Eliana Good

Shaker Heights, OH

ARTIST STATEMENT

This is a story about family. A family that is immediate and extended, intergenerational, and of the past, present, and future. I lean into my existence as a manifestation of the hopes, dreams and perseverance of those that came before me. This is a story about love that transcends time. It’s about love in the face of death. It’s about healing. It’s about the generational love and trauma that binds us through thousands of years of traditions and stories. This is an ouroboros story. A story where pain is experienced over and over again, where each generation must fight against hate, fight for existence, for the right to live, to love. I find comfort in seeing myself as an embodiment of all those who have come before me and knowing that nothing is really new. They have experienced love, grief, and the coming of age. They have learned to let go and say goodbye. Through my work, I portray my family in conjunction with the families murdered, kidnapped, and torn apart by the October 7th massacres in Israel. I delve into what it means to grow up while also holding the past dear. I ask: who is able to grow old? Who is blessed to be buried by their children? Who gets to share their story? With each brush stroke, I physically mark my existence as a manifestation of my ancestors aspirations.

This project was made possible by the Steven Daniel Smallen Fund.