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Artist's Statement

 

I believe that art is arguably the most powerful vehicle of expression. A wise man once said “…out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”, but it has also been well established that there are “…groanings too deep for words…”. It is in this place – where words fail, because they cannot be spoken, whether through lack of words to adequately express, or through enforced silence – that art speaks.

 

While growing up, I lived in enforced silence, due to the tyranny of my father. I witnessed, and was subject to behavior that no child should ever know exists; we were coerced into silence, and made to paint a picture of harmony, prosperity and stability, where discord, dis-ease and chaos were the norm. Drawing and painting became the way that I was safely able to have a “voice”.

 

Because I have learned that “nothing is ever really as it seems”, my work is a blend of realism, with a touch of impressionism, and a hint of the abstract. I know that there can be sorrow in the midst of great joy, and therefore – thankfully - there can be joy in the midst of great sorrow: this is reflected in my choice of palettes, and the unconscious wielding of my brush/pen/pencil – bold, yet muted; striking, yet serene.

 

My vision is to change the world through art, built upon three tenets:

  • Art heals the heart. Since 2013, I have mentored at-risk youth in Hamilton, Ontario and Kingston, Jamaica, by helping them to cope with strong emotions through the canvas through my organization, The Dream Big Foundation.

  • Art is vital to the health of a Nation. Art simultaneously reflects and defines the cultural identity of a nation; it is therefore a vital tool of expression and meaning making for all.

  • Art can be used as a tool to bring community healing, restoration and development. In my previous research while reading for my B.Ed. in Adult Education at Brock University, I was able to demonstrate that art can be used to bridge racial, socio-economic and cultural divides, as well as provide a viable methodology for educating adults and children.

     

    I hope that my work reflects the enmeshed duality of life, and stirs a strengthening of people’s hearts, as they begin to see the things that were meant to destroy them as tools to make them better – not bitter; and from there: to find their voice.

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