Three Choices with Eros by Beth West (8.5" x 11" print)

“Three Choices with Eros” 8.5" x 11" print. Watermark in store image does not appear on print. Artist Writeup by Beth West My father, Christopher West, has spoken often in his courses and books about the three choices we have when it comes to dealing with eros, which is the cry of humanity for eternal fulfillment. This yearning is something we all feel, and it is incredibly powerful. There are three things we can do with this desire: (1) be a stoic, who tries to repress it and pretend it’s not there; (2) be an addict, who tries to fill the void with finite pleasure which never satisfies; or (3) be an aspiring mystic who learns to open that longing for infinite love to infinite love in total trust. The concept for this piece came to me quickly when I consider how these three approaches could be represented visually. However, it took much trial and many drafts to make it a reality. In my piece, eros is symbolically represented as a powerful explosion coming forth from the chest. I chose