Mary Emerging by Myrna Nieves

Mary Emerging by Myrna Nieves, acrylic on canvas, 17 ½” x 23 1/2", 2023.

The soul of a poet is a powerful radar, and Myrna Nieves has cultivated her soul her entire life. Her perception of the Magdalene comes from her beautiful heart. Myrna describes her perception of the Magdalene in her own words:

"I started this painting of Mary Magdalene many years ago, thinking of both her appearance at the time of Jesus, and as a symbol of the divine feminine for all ages, genres and racial identities of people around the world. I view her emergence in our hearts and consciousness as a beautiful, gentle appearance in a field of flowers swept by a summer breeze. She is not in a rush to be noticed, and is not an obvious presence. Her full radiance will perhaps be evident later, in a gradual manner. The flowers represent beauty, and her connection to the Earth. And so will be her wisdom, nurtured by love and compassion. The painting is unfinished. I may complete it sometime in the future, or just leave it as it is, a reminder of our continuous journey of becoming in the world."

About the Artist

Myrna Nieves is a writer, born in Puerto Rico and living in New York since 1972. She was director for more than 20 years of the Boricua College Winter Poetry Series, and is now cofounder of ‘7 Women in Movement,’ a collective of women poets and artists. Her work has been published in anthologies and magazines in Venezuela, Cuba, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Argentina, India, Canada and the United States. She has published the books Libreta de sueños (narraciones); Viaje a la lluvia: poemas; El Caribe: Paraíso y Paradoja; Breaking Ground: Anthology of Puerto Rican Women Writers in New York; and the hand-made book illustrated by Yarisa Colón, Another Version of Hansel and Gretel. She is also coauthor of Tripartita: Earth, Dreams, Powers. Nieves received, among others, a PEN Club of Puerto Rico Award for Short Stories (1998) and the Raul Julia Award ‘Our Heritage’ (2019). She has a BA from the University of Puerto Rico, an MA from Columbia University and a PhD. from New York University.

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This artwork is part of the collective art exhibition dedicated to Mary Magdalene titled Blossoming, July 18-22 in El Barrio Art Space Art Gallery, with a reception on July 22, 2023, during The Mary Magdalene Celebration. This exhibition is possible thanks to La Casa de La Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, Inc.