It is always a gift to be introduced to an artist whose work inspires the soul and uplifts the spirit. I’ve never met in person the Seattle-based Barbara Earl Thomas, whose art-making career spans more than 40 years. However, I am happy to be introduced to the work of her solo exhibit, Barbara Earl Ross: The Illuminated Body, currently on view at the University of Pennsylvania’s Arthur Ross Gallery through May 21. Per the gallery, “she builds tension-filled narratives through papercuts and prints, placing silhouetted figures in social and political landscapes. She pulls from mythology and history to create a contemporary visual narrative that challenges the stories we tell as Americans about who we are.”