Jimi Hendrix - Golden                                      Abstract Golden Orb 

This post is divided into the themes that persisted during Spring 2018. Each will have captions explaining the story related to each. I leave some of the message up to your own interpretation, because Art does not belong only to the artist; it also belongs to each person who feels impacted and appreciative of its forms. 
​Peace. 

The 2 images above and the one below incorporate wood tones and gold in honor of ancient symbols and civilizations. The image to the top left is an ancient Sumerian symbol for God.

The image to the top right is in honor of cave paintings and ancient temple drawings that depicted the human form and movement. In the center a woman is folded into the pinnacle of the Yoga pose known as "The Wheel." The lines surrounding her indicate her fluid movement into and out of the pose. 

SEED OF RA: The image below features ancient Egyptian figures, Bast, Isis and Ra. Bast and Isis are sometimes argued to be the same figure, but others consider them separate entities. Nevertheless, both are considered to be the daughters of Ra, and were protectors of women and children, and the essence of feminine power. Bast was believed to represent both the sensual as well as the aggressive protective nature of femininity. In the painting below Bast/Isis rests in a poised position with her fathers essence encircling her from overhead. 

The 3 pieces below are and are not related. 2 of these feature flowers as human figures. The 3rd is a reflection of the beauty and peaceful strength of men. 
(More info beneath each image) 

Power Flower - this piece is titled with the inverse of the "Flower Power" concept of the 1970s.  Her petals resemble Locs, and one of her leaves is raised to represent the Power Fist.  This piece fits a theme you will find in a lot of my work that proclaims Wojmanhood and Girlhood to be just as powerful and bold as gentle and nurturing. Being Feminine does not exist in one static form. Feminine has always included curves, gentility, but also fierceness, determination and loving guardianship.

He Breathes:  this piece is titled "He Breathes" in honor of the beauty and nobility of a peaceful man.  This is both a portrait of someone I know personally, as well as a symbol for all black and brown men who are often misjudged by some as aggressive simply for "breathing."  In this image he wears a "hoodie," similar to the one donned by Trayvon Martin the day he was murdered by a hateful vigilante.  By pairing the hoodie with the gentle and restful expression, this piece challenges the thought processes of those who consider the hoodie as a symbol of criminality, and in the same vein, challenges the idea of judging brown skin as threatening.

MAGNOLIA SWINGOUT: The piece below featuring a bright background to set the stage for the beautiful contrasting colors of the Magnolias and their branches and leaves. 
Similar to the above concept of humanizing and creating powerful images from one of nature's symbols most often attributed to gentleness and fragility. These works suggest that we see beyond the surface to understand the power and beauty of flowers and appreciate the strength and endurance of the branches and stems from which they extend.