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When world events are overwhelming I turn to painting as a way of praying and holding sacred space for God’s answer.  

Do you remember where you were on the morning of September 11, 2001? That morning of images and sounds is forever imprinted into every cell of my body. It was the precise morning I realized I would never again feel completely safe where I live – the morning I realized I was companion to every other person on the planet who does not feel safe where he or she lives.  

I began a painting that year that was no more than colour on a large sheet of paper, mostly reds and oranges. At that point I could do no more and set it aside. In the 4 years that followed I would pick up the paper and try to work some more on it. Each year it was transformed and spoke about the emotional space I was living in around 9/11. At some point I attached the paper to canvas and the painting became larger.  

Finally in 2005 “Raphael and the River of Innocents” was completed – 24” x 30” of mixed media on canvas. Without any planning on my part a figure had emerged in the central area of the painting. Contemplating this figure I was drawn to the Archangel Raphael and I realized the message for me was to acknowledge the presence of the sacred in the midst of the deepest horror. Now I am able to sit with the beautiful/terrible tension of God’s presence in the midst of 9/11 and I am thankful for the sacred language of painting between me and my God.

Written by: Elaine Chatwin