Thursday, October 9, 2008

A Forest of Infinite Meaning

Tis the last rose of summer left blooming alone; All her lovely companions have faded and gone. -Thomas Moore

Not unlike the silent yearnings that encamp along the edges of her art, Shira Sela has a way of invading our hearts through the gateway of our minds. This not to say there is nothing lovely to be found in her work. If anything, the depth and radiance of her subjects—a late blooming tree’s life exposed, resplendent against the verdant darkness of a troubled night sky, for example—are illustrative of the magic that stirs when a beautiful spirit brushes up against an unmistakable artistic gift. It’s the psyche, however, that is most immediately pricked by Sela’s surreal images. Does the young lady in Reading know she is figuratively marooned on a floating bed of thorns, or is such isolation a means to an end? And then there’s foreshadowing: Does the innocent wanderer facing down The Choice pause for reassurance, or does she even break stride on the forked path of flowering moss before her?

In some traditions, of course, such questions are the point of the art itself. Sela’s gallery of both Western and Eastern themes, however, resists easy categorization. The gentle suggestiveness and sparse, strategically colored landscape of Never Alone, for example, might be mistaken for an Asian commentary on our mortality—until one realizes that the symbol of safety/masculinity to which the girl clings is actually an African zebra, and that her restfulness could just as easily be interpreted as contentedness. Art criticism, after all, is nothing if not an exercise in subjectivity. But be your own judge: We are excited to announce that for the winner of today’s giveaway, this gorgeous print will be yours to keep. To win Never Alone, simply visit Shira Sela’s collection, then return here to tell us about your favorite print. Wishing Willow subscribers receive a second entry, so let us know in a second post if you subscribe. (If you do not have a Google account, just click “anonymous” to leave a post.) Contest ends 10/16/08. Best of luck to you all.

**We have a winner! ky2here who said, "Late Bloomer because of the richness of the varying greens - it really stands out from the rest of the wonderful collection. much more intense and less whimsical." Congratulations!

169 comments:

catriona_sweeps said...

I like the simple joy of "Coexistence".

Jenn S. said...

I like the "Reading" print. The girl in the print looks like my daughter who happens to always be reading.

Unknown said...

I love the Set of 4 folded illustrated cards.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

Anonymous said...

the print of the late blooming tree is beautiful--what amazing colors!

Unknown said...

I love the Acid Flower cards, all the colours are pretty and I love how simple the flowers look but once you add all the colour it looks elegant!

Croasla0 said...

i like the blossom print. thanks for the chance!

lauren
croasla0(at)sewanee(dot)edu

Kirby McCauley said...

Wow. Her art is really lovely. I'm adding her to my favorite sellers! My favorite of her prints is It's Going to be Alright. Just stunning. :)

malleycc said...

I like coexistance! Perfect for my two kids.

Danielle said...

I like the Blossom print the best!

ldsmom2201 at yahoo dot com
http://juanshappywife.blogspot.com
http://homeschoolunitstudies.blogspot.com

kygirl said...

Blossom print

Miss Spoken said...

I like Snow Walk
gkstratos@yahoo.com

mrs.mommyy said...

love the blossom print mrs.mommyyatgmail.com

kktwins said...

My favorite is the Late Bloomer Print. Thank you.
kktwins22@aol.com

Sunny B said...

I love Late Bloomer.

Darcy said...

I love Shira's work! My favorite is Destiny. I also really like the bookplate designs. Thanks for the giveaway!

Darcy said...

I just subscribed! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I love the colors of "Late Bloomer". Pretty and soothing all at the same time.


legenderry(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

fun

Anonymous said...

fun

Maja said...

angelina115@hotmail.com

Blossom print

Maja said...

angelina115@hotmail.com

subscriber

cman said...

I love the Blossom print (blue version) :)

mverno said...

the blossom print

Unknown said...

the blossom print..thanks for the opp !

Anonymous said...

