perhaps the message is to fight less, listen more, and look to art.