I had my first solo show on Friday and it has been a life changing experience! I have been asking for guidance regarding the role of art in my life and I am finding doors opening one at a time. I would really like to incorporate helping people into my artwork and doing this show with Share and Do Good, a store that only sells products that help people around the world, has given me some insight. Because it was my first solo show and because I felt like it was a miracle that I even got this opportunity, I wanted to use it mostly to donate money to First Love International Ministries rather than making profit from it. I felt that it was a good way to show my appreciation, remember and support the children I met in Nepal and India, and exactly the kind of way I would want to start this journey.
There is still something special about seeing artwork up close, seeing the details that go into the work, so I hope that people will still be interested in going even though I am posting a picture of it all :P Also, my main goal is to raise money, raise awareness, and invite people to be a part of helping others, so I am hoping that people will purchase the more affordable versions of the pieces as greeting cards. However, one of my desires is that people are able to buy products that they actually really enjoy and appreciate, not just buy for the sake of donating money. I've bought a few things at the store already because I think the stuff they have there is really great! I hope that if you're in the area, you are able to check it out sometime!
Anyway, I wanted to share part of my artist statement that explain the inspiration behind the 5 pieces I made for this show. Enjoy!
About the show:
The pieces in this show explore themes of hopes and dreams,
childhood, and growth. In the paintings, the warm colors and hazy look of the
background combined with words cut out from children’s books illustrate our
inner child- the earnest and untainted hopes and wishes we held in our hearts
as a little boy or girl. The trees
symbolize growth and life as a process. As we journey through life, the eagerness and hopefulness of childhood yearnings linger and fight to endure. The flowers,
which were made from paper bought in Nepal, bring
a sparkle of life to the painting and the relationships of
the birds allow the viewer to imagine a story or conversation adding another
dimension to the work. In contrast, the charcoal drawings depict life as an adult. The black and white illustrate a more defined identity shaped by experiences, sometimes
good and sometimes difficult. The words cut and pasted from an adult novel on
the bottom portray a
resilient and matured feeling of hope and beauty
that often began in childhood. Both paintings and drawings are a message of holding onto the child-like earnestness of our hopes and desires as we weather through life.
How You Can Help
I will be donating 50% of the sales price to First Love, a
non-profit organization that supports and funds orphanages in Nepal and India.
This past spring of 2013, I had the opportunity to visit these orphanages and
meet 160 of these children. I feel like I have left a part of my heart with
them. I cherish the time I spent with them making friendship
bracelets, playing hand games, and talking with them. Before I left, many of them drew me pictures,
wrote cards, and told me “Please don’t forget about me.” Those
words have stuck with me and I would like remember them by donating part of my
sales to First Love. On my trip, I got to spend 2 weeks with Robert
Clinton, one of the founders of First Love. After seeing his compassionate heart
and his sincere love for not only the children but the people of India and
Nepal, I can donate knowing these children are in good hands. (www.firstloveinternational.com)
Thanks for reading!
-M