I love Reading. Any good book can pull you in; just like in the picture. Would love to win.

Anonymous said...

I like both Late Bloomer and the Blossom Print.
cardeb2@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

Swing ---Set of 4 folded illustrated cards are cute!

Jodi Renshaw said...

I love the "Late Bloomer" piece. Absolutely gorgeous!

~ Jodi
jrenshaw@hotmail.com

Jodi Renshaw said...

I am a subscriber.

jrenshaw@hotmail.com

Tonya said...

I love the Bliss print.

snowmermaid said...

Late Bloomer is my favorite print.

chromiumman said...

love the blossom print

Anonymous said...

Japanese Dolls

idahomom said...

Late Blooming Tree is very nice.

Sky Farms said...

Wow, I love this blog! Such wonderful artists and great giveaways!

I really fell in love with the "Late Bloomer" print!

Anonymous said...

I love the choice, because we emphasize the fact that choices must be made everyday and bad choices will lead you down the wrong path and good choices will take you anywhere....ashlyn@chuparkoff.com

Kari @ A Giveaway Addicted Mommy said...

The Girl with a Balloon is my favorite.

nateandjakesmom at gmail dot com

Jen and Ash said...

I love the acid flower and late bloomer designs!
Thanks,
mountaingoats at hotmail dot com

toughturtles said...

Late Bloomer

kdkdkd said...

Coexistence is my favorite, says so much in such a simple form

Christy5150 said...

Never Alone is my favorite! I have a few Zebra photographs up that I purchased on Etsy last year. This would blend in perfectly!

sillelin said...

I like the Blossom Print.

vboackle said...

i like the blossom print.

Bebemiqui said...

I love the Blossom print.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love the Late Bloomer print! Very beautiful!

imanoptimisticbeauty[at]yahoo[dot]ca

Unknown said...

also a subscriber!

imanoptimisticbeauty[at]yahoo[dot]ca

Sunnyvale said...

I like Late Bloomer

Anonymous said...

the Blossom print is my favorite.

Nora
neneelynn@yahoo.com

Ann said...

I love the Japanese dolls prints, really beautiful! Thanks for the great giveaway!

ann dot guns at mac dot com

Ann said...

I'm a subscriber.

ann dot guns at mac dot com

PS said...

I love Coexistence. It is so simple and beautiful! Plus it would be perfect for my son and daughter sometimes!

Wehaf said...

My favorite print is Coexistence; although Bliss is a close second! They are both so joyful, but quiet too. Very evocative.

urchiken at gmail dot com

llinda29 said...

I like the Acid Flower cards

sachidewey said...

I like Its going to be alright

Angie said...

The Blossum Print Blue version is very lovely. But, I have to say the "Never Alone" print is the most beautiful, it makes you think beyond the print itself. What was in the artist vision with it? It makes me wonder. I will have to read more and find out the history on the print!

Thanks for the chance to have a print of this quality!
baileybobby6(at)hotmail.com

Angie said...

I am a subscriber also.
Thanks!
baileybobby6(at)hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I really like the Bliss print, it's very simplistic yet captures so much.

sundaygirl at gmail dot com

DEY said...

I like "It's going to be alright." Thanks for the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the Late Bloomer print.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

no said...

Never Alone IS my favorite - but I also like Reading, and Hoola.

The Jackson Family said...

I love the forest print. So much imagination could be had with it:)

The Jackson Family said...

I am also a subscriber:)

Genevieve P said...

I like Late Bloomer.

fancyfeet48 said...

the blossom print

Unknown said...

The Choice is my favorite

Unknown said...

I am a subscriber!

Doreen said...

I love, love the Choice!! :) purposedrivenlife4you (at) gmail (dot) com

Doreen said...

I'm a Subscriber! I think the print 'Reading' is a great one also! :)

yadgirl said...

I like The Choice.

Anonymous said...

