Art By Haley Maxine Grebe
About the Artist
There is beauty in the darkness and struggles if you search for it. Being born with albinism caused my eyesight to be light sensitive and blurry with correction. This offered me a unique vision of the world physically and mentally. Raising a nonverbal child with level three autism taught me to search for the beauty when it feels lost. My art shares that shifting perscpective to appreciating momentary beauty and living presently, is our opportunity to genuinely experiencew life.
Artist Statement
Life is full of paths, some predetermined and some are chosen by us.
Each person has a unique path that life creates for them. Some of the obstacles are pre-determined and others are impacted by our choices. I employ the landscapes and paths of nature to represent our navigation of our life journey. Most of us encounter difficult situations that we may opt to work through and then emerge as a wiser person. We all navigate long term challenges in our own way. For the artist, chronic conditions, and disabilities impacted her and some people closest to her.
She depicts these challenges visually as a forest because the trees represent obstacles along with clouds, fog or nightfall. Her autumn and floral paintings show beauty that is temporary. Life has countless wonderful moments that are short lived. Her vibrant or dreary hues express the intense emotions that may be felt when immersing oneself in the present moment. There is a terminal fate for these two subjects that is essential to truly appreciate their exquisite bewitchery. In cooler climates, . Most people seek the comforts to keep them warm and cozy. Outdoor life slows down and it transforms into a time when we can reflect. Like the temporary seasons, we can observe our challenges with a present mind and decide how we can find peace. A simplified life can clear the mind so we can see more clearly.
The artist was born with albinism. Subsequently, she is legally blind. Her vision has impacted her life immensely. have never optically witnessed the world as most people do. She can see colors and shapes. She cannot see details like print and faces unless she is close to them. She reads text with a handheld magnifier. She could not see print.on a chalkboard in school. She uses a monocular to read street signs. She does not drive or play sports because she has no depth perception. She can easily navigate a walk or bike ride.. She has never used a cane. She wears sunglasses even on cloudy days. Her eyes.skin and hair have almost no pigment. Her vision is 20/120 when corrected. A person with 20/20 vision can see from 120 feet away what she can see standing 20 feet away. Uncorrected it is 20/200.
She has always been determined to overcome every challenge possible.
If you clear your mind, then you can find peace.