Artist Statement

Mingling Spirits is a celebration of community that respects and admires the fragile beauty of life on earth. It is also a prayer to the universe, a whisper to the soul, and an unveiling of the joyful energy that connects us all.

Mingling Spirits draws from the connection and generosity of others to share beauty through uncertainty. I hope these pieces bring joy, wonder, and remembrance to our shared space. Each specimen I work with is its own celebration of life. Insect life cycles are a flash in comparison to how we view our own mortality as humans. Life is precious.

This exhibit is dedicated to Cate Cardinale & Colleen Haskell, two butterflies on the breeze.

Specimens

Insects are sourced from farms rooted in local conservation efforts that support economies around the world. Farmers are incentivized to preserve native flora to raise insects away from their natural predators. While some are released back into the wild, others are sold as dead specimens.

We all can agree that native, living species are superior to dead animals. And yet death is also life.

I’ll be no where

But also everywhere

The winds caress

A gentle wave

Subtle sun warmth

Stars in the night

That’s what I pictured

When I’ll be at peace

-Colleen Haskell

@toyou.sincerlycolleen

THANK YOU

Samantha Held

E. Jose

Leese Kunke

Art & Sue Rack

J. Ramey

K. Super

Julie Robertson Zivin

Mingling Spirits was made possible through the generosity of private collectors loaning their art to be hung at Columbia City Gallery. Please consider extending this gift to support the mission of The Georgia Innocence Project in Cate Cardinale’s name.