(botanical illustration of E. Coca by me in my twenties)

Artist Statement by teZa Lord

Throughout my life I have attempted to create in order to honor the highest possibilities available to all humankind. For this, I studied anatomy, perspective, and how to handle materials at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Mass from ’66-68. During that time I was initiated into yoga and meditation; my lifelong path derived from Eastern Mysticism of the yogic Kashmir Shavism scriptures. Teachers and mentors have been many in my travels and studies of mystic Christianity, plant-medicine and naturally-altered states of consciousness, and classical yogic traditions. For me, Art is not just about creating new ideas but offering narrative insights into elevated understanding. Nature and Ecology have always been my focus, along with spirituality and insights gleaned from the Mother of the Universe: the so-called natural forces that are a manifestation of cosmic consciousness (which all in existence have access to and are part of).

Shortly after the Museum School I was invited to draw for a PhD candidate in Botany at Harvard University. There, I illustrated T. Plowman’s dissertation on Brunfelsia, and then T. E. Lockwood’s dissertation on the Brugmansia, both members of the Solanaceae family, and both botanists protegees of R. E. Schultes, who later became known as Father of Plant Medicines. For a joint Harvard/US Government study, I illustrated the family of Erythroxylum, the most renowned member being E. coca the source of the ancient Andean indigenous’ subsistence coca leaves, and since the 19^th C. the alkaloid, cocaine. Botanical work during this time was signed (in a stylized fashion) by me as Lynda Bates (my legal name at the time).

Taking my love of plants and combining it with a passion for adventure and, in particular, sailing deep blue waters, I went to the West Indies to live and explore and paint, make precious metal-and-stone jewelry while operating businesses (a restaurant, then an inter-island shipping venture) for the entire decade of the 70s. In ’79, Hurricanes David and Frederick disrupted things. During this time, Nature was (and still is) my master teacher.

From the Windward islands I went to live and create in a studio in Israel for a year, returning to the States via New York City in the mid 80s. There, I worked as cabinetmaker and exhibited in galleries. Moving to the Hamptons of Long Island, I created formal gardens, studio work and was personal assistant to artist-writer Elaine deKooning, helping to inventory her life efforts. Marrying in ’91, my studio work expanded to sculpture while raising two small children. Exhibitions during these years were in New York City, Santa Fe, New Orleans, and Monterrey, Mexico; Sarasota and a retrospective at Florida Southern College in Florida. Also, I assisted husband Carter Lord in his feature movie Lithium Springs as art director.

Five illustrated books have been published and three completed narratives are being final edited. Dissemination of my studio art has been focused on the internet, concentrating on spreading heightened consciousness via social media and guest spots on mindfully-themed podcasts. Together with my cohost, I have offered ZLORD podcast episodes (250+) for six years. Additionally, I offer video guided-meditations, Mind-Stillers on my YouTube channel. Check out my galleries, books, and much more here on my site.

Blessings to All!

Om Namah Shivaya

Thanks for supporting me and my endeavors.