Sufficient Unto This Day

claire forste

oil on canvas with gold leaf, 16 x 20 inches

Made possible by a grant from the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts

In contrast to the smashed lusterware, the lilies will continue to grow.…

My faith in and understanding of institutions (both political and religious) is evolving. These uncertain times have allowed me to ponder on what is unchanging, reliable, and sustaining in my life. I often "toil and spin," unlike the lilies that Christ describes in Matthew 6:25-34. I've learned that Christ's love is constant and reliable when everything else around me comes crashing down— an image Laurel Thatcher Ulrich utilizes in her essay, "Lusterware." Ulrich's essay draws from Emily Dickinson's poem on lusterware, a material that was a poor man's substitute for silver and which breaks easily. Dickinson describes mistaking lusterware for silver and placing it on her shelf with her other silver, only to have it fall and smash on the "bottom of [her] mind." I have similarly placed value in ideals and beliefs that are not lasting or substantive. In contrast to the smashed lusterware, the lilies will continue to grow. Thus, the lilies in my piece are God's enduring love and the fragments of lusterware are my discarded beliefs. The circles placed over the piece symbolize the eternal nature of both God's relationship with His children, as well as my need to learn and relearn this lesson. The title comes from the last verse in Matthew, which teaches me that my human efforts are enough for God. —Claire Forste, 2020

Claire Forste

is an illustrator based in New York City. She enjoys incorporating her love of pattern and color into her figurative work. She loves traveling and finds inspiration from new people and stories. You can find out more about her and her work through her website or @claireforste.