Commission | Acrylic on Canvas

Original Drawing Not Available
Prints Available

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This painting began as a dream. Alan told me about a dream his wife Jana had been having of Our Lady Undoer of Knots for a year. Typically you see this depiction of Mary in a heavenly array, surrounded by angels and clouds. But for Jana, Mary had her sleeves pushed up and was working diligently at undoing the “knots” in the lives of Jana’s clients (Jana is a mental health counselor).

I loved the image. Like Jana, I’m typically drawn to images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints in our earthly reality. I feel grounded seeing them take on the dirt and messiness of our lives.

The final image portrays Mary outside of her home in Nazareth, jars in a corner (a symbolic nod to Mary being the perfect vessel for Christ and the empty jars at Cana), and a glowing ribbon in her hands. The snarl of knots behind her become a light-filled ribbon as she gets to work. The light shines behind Mary (and possibly through her - as she reflects the light of Christ) and she sits in a shadow, in the darkness of our lives.

Jana was absolutely floored that her husband commissioned such a thoughtful gift. Even their daughters spend hours staring at this tender and fierce mother who cares deeply about her children’s earthly needs. I’m confident that this image will bless this family for the rest of their lives. I’m so honored to have brought this image to life.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

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This title was given to Mary in the 1600s after a German couple, on the verge of separation, went to a Jesuit named Jakob Rem for help. The priest prayed before an image of Mary that all the knots in the marriage be loosed. Sure enough, they were. This image reminds the viewer that they have a mother in Heaven, willing and able to undo all the knots of their life.

© 2024 Mattie Karr