"Blue Abyss" explores the profound emotional and physical impact of ALS, a disease that silently isolates those it touches. The vessel, wrapped in dark blue encaustic wax, evokes the vast, uncharted depths of the spinal cord—the central conduit for neural communication throughout the body. The deep blue hue is a haunting reflection of the vastness of the nervous system, where neurons once thrived but now deteriorate under the weight of ALS, severing the vital link between mind and body.

The vessel is suspended from a piece of driftwood, found by the artist as a symbol of the fragility and fleeting nature of life. The driftwood represents the passage of time, carried along by unseen forces, much like the slow and relentless progression of ALS. A second thin piece of driftwood pierces through the side of the vessel, representing the disconnection of body and mind as the disease progresses. The wire binding the vessel to this second piece of driftwood signifies the fragile, tenuous connections that remain, barely holding the remnants of the body’s function.

The vessel’s form, once whole, is now severed, mirroring the breakdown of bodily function. Yet, despite the fragility of the physical body, the wire’s grip on the driftwood suggests the persistence of the mind—held fast, though imprisoned within the deteriorating shell. The hanging driftwood allows the piece to dangle, capturing the sense of instability and imbalance that defines the journey of those living with ALS.

This work conveys not only the biological process of the disease but also the emotional isolation of those affected—imprisoned within their own bodies, yet still fully conscious and aware.