Impressions of Lost Life

Kathleen Gilrain, 2000

Photo Gallery

Artist Statement

Casts of pregnant bellies line the bottom of a creek. Impressions of life – portraits. There are over four hundred of them made from the earth – red clay, white quartz, yellow river sand and iron oxide. They create a mosaic of color from white to red to deep, rich brown. They look like river stones with shallow navels. The water flows over them, washing, cleansing, smoothing their surface. Sunlight reflects through the running water creating dancing patterns of light and color on the “swollen stones”. Time passes. Memories remain. It is a response to miscarriage, wanted pregnancies, unwanted loss. A split hickory tree found blown over near the site creates a bridge to a medicinal garden. The plants in the garden are all native to the area and were used by Native Americans. These plants are still used by contemporary herbalists to strengthen the uterus, prepare for pregnancy, promote a healthy pregnancy, prevent miscarriage, aid in delivery and in healing after delivery. The plants which make up the medicinal garden are: Mitchella repens, Viburnum prunifolium, Viburnum opulus, Eupatorium pupureum, Chamaelirium luteum, Plantago lanceolata, Alchemilla mollis, Rubus idaeus, Dichromena colorata, Hypericum perforatum, Xanthorihiza simplicissima.-Kathleen Gilrain, 2000

“Gilrain had taken molds of her abdomen when she was five-and-a-half months pregnant and used this at varying depths to cast 421 forms of concrete mixed with native clays. These were placed in the streambed and on a small island, where she planted a medicinal herb garden.”

“The water flows over them, washing, cleansing, smoothing their surface. Sunlight reflects through the running water creating dancing patterns of light and color on the ‘swollen stones’.”