How Art Heals-WEB

97 42. Mary-Ellen Latino WWW.HIGHINFIBERART.COM MASSACHUSETTS, USA Mary-Ellen created Urban Sanctuary for the juried exhibition Explorations: Journeys in Creativity inside the Quilt Artist’s Studio at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts (April 2–June 23, 2019). “I had digitally created, printed, and embellished the design and was ready to quilt it when I fractured six bones in my hand and wrist, requiring surgery and a cast. I was concerned I wouldn’t finish in time to meet the committed deadline. Despite pain and fatigue, I challenged myself to complete the artwork. After days of making little progress, I somehow rallied to finish, sometimes by using my left elbow as a guide, sewing with a sling or without, sitting or standing at the machine for hours—whatever it took. This colorful, abstract piece became my happy muse as the healing sun cast golden rays on the building.” After completing Urban Sanctuary, I felt both profound relief and satisfaction. It was a challenge I accepted and met despite such adversity. Finishing this piece gave me a very positive feeling and the emotional strength to seize the next challenge of f ive months of intense physical therapy. “I created Last Memories while my brother, Jack, was suffering with de- mentia. I watched him deteriorate as his mind spiraled downward into the abyss of confusion. I wondered what might last memories look like as one struggles with this debilitating disease. I digitally altered vintage photos of our mother and grandma to portray the metamorphosis of mem- ories waning and fragmenting.” This piece helped me process what my brother was going through. It comforted me to pay homage to my deceased mother and grandma as I explored the idea of memory loss. It was very surreal, imagining they were watching over him as he struggled to remember cherished thoughts of them.