Artist statement:
"I Lift My Eyes to the Mountains": The Hebrew words on the large screen/room
divider are the first words of Psalm 121--I lift my eyes to the mountains. All of the
works represent sky and sea and lifting our eyes to the wonders around us. They are
done with oil on canvas, painted with my hands.
My lifework is to nourish spirit, to lift hearts, to help people overcome
fear, connect with their deepest wisdom and bring the divine qualities of loving-
kindness, compassion, truth, and grace into each moment of our lives. If, in each
moment, we stay connected with the indwelling presence of G-d within and
everywhere around us, then, in our reactions and interactions, we can act
from that place of peace, justice, healing, wisdom, and integrity.
Years ago, I had a summer of true spiritual experiences. One night, as the Sabbath
began, I walked into a fuchsia sunset and had an experience of being at one with
the universe--if I just let go, I would flow back again into the flowers, and the
trees, the sea and the sky. These paintings represent that sense of oneness and
connection--of fuchsia sunsets and turquoise seas.( title of a song I have written).
These paintings are prayers -- a hope for moments of wonder, joy, and peace in
times of challenge and difficulty in our world.
There is a teaching from Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, that once a day, we pour out
our heart, and then the rest of the day, even it is hard, to experience and practice
joy, kindness, and wonder. There is also a verse from Psalm 27.4O - "One thing I
ask, is to dwell in the house of the Lord forever." These paintings represent that
house in which we can choose to dwell in every moment.
Ellen Beck, MD is a physician and teacher, artist and healer. She was born and
grew up in Montreal, Canada. Her father was born in 1899 and came to Canada in
1913 as a refugee from the pogroms in Europe. She faced challenges in her youth.
"I learned that no matter what bad things had happened, I could be the artist of my
existence, hold the paintbrush of my life. I decided to devote my lifework to
creating environments where others, individuals, families, communities could take
charge of their lives and achieve joy and wellbeing.
She has worked at UC San Diego for many years and was the founding director of
the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project, which has partnered with First
Lutheran for more than 25 years. She is honored that she and her programs have
won a number of awards, including a Kennedy Center Stephen Sondheim
Inspirational Teacher Award. These days, she facilitates Compassionate Action
Circles for UCSD, teaches final year medical students to be healers and teachers,
and is part of a UCSD support team around issues of antisemitism and
islamophobia. She travels extensively, to nourish kindness and learn from others
how we can be world citizens and explore what levers we have in our hands
towards kindness, peace, justice, integrity, and healing. She loves to sing and paint
and write and teach and continues to grow spiritually and as a human being in the
world. She aspires to wisdom, humility and self-awareness. She is a mother of
three adult daughters. She sees all of us as members of the "Mutual Inspiration
Society."
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