“Following the Narrative Throughline”
Loving & Letting Go (solo show)
July 26, 2025 at 3pm
It was a pleasure to sit down with gallerist Devon Dunham to discuss the narrative thread that weaves through the art, film, and writing in my solo show, Loving & Letting Go.
Gallerist Otto Chan was kind enough to livestream the talk, so people were able to attend both online and in person. What a gift to spend time with you reflecting on the themes and stories that continue to fuel my work.
Enjoy!
00:43 Talk begins
01:08 Devon – intro & story about finding and reaching out to Eli.
04:03 Eli – stretching herself creatively for this show and reflects on the serendipity that made the hut installation possible.
08:20 Eli – her daily writing practice and the installation of her journal pages.
10:43 Devon & Eli – externalizing the internal world, and how the exhibit moves from the hut to the journal pages to the paintings.
14:30 Eli – tracing her creative journey back to the film, and discussing the inspiration behind making the film (the search for identity and belonging.)
17:54 Eli – film screening during the exhibit highlighted how her art picked up where the film left off.
18:55 Eli – this body of work exploring the theme of “Loving & Letting Go” began during her 2022 Chateau Orquevaux residency in France. This theme continues to resonate on multiple levels.
22:22 Devon & Eli – Loving and Letting Go as an act of self-exploration ~ a body of work to more deeply understand “Who Am I?”
24:18 Eli – her daughter’s response to the show.
25:25 Devon – shares visitors’ profoundly personal responses to the Chagga hut and his own reflection on Eli’s body of work.
29:24 [Audience question] Eli & Devon – share their thoughts on the painting behind them ~ “The Offering.”
33:24 [Audience question] Eli – shares creative process, how her work continues to surprise her, and the conversations she has with her work as it’s developing.
35:34 [Walk up the the front.]
36:08 Eli – the paintings in the front gallery (vs the back) and how they invite you to move in closer.
38:57 [Audience question] Eli – including writing in her work.
41:18 [Devon question] Eli – intention behind incorporating text and graphic imagery in her work.
45:06 Devon – asks audience member pick a favorite piece and share how it makes them feel.
47:30 Eli – difference between encaustic and cold wax medium, and how/why she works with oil & cold wax.
50:35 Eli – how she knows when a piece is done.
54:25 One final audience comment/question…
