How two very different artists interpret the same subject is a popular and often very appealing study. Such was the case with the exhibition, “Hands.” Minnesota artist, Petronella Ytsma and Illinois artist, Beth Shadur each use the human hand as the subject for their work. In Shadur’s mixed media works the hand represents a multicultural symbol for protection, prayer, unity, giving, and creating.
Ytsma calls the human hand the original and ultimate tool. In her series of hand photographs titled “Treuren”, Ytsma makes a statement using hands of all ages and races that have experienced all levels of manual labor and human toil.