Clearly upset about continued inhumanity, a friend sent me The NY Times article about the meeting with Nadia Murad in the Oval Office on July 17. A portion of my response was that no one seems to be naming the behavior - that of a sociopath and possibly psychopath if referencing his system of “coding” to “incentivize.” I do think it’s important to clarify exactly what we’re dealing with. Of course, I couldn’t help but add a photo of this piece done in response to election 2016. Here it is again:
Homeless Narrative
Can we please change this? How about “homeless and sick”? How about street sickness? Or? Although there’s a certain percentage of people living on the streets who are economically challenged, it is minute in comparison to the number of people who are suffering from mental illness, and drug and alcohol addiction. Accordingly, I see the manic and psychotic effects as I drive through SF and Berkeley with debris and items from recycling centers strewn everywhere in the midst of tattered tents and burned ground.
Most of these people need medical intervention, aid and accountability for their transgressions. A bed in a navigation center, ostensibly one giant tent, does not target the source, and so the vicious cycle continues.
Unquestionably, the issue is complex. Block after block in SF residential high-rises are sprouting up. Why not mandate the building of permanent housing with medical facilities specifically for those who are sick? And, in general, why not mandate the building of additional, new hospitals and clinics commensurate with the subsequent, rapidly increasing population?
Does this come full circle back to the issue of health care as a human right rather than a privilege?
Landlords
Completely forgot I had tucked this piece away in storage. What sparked my memory was hearing that a friend would soon be evicted because the owners wanted to remodel and increase the rent.
Back in early 2015, I felt extremely upset when my landlord unexpectedly hand-delivered a 60-day legal notification of a 35% increase to “encourage” me to move so she could sell the flat. A curve ball for sure! With emotions flaring, once again, my artistic expression took hold.
This is a Duralene scroll with attached pages of my lease, stenciled letters in oil crayon, and heavy accents of acrylic ink and charcoal. I made a 2nd one which expressed much more fury and fear; however, in a twit, I decided to cut it up into pieces, something I now regret. Definitely an OOPS moment!
Emergence
While the paint was still drying, this word popped into my head as the title. Per New Oxford American dictionary - “1) the process of coming into view or becoming exposed after being concealed and 2) the process of coming into being, or of becoming important or prominent.”
Coming full circle now with decades of work, I truly get it - that “Emergence” is my journey. And that every moment of travail and joy ultimately has been and is perfect. So is this piece. Even though it’s small in size, it encapsulates the message and is quite powerful.
Although I’ve posted this painting many times in reference to subjugation, repeating is appropriate in clarifying my purpose. And, if my artistic expressions help others heal and emerge, then this is a brilliant, happy collaboration.
Into The Fire
I’m posting my piece again, this time in reference to Jack Kornfield’s quote, “Sometimes we have to go right into the fire to find our true healing.” Such was the case for me with regards to divorce. Interestingly enough, I actually gave my pen and ink work this title before reading it. Perfect, Tommy, perfect!
Shackles Of Losses
In the process of cataloguing my works, I got reacquainted with this large piece painted in 2011, a dark period hanging on for dear life. Whew, glad I worked through that! My artistic expression was and still remains a godsend and catalyst for transformation.
Bicycle
Now I love riding my road bike. It’s fun and gets me from place to place; however, it’s not my beloved vehicle. Why? Because there are difficult hills to maneuver, I cannot transport groceries, dry cleaning, shopping bags, artwork, etc. And, it cannot protect me in stormy weather. SF officials, each has merit.
Grokking 5
Dripping In Gold
With all the material I have, this is a vision.
Compound Oops
The other day, I went down memory lane revisiting miscalculations. Knowing that the path of self-awareness and joy involve altering mental habits, I quickly said Oops in succession. Repeating it brought a smile to my face, laughter to my heart and release of the negative hold of the memories. Oops really is magic for me!
