Christine Baschon

I created this mandala in honor of my daughter and her graduation from high school. She is the queen of our household, and the image of a royal crown seemed only befitting. The imagined view of the crown from above would create a cross, an appropriate symbol considering my daughter's steadfast Christian faith.

In my excitement of this piece being chosen for the exhibit, I told two women at my church of my dilemma. My conscious motivation in doing the piece did not mirror the curator's statement: "it speaks of the Holy Spirit: the swirls in the background echoed by the brightening shape in the very center." Immediately, one woman said, "Remember, this is the child who as a toddler reenacted the sacrament of the Eucharist with her Cheerios." Then, just as quickly, the other woman said, "Isn't it wonderful? The Holy Spirit made its presence known through your art!" Indeed, the Holy Spirit is among us still.

Christine Rough Baschon graduated with a degree in art in 1977, but her career began long before that time. Working as a free-lance artist for 20 years, she returned to college and earned certification to teach art. She has taught art at Northside Middle School for ten years and was named South Carolina Middle School Art Teacher of the Year in 1998. She is passionate about art and all the benefits, beauty, and magnificence of the creative process. In addition to her more traditional art, she is currently drawing mandalas, a form of art with Jungian origins, and that can be seen on her website. Chris grew up in Spartanburg SC and currently resides in Greenwood SC where she and her two daughters attend Church of the Resurrection.

Christine Baschon
website: www.thecirclewithin.com