Jack D’Ambrosio, Reaching for Growth, 2021, lithography and collagraph prints

 

I was always one to kill my plants. No matter how hard I tried to keep them alive, the leaves would shrivel, the colors would fade, and I would be left with a shell of a once beautiful plant. This was until I got my first ivy plant. Even under the worst care, it continued to grow. My focus for this work is centered on growth and the ability to persevere even in poor situations. The addition of hands stems from how essential they are to everyday life. I’ve watched my mom and grandma struggle with crippling arthritis and have experienced pain in my own hands, but it never seems to slow any of us down. Similar to the unrelenting growth of ivy, I find the symbol of hands an inspiring metaphor for growth and perseverance.