I like the peacefulness of "Snow Walk".
Sheila
chiliburger@icehouse.net

Anonymous said...

How Sweet,I love the Print called Destiny

What little girl hasnt done that .
He loves me ...He loves me not

cyclona66@aol.com

kerri69 said...

i absolutley love the its gonna be alright so powerful ,at this time in mine and my sisters life

kerri69 said...

and i subsribed

Anonymous said...

I love the print "Bliss" in red. It reminds me of my five year old twirling! All the prints are beautiful!

Thank you for the giveaway!
foxsquirrelrabbit(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a subscriber too :)
foxsquirrelrabbit(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Late Bloomer and Reading are my two faves.

DOODLEGIRL said...

Blossom print (blue version)

Michele P. said...

I like the Blossom print in blue-very nice!

micaela6955 at msn dot com

Anonymous said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I like Shira Sela's Destiny print. It is so easy to identify with the girl/woman in the artwork, no matter what size and type you yourself might be! Never Alone is an amazing title and an extremely well-executed work of art!

Mommy 2 Monkeys said...

I like Late Bloomer, but Windy Afternoon was a close second.

Kari said...

I love late Bloomer.

Jenny said...

Late Bloomer. The contrast of the pastel flowers against the greenish sky is so unusual and beautiful.

the_other_alice_(at)yahoo.com

windycindy said...

What an amazing artist! It is not easy for me to pick one favorite print of hers! I finally decided on
"It's Going to be Alright!" Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I am a happy subscriber!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I grew up with lots of sisters and brothers and now have lots of granddaughters and grandsons so I really like "Coexistence".

Unknown said...

I love the "its going to be alright print" Thanks for the giveaway.

bison61 said...

I also like the Blossom print

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Unknown said...

the "its going to be already" is so cute and childlike but beautiful...

kmsst19 (at) gmail.com

Brooke said...

I like FOREST

littlelatina said...

It's going to be alright print is very nice

Unknown said...

I like Late Bloomer

Gill - That British Woman said...

Late Bloomer is my favourite.

Gill

Karen said...

I like the set of 4 folded illustrated cards.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Unknown said...

I like the "Reading" print. i was always a reader it's one of my life's joys

Unknown said...

Late Bloomer is the best print!

Becca Ann said...

My favorite print is Late Bloomer
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com

jenna said...

"Never Alone" is definitely my favorite - would be wonderful to add it to my wall :)

rosannepm said...

blossom print

silverbele said...

I like the print Destiny

shelley said...

The lat blooming tree is very nice.

Smooshy said...

i like the blossom print

plhill2000 said...

I love It's Going to be Alright or the Late Blooming Tree.

pitaharmon said...

I like Coexistence. I like them all, really.
harmonden[at]wowway.com

Anonymous said...

I like The Choice. Thank you
angel-2417@yahoo.com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

coexistence or blossom are two of my favorites

Anonymous said...

i like writing to you print

Anonymous said...

I adore Bliss. It's perfect.

jamieATohhowlovelyDOTnet

elhklh said...

I love the never alone print.

diesel51 said...

Snow walk or late blooming trees, but there were some real close seconds.

Anonymous said...

I love the Late Bloomer!
nicoleburkhart@hotmal.com

jffryclough said...

snow walk is our pick for now

paryjeja said...

I love the colors in Late Bloomer

agordon10 said...

I love Never Alone

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of my childhood, when everyone used an unbrella and the gusts of wind would just sweep them away

mverno said...

my favorate is the never alone print

Sky Farms said...

I already commented but forgot to mention I am a subscriber!

Unknown said...

I like the destiny print.

Anonymous said...

Snow Walk

Nora
neneelynn@yahoo.com

Kathleen W. said...

These are hauntingly nostalgic. I'd love to have one on my walls.

My favorite is Destiny. Thanks for sharing this Etsy find!

Helen said...

Late Bloomer is my favorite!

Anonymous said...

