I have been in love with Meher Baba for forty years, and have been in love with color and creating for even longer. When these two loves come together, I am whisked away to a wondrous place of all encompassing serenity and flow. Making collages, drawing , and painting the Beloved is a dance of balance and intuition. Each work is a meditation. For a long time, I have been guided by Baba's words: “To penetrate into the essence of all being and significance and to release the fragrance of that inner attainment for the guidance and benefit of others, by expressing, in the world of forms, truth, love, purity and beauty — this is the sole game which has any intrinsic and absolute worth. All other happenings, incidents and attainments in themselves can have no lasting importance.”
I was born in the suburbs of Chicago, and later (after going to Bard College for two years and Kansas City Art Institute for one year), received my BFA (in painting) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Later I received an MS (in Museum Leadership) from Bank Street College in NYC. I have been fortunate to live in cities with great art collections, and to work in art education at The Art Institute of Chicago, The Guggenheim Museum, and Storm King Art Center. Living in Nashville since 1990, I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching art to children (and more currently, to adults).
In Nashville, I have had one person exhibits of my art work at The Parthenon, the airport, and numerous other venues, as well as juried and invitational exhibits throughout the states. I have had half a dozen exhibits of my art at the meeting place at Meher Center, during the 40 years I have been visiting that sacred space. I also write poetry and in 2017 Sheriar Press published a book of my art and poetry titled “Listening to the Bones.” I update my web site frequently, with new art available and classes offered: marlafaith.com. Each work I do is unique, original, and personal. Art has been my spiritual path, my healing journey, and my way of being a conduit for more beauty to enter the world.
Click the image below to see all of Marla's original works.