Writing/Essay/Journal
Silvana LaCreta Ravena uses the ancient technique of encaustic painting, which involves a mixture of beeswax, resin and pigment, to explore the theme of memory. The layers she creates in her artwork reflect the layering of our memory. She says that “memory is the way we try to overcome the impermanence of life.” What do you think she means by this?

Activity
Experiment with the encaustic method by using melted crayons. Place broken, unlabeled crayons in a muffin tin and melt in an oven set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Using an old paintbrush or palette knife, apply the melted crayon to a piece of cardboard. Create a basic landscape or something more abstract. (Just a note that the brush will be hard to clean afterward!)