Gallery 1 — Carolyn L. Ladd

“ink dances” explores the intersection of mindfulness, music, and movement through the expressive medium of ink onto kozo using string painting techniques I developed (“string theory”).

Each piece captures the essence of a fleeting moment. The act of creating these works mirrors the meditative practice of mindful movement, allowing the artist to lose themself in the rhythm of the string painting and the dance of ink on kozo.

I find that movement provides an outlet to connect with my body and emotions, fostering a sense of presence and inner peace. Music further amplifies this experience, adding emotional depth and guiding my movements on canvas

By translating these experiences into visual art, I hope to inspire viewers to find their own pathways to mindfulness and self-care.

Each "Ink Dance" is a visual invitation for viewers to slow down, connect with their own inner rhythm, and discover the beauty of movement and stillness within. The series celebrates self-care, reminding us of the transformative power of creativity and the importance of finding joy in the present moment.

.a remedy for burnout.

Creative. Inventor. Artist. Autistic. Passionate. Committed.

These are all words with positive associations, but what they also have in common is an increased risk of burnout. Everything I create comes with a watermark, a part of myself that I give up through the process. That’s true for all my paintings and scientific discoveries.

This series was born from serendipity.
I created the language for myself (“string theory”), and these works were my response to working through burnout caused by various factors.

Each day I picked one color and one genre of music, and let my fingers express what needed to be communicated.

Over time, the movements and expression changed, as an indictor that my brain was healing.

.material intentions &
zen creation.

For this series, I chose intentional materials:

-kozo fiber comes from the inner bark of the mulberry tree and is known to have good durability and longevity as it contains less lignin compared to Western based paper.

-ink, a fluid medium. I used Sumi ink, which is made from the soot of pine branches and used in calligraphy and sumi-e, and Pilot’s Iroshizuku (“drops of color”) ink series. I found these inks to match the mindful intentions of this project.

-string, a painting tool that provides me an outlet to capture and express movement freely. two types of string were used.

I consider this body of work to incorporate many elements of “sumi-e” and zen philosophy, using the human body fully and without ego or ambition in the act of creation.

For me, painting is choreography and an act of complete engagement through my mind, body and soul. I hope you will appreciate the sentiments of this work.