Gabbi Culham-Putnoki

Embrace of the Unknown

This piece represents a wary embrace of the unknown. The Swan acts as the guide and teacher to the figure, embracing her in a moment of fear and uncertainty.

“In my newer works I have incorporated birds as physical messengers, ushering humanity into a plane of greater understanding. Birds are a symbol of wisdom in many cultures, the dove itself is seen to be a physical manifestation of the holy spirit. Here the swan is a symbol of acceptance of the unknown, only earning her iridescent feathers once she crosses through the black hole of uncertainty, shattering the illusion of control.The swan must accept there is a plan greater than her, and everything that crosses her path is part of this plan. We are all lost ducklings awaiting the embrace of the swan, as portrayed in my self portrait. Though earning our graceful feathers is a lifelong journey. This calls to the idea that the earth itself is a complex living being , known as the Gaia Theory. Just as bacteria and cells work inside our bodies , the creatures that roam the earth are part of our planets body. We serve a force much larger than ourselves. ”