Moonflower

The Moonflower, Ipomoea alba, is a climbing vine that only blooms from dusk till dawn. This image was taken from a photo of my daughter when she was 6 years old. She found the giant bloom open at dusk and played with it like a mask. Her gesture to present the flower made such an impression on me. It was iconic and symbolic but completely un-selfaware. I think of childhood as always being a bit stormy, and beauty as always bittersweet. It turns out the moonflower has medicinal properties but is often mistaken for the “moonflower” Datura which is highly poisonous.

20”x24”x 3/4” Oil on Canvas