“Garden of the Soul”, is the culmination of years of

work and research inspired by a small, tattered book gifted to me after the

death of my beloved Nana. The book had belonged to her great-

grandmother, Elizabeth Kelly, and was a gift to “Eliza” when she embarked

on her emigration to Philadelphia from Greencastle (Belfast), IRE in 1875.

The spiritual tome, worn ragged by generations of hopes and worries, is

titled “Garden of the Soul” and upon first touching it and reading the

heartfelt inscription inside its cover I felt as if I held a living link to my past.

The seed was planted for an artistic endeavor so encompassing I could

not even imagine it at the time. That tiny seed has flourished over years of

research, work, and contemplation, to finally blossom with this exhibit.

Hood College, Frederick, MD. Spring 2023.