I am a visual and sculptural artist whose work revolves around subjects of ecology, the nature of perception, compassion and the interconnectedness of all life. My creative work inquires into the multiplicity of perception: how many ways can we perceive the same "thing"? We can "be" many things at once. We can experience many things all at the same time.  I am interested in exploring the countless ways one can perceive one's self, the "other", our world. How can we embrace these countless perceptions and experience them as one moment of beauty & equanimity, bringing us to a meaningful connection with our world? My work aspires to challenge you to perceive in new ways, in ways that expand the mind and heart. I consider my creative work, Tsondu, which in Tibetan means joyful effort, perseverance.

Much of my past visual work explores spaces, relationships and connections of basic forms in the phenomenal world: lines and circles, particularly those in nature. In terms of elemental forms, lines emulate limitless possibilities of perceiving the world; circles, the compassion that can grow out of experience, if perceived with awareness and patience.

It  aspires to cultivate awareness around possibility; the possibility that beauty and compassion are everywhere, connecting one to another. It explores the complexity of relationships at both the micro and macrocosmic levels; relationships not just of people, but of all living things in relation to one another within their ecological environment.  By learning to perceive the interconnected beauty of the outer world, we transform the inner world of the mind, which then reflects back into the world. Our mind creates reality. My work is offered with the intention that it will inspire new ways of seeing the world; one that encourages others to discover this integration of perception and compassion in their own lives, world, space, a melding of self and other. May we use our imagination to create a beautiful, peaceful space for all beings.

My recent work in Land Ethics and Environmental Education has me re-directing focus within my creative work. My current project aspires to explore and address issues of global water ethics and the role of gender equity in ameliorating complex problems of Climate Change. This new series is within the medium of textile arts, employing organic fibers, integrating indigo dying, and drawing upon the stitch work traditions of Boro and Sashiko (Japan), Nubi (Korea), and Kantha (India). I aspire to share the beginnings of this new work in the upcoming year.

Also, please visit my statement on the practice of ahimsa within my creative work and life.

All content (image and writings) copyright Kirstin Alana Baum, 2024.