Gravity, 2001. Oil on canvas 40x40 by Shelley English. *

"Gravity (and other related works in the series, "Heil, Hell, Heal, Heal,”2001-2007), were created at a time when I was struggling with my identity as a first generation American daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. I painted "Gravity" and the series of holocaust related works throughout "high alert" and the aftermath of 9/11. It was through color and brush strokes that I was able to examine and express my deep bond and identification with grandmother and grandfather, as a mother of two sons in school during events on 9/11 and the aftermath. "Gravity" and my other paintings were higher keyed works expressing the deep emotional inter-generational transmission of trauma that intensified as a result of the course of events in the fall of 2001."

*Other paintings are also available for viewing at this link