Late Bloomer

alterna7 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love the red "Bliss" print!

ms-texas said...

I like the blossom print

Unknown said...

I like the Late Bloomer

lunadelmar said...

I love the late blooming tree . what lovely prints
Thank you
lunadelmar_99@yahoo.com

37 Questions said...

I love "forest". They are all beautiful though, it was hard to choose!

Icetwofire said...

I really like the Reading print, thank you.

Icetwofire said...

I subscribe

Anonymous said...

I love the Japanese Dolls...absolutely adorable!!
autumnbride7@yahoo.com

Leah said...

I love the beauty in COEXISTENCE. It truly reflects everything magical in life! : )))

leahita[at]gmail[dot]com

Leah said...

I'm also a subscriber.

Charlene Kuser said...

The Never Alone Print is my favorite.It is adorable and
speaks volumes.Please enter me
and thanks

CharlieGurl57@aol.com

ky2here said...

Late Bloomer because of the richness of the varying greens - it really stands out from the rest of the wonderful collection. much more intense and less whimsical.

intime said...

Acid Flower cards

ldrnc2000 said...

The Blossom Print in red is cool! I would love to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

toughturtles said...

late bloomer

idahomom said...

I love Snow Walk.

Roseann K. said...

I love Late Bloomer. Thanks!

mensa63 said...

Never alone is surely one of my favorites because I love animals but Forest with its eclectic stark portrayal of a place many of us never see is one of my favorite ones also.

StillH2o said...

I really like Late Bloomer but the reading one is great, too!

vboackle said...

i like blossom.

Karen said...

Love the print of the late blooming tree.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I love "It's Going to Be All Right" -- so nice!

vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

klp1965 said...

I LOVE THE Its going to be alright print

Unknown said...

The Reading print is my favorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

arvard said...

The Snow Walk is very nice.
nanoart@yahoo.com

Deb Anderson said...

Marionette is a very attractive print. But my favorite is the one that's featured, Never Alone. It's got a Beardsley kind of look which I love. I'd be honored to hang it on my wall.

Anonymous said...

I like the Bliss print. Thanks.

metrofmcat(aol)dotcom

Emily said...

I really like the Late Bloomer print. It's beautiful.

Sahm Lee said...

I love the Its going to be alright print. Thanks for the contest!
airalynn(@)gmail . com

Anonymous said...

I love the "Late Bloomer". It's haunting in a beautiful way. I also like "Snow Walk" and "Writing to you". So pick me! :)

Beans- royalstatus24@yahoo.com

cathirushing said...

Late Bloomer

Anonymous said...

I like Coexistence because isn't that what it's all about for all of us?

iggysaysno said...

I really like Late Bloomer... gorgeous!

Leslie said...

My favorite is "Nurturing." Thank you so much.

fancyfeet48 said...

I love the forest print

masonsgranny59 said...

Acid flower - Set of 4 folded

Anonymous said...

I really like the reading print since I'm always reading!

Becky said...

I love Late Bloomer. It reminds me of me!

Thanks for the contest.

Anonymous said...

Girl with a balloon touches me somehow! Beautiful.

delilahhhhh@msn.com

Anonymous said...

I love the 'Destiny' print. It reminds me of my daughter.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

phyllisg said...

Forest is the print I'd choose after NEVER ALONE or LATE BLOMMER.

Donna said...

I like Bliss (red). It really made me think of bliss and made me happy just to look at it.

Donna said...

I am a subscriber

Colengal said...

I like Snow Walk for it's combination of the 20's/asian feel. very nice

Anonymous said...

Blossom print, wooohooooooooo. ahmaur(at)hotmail.com

/\Heather/\ said...

Girl with a balloon is my favorite. So simple but so striking.

Rockin' Mama said...

Wow there are so many gorgeous prints!

I think I'd choose Windy Afternoon!

jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com

puddykat198 said...

The forest of infinite meaning reminds me of a dream i once had.