I Am She Who Aches with Love

Hazel Miller’s new series, “I Am She Who Aches with Love,” is comprised of nine colorful oversized paintings. In response to Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” a Transcendentalist classic published in 1855, its themes include love, freedom, and nature. The titles of these works are phrases taken directly from the text. Hazel explains that Whitman illustrates that separation is an illusion, and we reflect on everything around us. He also links the environment, spirituality, and sexuality, emphasizing bodily sensation. While this resonates with Hazel, she feels the picture is incomplete. Whitman promoted equality, but his focus remained primarily on men.