I chose to submit this still life to the "Hidden" show because it is full of hidden meaning and symbolic secrets portrayed as a pretty picture. It was done during a time when my marriage was in serious trouble, and while I was going through post-partum depression. This piece could almost be seen as a mockery of the marriage, despite the beauty of the items portrayed here.

I chose these items very carefully - as a statement of sorts - and they were either present at our wedding, or they symbolize what shredded it. My husband, Andrew Spittle, is a musician and I played bass guitar in his band. We had just finished our first cd together, which was full of lyrics that I realized were about the fragility of our relationship. This was my reaction to that cd.

My beautiful flowing wedding dress, with the skirt draped softly, is the backdrop for this sentimental stage, and in the lower right foreground is the candy flower arrangement that was on our wedding cake. The vase of carnations was an apology gift after my husband confessed that he had a "little crush" on a workmate, and the lemons were placed in bittersweet recognition of his confession. The sandwich plate was a lovely old antique thing - my husband's favorite - that I threw into the kitchen sink and broke while he was speaking on the phone to the object of his affection, as she was trying to get him to agree to go out for a "friendly" bike ride. He was too naive to see what she was doing - or else he was playing me, but I honestly don't think so. And last of all, the pretty blue glass bottle with silver is one that was given to me by my dear friend Graeme, who introduced me to Andrew, and without Graeme, I would probably not have met Andrew.

This piece was done using Windsor & Newton pastels on Canson pastel paper. Still life is not usually my interest because my patience isn't adequate. But I was compelled to create this one.