The work described in the following thesis rests upon two underlying concepts:
1) Moments of meeting, a phrase borrowed from Cissna and Anderson (2002), have been creatively, spiritually, and emotionally transformative for me, and 2) These moments are particularly transformative when they are characterized by a deep sense of empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. Based on these two points, a body of work was created during the Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) program (Running with Mittens, Domesticity #1-#5 and the Mitten Knitter.) The rationale, inspiration, and methodological choices inherent in these works are described fully throughout this thesis. Upon final reflection of my artwork and the culminating MFA show, I clearly observe my attachment to the representational and my shift to valuing the abstract and conceptual. In the end, I believe that my place may be in the margins between conceptualization and traditional techniques
