Windows of Wisdom Open the Path to Positive Living

Elizabeth Semanisin is inspiring Marietta with her Windows of Wisdom. Semanisin transforms old windows that might otherwise end up in a landfill into beautiful pieces of art with soulful words.

"I have loved art since I was little," she said. "My grandfather is such an amazing artist, and I hung out with him a lot and learned so much."

About a year ago, Semanisin found out that she had cancer. "I didn't really know what I wanted to do career wise at the time, but I knew I wanted to do something with art," Semanisin said. "Through this last year and kind of growing as a person and spiritually I found that I really want to be an art therapist."

A friend's father had a supply of windows, and Semanisin was intrigued. "Each of these old windows was in someone's home and has all these stories captured in its essence. I just love old things and history; so they (the windows) were perfect. This (Windows of Wisdom) was me kind of exploring my own version of art therapy for myself," Semanisin said.

The quotes that Semanisin uses in her art are from a quote book, which she has kept throughout her treatment. "When I was sitting in the doctor's office or waiting rooms or if I was having a bad day, I would take my quote book and I would just read it and try to get my head on straight. Just a couple words—it's crazy how they could change my way of thinking."

Semanisin was inspired. "If these words could help me, then I wanted to spread that a little," Semanisin said. "So I combined that and my love for art and painting and there you go."

All of the designs on Semanisin's windows are done without stencils. She swirls vibrant, bright paints with a steady hand, adding details from her heart and letting her hands transform the words she quotes into a beautiful design. She finishes her pieces of art by selecting knobs for her windows that complete the message she is trying to deliver.

While school is on hold for Semanisin as she undergoes treatments, her spirits are high. "I don't know what's going to happen," she said, "but I can't let it take me down."

Semanisin said that she thought she was past her cancer, but after a recent test she learned her battle isn't over. "I might have to do chemo, possibly more radiation treatments or surgery; I don't know. I'll go back and be very frustrated and mad because I just want to move on and live my life, but I've learned so much this past year and I've grown so much as a person that I know there has been positive things out of my cancer."

Semanisin's fight against cancer is not the only challenge she's faced in her young life. In her senior year of high school at Sprayberry, she found out she was pregnant. Her daughter is now three.

"It was really hard, but I have a really good family," Semanisin said. "Crazy things happen in your life, and you can either let them get in and be negative or you can turn them into something positive. My daughter is the most important thing in my life.

"When I was sick, she knew so much. She'd kiss my neck (which was where the tumor had spread) like little kids kiss the booboo and make it better. She was so in tune with me, and that kid, my daughter, that's what has kept me going. And some people could be like, 'Oh that's (pregnancy at a young age) so hard, that put school on hold for you, that wasn't planned,' but I'm so glad it happened. I feel like I have so much more to live for, and now with the cancer I just have to keep turning it into something positive."

Semanisin noted that if it wasn't for her cancer she wouldn't have figured out she wanted to be an art therapist. "And I feel so passionate about it, I actually have butterflies over it," she smiled. "I can't wait to go back to school and take this on."

Semanisin's optimism is portrayed in the colors she uses in her pieces of art. She favors greens, blues and purples. "Just bright and happy colors," she said. "I want my art to be uplifting. I feel like the colors are representing the message I'm trying to spread—joy and bright vibrant life."

Semanisin described one of her pieces, which she feels would be perfect for the entry into a home. "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this place," she quoted the piece of art. "I feel like my home is my little bubble of zen, and I can control what kind of energy comes in and out. Life is crazy, and I like that one because it reminds us to be aware of what kind of energy we're giving off to other people."

Helping others and performing small acts of kindness are as natural to Semanisin as breathing. The ideas of transforming negative energy into positive action and simply choosing to be happy are reflected in everything she says.

Semanisin said the radiation that she did was intense and required her to be quarantined. "They came in with hazmat suits and had guns to measure the radiation. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie, and I was really lonely and really sick," she said. It is likely that she will have to undergo this treatment again; however, due to the intensity of the treatment, it can only be done once a year.

"It's all up in the air, and I'm just trying to take it all step by step, day by day because it's just so overwhelming. The what if's—it's such a fine line between being aware of them and letting them take over, but I can't dwell on the bad.

"I definitely have my moments where I am mad and I want to kick a window out, and I have a lot of windows in my garage right now that I could take advantage of," she joked. "But I'm just wasting precious time and energy by being mad and upset."

Some of Semanisin's art does show her darker moments, however. She said she has a few pieces that were done when she was upset; though she's not sure how well they would sell.

"It's still beautiful. It's really vibrant colors but deep purples and navies, lots of swirls and the ocean and lightning; it's abstract. And if I paint a little dark, I still like to put some light in it too because it's the yin and yang kind of thing."