Artist: Anita Eralie Schley
Medium: Mixed media
Titles:
Aging (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf)
Cat (mixed media: acrylic and Oil)
Endometriosis/women’s health (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf)
Breast Cancer (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica and gold leaf)
Joy (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold leaf)
Angel With Bad Posture (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf)
St. Bartholomew Cathedral, Frankfurt, Germany (oil on panel)
About the Artwork:
Aging (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf): Aging means so many different things to each of us. I have regrets, I’ve experienced traumas and hard times, I’ve had loss, and my body is struggling with multiple ailments. But the more I thought about my youth, my age now, and the unknown future I surprised myself. I would never go back. I am struggling physically and emotionally and to be honest, I’m afraid of the future and yet, I wouldn’t change anything. I like who I am. Every experience good and bad has formed me. My future, like all of ours, is uncertain. My present has great difficulties (most involving my health) but it also has great joys! Like a mature tree that has stood through gentle springtime rains, and terrible storms, I am a bit gnarled, have some bare branches, but in many ways, I’m my best self. I’ve lived. I know more storms will come. I know there’s an inescapable end to mortality. But for right now I’ll live in the now- bare branches and all and enjoy the sunshine and the new growth I still continue to have.
Endometriosis/women’s health (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf): I had endometriosis, uterine fibroids and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Most of my life was excruciating pain at the worst and deep discomfort at its best. I’m from the generation where these things were never discussed. Gen X, like the Baby Boomers were taught that women’s issues were not to be discussed. After moving away from home and “adulting” with these issues became a real problem for me. Working, going to school, living on my own etc, was a real struggle. Between menstrual pain an ovarian cysts it was impossible to get things done. At that time though, I assumed the pain I had was “normal.” I was in my mid 20s the first time I attempted to seek medical care for it. I was basically mocked during that visit. Years later when my infertility became obvious I sought care again. Even my fertility doctor brushed off my issues. During exploratory surgery for infertility investigation several golfball sized cysts were discovered on my ovaries as well as many other smaller cysts. That was when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Finally I had an explanation for the mid month pain I experienced but there wasn’t a treatment. After giving up on fertility treatments I looked for help simply to ease my pain. Doctors acted like it was ridiculous I was asking. Women were expected to just deal with it. So I did… I ignored decades of pain and misery. It wasn’t until several years ago that the pain reached a point that walking was difficult that I tried going to a doctor again. An ultrasound showed an extremely large tumor. It was assumed that it was advanced ovarian cancer (which would’ve meant less than a year to live.) So off I went to the Huntsman Cancer institute for surgery. The tumor was so large that it had attached itself to most of my organs. Because cancer was suspected, the tumor had to be removed whole. This meant using clamps to split open my entire abdomen, exposing nearly all of my organs to have this thing removed (without damaging my other organs in the process of extracting it.) It turned out that it wasn’t cancer but the tumor would’ve killed me because of its size and the effect it was having. So if not cancer- what was it? It was a combination of ovarian cyst, fibroids and endometrial tissue that tore apart one of my ovaries and destroyed my uterus. Needless to say, my uterus and ovaries had to be removed along with the Frankenstein’s monster they created. My surgeon (who specializes in these issues) told me I had the worst case of endometriosis he had ever seen. It took another two YEARS and several minor surgeries to remove the remaining endometrial tissue in my abdomen- not to mention forced menopause. I still have pretty severe chronic pain and nerve damage as a result of that first ultra invasive surgery as well as damage caused by the tumor. As if decades of pain wasn’t enough, my “reproductive” organs had to also try to kill me. And now their absence and damage have given me all new pain and issues… I now see TV commercials for medications for these women’s health issues. None existed for me. I also see Millennials and Gen Z talking about these issues openly- good for you! I’m proud of you for speaking out. Let’s not suffer in silence anymore.
Breast Cancer (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica and gold leaf): A few years ago I was a Relief Society President (President of my local women’s organization from my church congregation meant to support and uplift women and our local community while also providing charitable service where needed.) One of my duties was to oversee and offer help with local funerals when needed. One of those times, I had the beautiful opportunity to sit beside a woman that was dying from this terrible disease and help her plan her own funeral. She was an elderly woman and didn’t want her husband handling the details alone. While we spoke I could see that she fretted over the details involved and worried her husband would be too heartbroken to handle all of the funeral needs when she was gone. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” She took a deep calming breath and said, “Thank you.” The next morning I received a phone call telling me she had passed away shortly after I had spoken to her the night before. So many have fought the battle of cancer and won, and others have lost. Those that have lost will never be forgotten. And I applaud the warriors who have won against such a terrible foe! You are an inspiration to all!! I hope and pray for the day when no one will have to fight this disease. A cure must be found.
Angel With Bad Posture” (mixed media: acrylic, oil, gold mica, gold leaf): I often make angels/angelic looking figures in my art. These images move beyond religious iconography and represent so much more. They mean persevering through life’s storms, doing the best we can, letting go of the impossible ideal of perfection and allowing ourselves to be perfectly imperfect. Let go of what doesn’t matter, focus on what does. My angels are open to many interpretations. Some see Heavenly help from heavenly beings or loved ones now gone, while others see themselves struggling but still showing up and hanging on through adversity. Others see “earthly angels” in friends and family that are there for them, even if they aren’t sure exactly how to help us with our struggles. Regardless of who or what you see in this image, she’s doing the best she can and letting go of what doesn’t matter- she’s imperfectly perfect.
