The Courage to Change
By placing beloved characters in contemporary environments, I aim to express my disillusionment with the society we are living in. The world's oceans are full of plastic, oil spills, dangerous chemicals and pesticides. Beaches are washed with trash, as is any public place nowadays. The world's forests are dwindling to deforestation. Widespread pesticide use is causing devastating chain reactions throughout the ecosystem. Brutal invasions of human's rights are being normalized in our culture through the media and its repetition tactics. It is all highly profitable to some, yet so detrimental to most of us. Why are we living this way? Why do we keep distracting ourselves and our kids with a “Disney” facade of life? If we show today's youth these issues and also model a real solution, we can prevent them from being blindsided by the world's conditions when they grow up. We can lead by example, break cycles, and arm children with new ways to live sustainably, healthy, and happy. We can find the courage to change.
To accompany each painting, I have taken well-known and loved songs and repurposed the lyrics to give them a new meaning.
The Bare Necessities
Oil on Canvas, 40x30 in, 2019
Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities, old mother nature’s recipes
That bring the bare necessities of life
Wherever I wander, wherever I roam
I couldn’t be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzing in the tree
To make some honey just for their colony
When you look under the rocks and plants
And take a glance at the fancy ants
Just sit and observe a few
The bare necessities of life will come to you
Now when you want a paw-paw or a prickly pear
Be sure they weren’t sprayed with poison
Or you must beware
They cut and clear these lands, but have the gall
To create the problem and “solution,” and think we believe it all
But you don’t need to believe it all
When you find out there is another way
Have I given you a clue?
The bare necessities of life will come to you
Oh man, what’s really livin’?
Try to relax, yeah, cool it
Grow a garden in your backyard
Cause let me tell you something
You’ll reap what you sow
Don’t let them tell you it’s too hard
Just don’t spend your time scrollin’ around
For something you think you want, that can’t be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin’ about it
I’ll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
They’ll come to you
Oil on Canvas, 40x30 in, 2019
Part Of Their World
Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl who has everything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many “wonders” can this ocean hold?
Lookin’ around here, you’d think “Sure she’s got everything”
I’ve got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs? I’ve got a never-ending supply
Why should you care? You say it’s no big deal
But I want more
I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see ‘em dancin’
Touching the ground with… what d’ya call ‘em? Oh, bare feet
Flippin’ your fins in these waters, you don’t get too far
Legs are required for jumpin’, dancin’
Marching along down a… what’s the word again? Street
Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun
Pollution free, wish I could be
Part of their world
What would I gove if I could live out of these waters?
What would I pay to spend a day clean on the sand?
Betcha on land they understand
Bet they don’t do this up there
But if they do
We need bright young women, sick of swimmin’
Ready to Stand
Almost There
Oil on Canvas, 40x30 in, 2019
Mama, I don’t have time for dancing
That’s just gonna have to wait a while
Ain’t got time for messing around
And it’s not my style
This system can slow you down
People taking the easy way
But I know exactly where I’m going
And getting closer and closer everyday
And I’m almost there
I’m almost there
People call me a conspiracy theorist, but I don’t care
Trials and tribulations, I’ve had my share
There ain’t nothing gonna stop me now. ‘cause I’m almost there
I remember daddy told me, fairy tales can come true
You gotta make ‘em happen
It all depends on you
So I work real hard, each and every day
Now things will for sure go my way
Just doing what I do
Look out culture, I’m coming through
And I’m almost there
I’m almost there
People are making changes everywhere
And I’m almost there
There’s been trials and tribulations
We’ve all had enough
It’s time to climb the mountain and cross the river
And I’m almost there
I’m almost there
We’re almost there
Guilt Mountain
Figure: Ceramic sculpture with oil paint
Base: Steel frame, a lot of personal and found plastic waste
Mirror, Mirror on the wall, why must I be so vulnerable in front of you? Why must I acknowledge my shame for contributing to the nasty system I was brought up in? I didn’t choose this. It’s not my fault. Well, maybe now it is.
