Leah’s mother spent 10 wonderful days in Italy with her college-age daughter.  She wanted to commemorate that trip in the context of Leah growing up and moving on and in the context of their (sometimes rocky) relationship.

The idea was that Leah would identify with Venice in a way that integrates the idea of the winding Grand Canal with other tributaries, like the human bloodstream.The red mask seems a particularly apt choice in light of the mother’s work in palliative care! 

Also dropping out Leah’s body leaving only her eyes allowed Leah to feel completely comfortable about having her Dreamscape artwork displayed in her room because it puts the spotlight on Venetian masks and The Grand Canal, rather than on her own body.