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January 16, 2010

Create Hope

In the wake of the recent earthquake in Haiti, and even closer to home shooting in the local community. I know art doesnt solve the worlds problems but can very well inspire those that want to be part of a solution to those problems. Maybe in the months to come, out of the rubble and wreckage we can hear stories of hope, and character rising above the challenges and dispare.




Rioting streets, hope filled faces of this next generation
Stained history, breeds humility rising from the ashes
Smiles, Joy, and Laughter, uniting colorfully together
We claim under our feet the soil, sand, and streets,
For the Kingdom of a gracious and just right hand
Dreams are the inheritance of this land.
Thank you for your prayers, and dreams.

I finished this piece from a series of pictures from South Africa and digital menipulation. The folded and aged paper I wanted to symbolise the hard history of South Africa. The street in the backround was a picture of a current riot taking place when the picture was taken. Though it looks calm around the corner is broken glass and garbage all over the streets, the people are protesting that the local government should give them jobs. The odd motivation of the trash intentionally thrown everywhere is that 'if the government can find jobs for trash collectors they can find jobs for us, equal rights'. Of course it is much more complicated than this. The boys; Asanda (Ah-sun-Duh) and his friend. Asanda would be condidered 'colored' or mixed race in South Africa, and his friend 'black' or native African. Just them holding each other in friendship screams 'hope', in a land where every race has had to fend for themselves in a way we will never personally understand. I wanted to emphasis the inspiration of this embrace, this unity - so the rainbow of promise spilling onto the streets. There IS hope!!

Ask me about the leader we saw in Asanda sometime. I was blown away at this young boys story, perseverance, readiness, and joy..